Raspberry Pi Pico W cat feeder checks that the cat has eaten

[ChronoField]

One maker has built a cat feeder that does more than just drop food in a bowl. Hackaday reports on a project by a maker called Jason, using a Raspberry Pi Pico W, a load cell under the bowl and an ultrasonic sensor

After dispensing food, the feeder tracks the weight of the bowl to confirm the food was eaten. It also checks that something cat shaped was there at the same time, so it knows the cat, rather than something else, ate the meal

The feeder has WiFi monitoring and data logging, and it is more programmable than shop bought feeders. It works with dry food only

The first ultrasonic sensor made a sound that cats could hear, which has since been fixed

Knowing that a pet has eaten is valuable, especially for older cats or those with health issues, where appetite changes can be an early warning sign. Data logging makes it easy to spot patterns. It is a practical project that solves a real problem for cat owners

Would you trust a DIY feeder with your pet? And what other smart pet gadgets would you build?

Cat Feeder Ensures Fed Catshackaday.com