Doc & Phoebe's Cat Co. Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder Kit
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Did you know that your cat's stomach is only the size of a ping-pong ball? Or that wild cats spend a whopping 80 percent of their waking hours hunting for food? Now you can channel your cat's inner panther and feed in small portions with the Indoor Hunting cat feeder kit from Doc & Phoebe's Cat Co. With this unique feeding system, your kitty can satisfy her instincts without leaving your home, and without leaving a real mouse in your lap. Simply fill the feeders with your cat's favorite food, hide them throughout the house, and let your cat fulfill her wildest dreams. It's a complete bowl-replacement system for one cat, designed for three, small meals twice a day. And, with more feeders, multi-cat homes can enjoy the benefit of hunting, too! Fulfilling the hunting instinct may decrease your cat's anxiety, discourage "scarf and barf," and even deter night-waking! After all, cat parents love their furbabies, but no one loves that 3 AM wakeup call when the kitty's stomach rumbles. This kit allows your cat to be more independent while satisfying her ancestral hunting instincts. And a happier cat means a happier human.
Key Benefits- Veterinarian-designed system works to improve scarf and barf, night waking, litter box "hit and miss" and more by allowing your cat to act on her ancestral desires.
- 3 interactive feeders allow cats to hunt for small portions of food twice a day, instead of relying on you to fill a large bowl once-a-day.
- Durable plastic and textured fabric appeals to cat’s senses while she grabs and claws her prey.
- Easy to use—just scoop your cat’s favorite food into the 3 mice and hide morning and evening.
- BPA-free plastic is top-rack dishwasher safe plastic while the fabric skins are machine washable.
(1) Trainer with multiple dispensing holes, (3) Feeders with two dispensing holes, (3) Feeder Skins, (1) Scoop.
Precautions
Intended only for use by cats. Not intended as a toy for other animals or children. Remove from cat if any part becomes loose or damaged.
†Capacity is calculated by total volume. When using container, choose a capacity greater than what you need to prevent overfilling and spills.
Make treat time even more exciting by placing scrumptious Vital Essentials Mini Nibs in the Doc & Phoebe’s Cat Co. Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder!
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Item Number152320
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Dimensions7.75 x 2 x 9 inches
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Weight11.33 ounces
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Bowl & Storage FeaturePortion Control, Dishwasher-Safe, BPA-Free, Lead-Free
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LifestageAdult
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Capacity (Max)†0.094-cup per feeder
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MaterialPlastic, Microfiber, Nylon
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Frame MaterialN/A
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Assembly RequiredNo
To use, simply fill three feeders with dry food or treats you are already feeding your cat, and hide them twice a day (morning and evening).
Your cat will hunt the feeders, play with them, and eat the small portions of food just as nature intended.
The Trainer, Feeders and Scoop are made with BPA-free plastic and are dishwasher safe on the top rack. Machine wash and tumble dry the Feeder Skins.
Capacity (Cups) | Bowl Diameter | Bowl Depth | Overall Height |
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0.094-cup per feeder | 7.75 inches | 2 inches | 9 inches |
Can I Use The Indoor Hunting Feeder If I Have More Than One Cat?
The Indoor Hunting Feeder is the solution to meet all of your cats' natural needs. Even in the multi-cat household, each cat deserves to have its hunting needs met. Users report that the feeders reduce fights between cats and increases happiness for all of the cats in the household.
What If I Have A Dog In The Family?
Sorry pooches, it’s not for you! Doc & Phoebe designed these feeders for indoor cats that have a safe place free from dogs to hunt. Even cats who live with dogs deserve to have the benefits of hunting. There are simple ways to meet the needs of all of the animals in your care.
Cats are solitary hunters. They want to hunt and eat alone. In fact, one of the greatest sources of distress for cats is having to eat in the presence of a dog. Simply confine your cat to a dog-free space, like a bedroom with the door closed, for hunting time. This way you are meeting all of the natural needs of your cat and still allowing your dog free run of the rest of the house.
Can I Serve Wet Food In The Indoor Hunting Feeder?
We don't recommend it. Doc & Phoebe designed the Feeders to be used with any dry cat food or treats only, and the holes are designed to release the food in small increments.
Can I Still Serve My Cat Wet Food? What If My Cat Eats Wet Food Or A Raw Diet?
Yes! You can accomplish this by feeding a smaller portion of wet or raw food. The remaining daily ration will be dry food or a treat that is acceptable in your cat’s diet and will be fed using Doc & Phoebe's Feeders.
How Much Should I Feed My Cat?
To feed the average 10 lb cat, add one Feeder Scoop full of dry food to each of the 5 Feeders. The average 10 lb cat eating only dry food, requires approximately ½ cup of dry food per day. The portion filler is designed to be ⅕ of this amount.
My Cat Is A Little Chubby, Can I Use The Feeders To Help With Weight Loss?
Doc & Phoebe's Feeders are portion controlled. Feeding your cat an appropriate amount of food in small portions throughout the day will help your cat to maintain a healthy weight. Doc & Phoebe cats hunt to find their food. The hunt is the exercise in disguise. Cats that have a healthy body weight live longer lives.
Helpful Hints With Transition
What If My Cat Isn't Immediately Interacting With The Feeders?
Some cats need privacy to transition onto Doc & Phoebe's Indoor Hunting Feeder. Try leaving your cat alone overnight with the training feeder to give him/her some private time to explore and try it out. Don’t forget to pick up the food dish (so it is not a distraction) and add a favorite treat or two to the training feeder.
How Will My Cat Know Where It The Feeder Is Hidden?
Cats have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell. Your cat will use its sense of smell to hunt and find Doc & Phoebe's Feeders.
What About My Cat's Water Intake?
Increased water consumption is healthy for cats. Studies show that cats drink more water when their water is placed in a separate location from their food. Once your cat is fully transitioned onto the Indoor Hunting Feeder, hide your Feeders away from your cat’s water source for increased health and wellness.
How Do I Use The Feeders To Stop My Cat From Waking Me Up?
Refill the three (3) Feeders for night time and fill and hide before you go to sleep. (Make sure to set your alarm, because your cat alarm likely will not go off!)
How Do The Feeders Stop Scarf And Barf?
Do you often see your cat vomiting food right after it gobbled it up? Each Feeder contains a small portion of the daily food and releases the food in a gradual manner. This forces your cat to slow down and should eliminate scarf and barf!
Is This Going To Make A Food Mess All Over My House?
Actually, our studies have shown the Indoor Hunting Feeder is a cleaner alternative to bowl feeding. Because the meals in each mouse only release a little bit of kibble at a time, your cat will eat the portioned amount as they hunt for each one.
Customer Reviews
78% Recommend
78% of reviewersrecommend this product
You've Already Reviewed This Item
154 Reviews
Showing 1-10 of 154 Reviews
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May Not Be For Every Cat
By ReadingCat on Apr 12, 2021
Before I ordered this kit, I read a review that mentioned it might be good for a kitten or young cat to be trained early on this system but maybe not for an older cat. I can see this. My cat is 2 1/2 years old and I adopted her several months ago from a shelter. She had multiple owners and was abused. The shelter said she weighted four pounds and had muscle loss when they took her in. Clearly prior owners did not feed her (one of many abuses). I believe she has PTSD and she panicked (racing around the kitchen and meowing) when I took away her dishes and left these mice. She would not eat from them (treats). Plus I give her canned wet and dry food. The concept and kit is nice, I just Before I ordered this kit, I read a review that mentioned it might be good for a kitten or young cat to be trained early on this system but maybe not for an older cat. I can see this. My cat is 2 1/2 years old and I adopted her several months ago from a shelter. She had multiple owners and was abused. The shelter said she weighted four pounds and had muscle loss when they took her in. Clearly prior owners did not feed her (one of many abuses). I believe she has PTSD and she panicked (racing around the kitchen and meowing) when I took away her dishes and left these mice. She would not eat from them (treats). Plus I give her canned wet and dry food. The concept and kit is nice, I just don't think it's good for my rescue cat at this time. … more
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Awesome for Active or Curious Cat
By Jessi on Apr 15, 2021
My younger male cat who gets zoomies several times a day and has a very curious personality loves these a lot. He caught on to the trick super fast and I notched the opening down to the smallest setting within a couple of days. My older (4 years) cat doesn't care about them at all. She cries for me to put her food in a nice easy bowl. But I still think it's good for her to have a challenge, so I'll leave it for a while and give her whatever is left over in her bowl at the end of the day to make sure she's eating enough.
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Love these mice for weight loss
By Nadin on Mar 24, 2021
These mice have been great for my lazy cat! Pico needed to shed some pounds, and no matter how many different toys I got her, I could never keep her active enough. Even with the Hill's Weight Management food, I could not get her to lose weight. Enter Doc & Phoebe! She took to the mice really fast. On the first day, i removed the plastic holder inside so she can easily find the food, never used the trainer. By the second, I used the plastic insert and she still managed to find them! The food I use is kind of chunky so sometimes there's a few kibbles left over in there, so I wish they were a touch wider to make sure my cat eats all her food. My mice do not look like the ones in the picture though These mice have been great for my lazy cat! Pico needed to shed some pounds, and no matter how many different toys I got her, I could never keep her active enough. Even with the Hill's Weight Management food, I could not get her to lose weight. Enter Doc & Phoebe! She took to the mice really fast. On the first day, i removed the plastic holder inside so she can easily find the food, never used the trainer. By the second, I used the plastic insert and she still managed to find them! The food I use is kind of chunky so sometimes there's a few kibbles left over in there, so I wish they were a touch wider to make sure my cat eats all her food. My mice do not look like the ones in the picture though. The opening I have is one long oval opening … more
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This one is okay
By llstaud on Apr 14, 2021
We were looking for some puzzle/hunting toys for our cats, and this one is okay. They play with it a little, but aren't super interested. It's all trial and error with cats. We are going to keep using it, because they do play with it sometimes. You can adjust the opening size, which is nice, so if you want to make it easy for them to get the treats or food out, you can do so.
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Good feeder... for now
By CatLadyFromWork on Mar 26, 2021
Got this for my borderline obese kitty that needs a little more activity in her life with added obstacles to get food. She's not a scavenger but she's SUPER smart. Didn't need the trainer capsule. We have it set to the smallest opening that will still allow food to come out. It's been about 2 weeks since we introduced this to her. She's already ripped apart 2 of 3mice. But! She is having fun, moving around more, and has lost a wee bit of weight.
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Great Solution for Scavengers
By Anica on Feb 19, 2021
My cat was a stray I took in about 4 years ago. He always ate quickly and promptly threw it back up in the morning, so I've always had to feed him in small portions throughout the day. Recently he's become quite the scavenger by jumping in the sink and going through the trash, which he still does. However, this feeding mechanism really helps him slow down his eating, he's even chewing the kibbles now! The product looks only slightly different from what's pictured here... those look more like the trainer (the blue one without the mousey jacket). They actually have an adjustable lever that determines how much food is dispensed. When I have it on the smallest setting he gets about one-two kibbles My cat was a stray I took in about 4 years ago. He always ate quickly and promptly threw it back up in the morning, so I've always had to feed him in small portions throughout the day. Recently he's become quite the scavenger by jumping in the sink and going through the trash, which he still does. However, this feeding mechanism really helps him slow down his eating, he's even chewing the kibbles now! The product looks only slightly different from what's pictured here... those look more like the trainer (the blue one without the mousey jacket). They actually have an adjustable lever that determines how much food is dispensed. When I have it on the smallest setting he gets about one-two kibbles at a time--for size reference I feed him Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon. He has gotten a little bored of them lately (it's been about two weeks since we started using them) and sometimes some kibbles get left behind, but usually if we drop a few on the ground to remind him he'll nudge it around and eat from it. … more
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Item not as pictured!
By ChineseCrestedMom on Feb 9, 2021 top500Contributor
I bought two sets as replacements for two sets which needed to be retired. The cats destroyed the sleeves and the dog got to the plastic insides. I've been using the originals for over a year and my cats love puzzles and ball feeders. Unfortunately the new design only has one adjustable opening rather than two open holes so it behaves differently. I can see how the new adjustable design could work for better for some pets and some food but my cats don't care for it--I think because not as much food comes out at once even when all the way open. They used to play until the toys are empty and now they use them but lose interest before they are empty. I thought I knew what I was getting and would I bought two sets as replacements for two sets which needed to be retired. The cats destroyed the sleeves and the dog got to the plastic insides. I've been using the originals for over a year and my cats love puzzles and ball feeders. Unfortunately the new design only has one adjustable opening rather than two open holes so it behaves differently. I can see how the new adjustable design could work for better for some pets and some food but my cats don't care for it--I think because not as much food comes out at once even when all the way open. They used to play until the toys are empty and now they use them but lose interest before they are empty. I thought I knew what I was getting and would receive the style shown in the photos so I didn't read the reviews. Now I see other mentions of the toys not matching the images. May cats love puzzles so hopefully they will get used to these but in the meantime I am primarily using the "trainer" from these sets an I snapped up two packs of the older style from another seller who confirmed they had old stock. … more
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Mice are too big.
By Reviewer on Mar 3, 2021
These are ok. My cat is 12lbs and they seem a bit too big even for him. We use lots of puzzle toys for him but these seem to be his least favorite, though if there is food in there he’ll deal with it. They are just altogether bulky and the outer fabric is not appealing (at least to my cat). Burlap or something less smooth may have been more suitable. “Filling them up” would result in over feeding for an indoor cat, because they are so large.
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Great flexibility for multiple cats
By Ritz708 on Feb 12, 2021
I have 3 cats. One fat. I just put some food in the mouse and let him work on it. He’s smart and understands how to get the food out. I limit what I put in & plan to start hiding his mouse soon. The other 2 are stupid. After 2 weeks, I still have to turn the mice over! Soon I’ll quit helping them, but if they don’t eat enough I have cat fights. Won’t ever be able to hide theirs because ‘Fat Cat’ would eat everyone’s. One mouse has just big holes, so that one is easier. Really great for my situation. My 2 dummies will get better. Be sure to put plastic container in mouse with bigger end forward.
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Not worth it
By Momof3cats on Feb 2, 2021
Ok, I thought this would be fun but I have a few things I don't like about it. I do no find the directions very helpful. They are sort of thin and unfortunately, I wasn't that intuitive about how things work. Also, these are not little mice, in my opinion, they are the size of a small rat or at least a large hamster or small guinea pig. I don't even know what the extra oval thing is with the multiple holes is for. However, I loaded it with my cats food and even placed it right in front of them and there is zero attraction. They don't even care about the food inside. I guess my cats have no natural instinct to hunt for a fake mouse because I can tell you they have gotten live mice before Ok, I thought this would be fun but I have a few things I don't like about it. I do no find the directions very helpful. They are sort of thin and unfortunately, I wasn't that intuitive about how things work. Also, these are not little mice, in my opinion, they are the size of a small rat or at least a large hamster or small guinea pig. I don't even know what the extra oval thing is with the multiple holes is for. However, I loaded it with my cats food and even placed it right in front of them and there is zero attraction. They don't even care about the food inside. I guess my cats have no natural instinct to hunt for a fake mouse because I can tell you they have gotten live mice before and we usually only find the head later....and that is in the rare instance they get a mouse. I'd save your money. The Dollar Store has better things to keep you cat entertained. … more