You stay anywhere near those areas where raccoons are found quite often, or you regularly feed feral cats?
If that is so, then you have already faced one of the worst issues of raccoons taking a share or complete cat food that you serve. It is an impossible situation and we are left bewildered thinking of ways on how to keep raccoons out of our cat food.
How to keep raccoons out of cat food?
None of the cat feeders comes marked as raccoon proof. However, some cat feeders are better at keeping raccoons away than others. To make things easier, I have prepared a list of the best 5 raccoon proof cat feeders that will help you keep the coons out of your cat's plate.
Why raccoons are eating cat food?
Raccoons simply eat almost anything. However, there are a few things that happen to be their favorites, such as peanuts, a large variety of fruits ranging between apples, berries, and cherries, and of course, the delightful cat and dog foods that you serve.
Raccoons are omnivores and thus if they can find, they will eat your cat's food. Also, once raccoons know that food is available at a certain place, they will keep coming back all through the day to check out.
How to keep raccoons out of cat food?
It is virtually impossible to keep raccoons away from our place once they come to know that there are foods available. So, how do you keep the raccoons away from your cat food? Here are a few tips that might come in handy.
5 ways to keep raccoons away from your cat's food
There are plenty of cat feeders available in the market. But not all are raccoon proof feeders. While there is no clear demarcation and manufacturers do not clearly state that a feeder is raccoon proof, there are some cat feeders that can do the job of keeping the raccoon away from your cat's food quite efficiently.
I have put together a list of the best raccoon proof cat feeders that are up for the job. Check out the list below along with detailed reviews about each one of them.
Best 5 raccoon proof cat feeders
Now, let us check out the top raccoon proof cat feeders. However, if you are simply looking for the best cat feeders available for regular indoor use, check out the blog on best automatic cat feeders.
Comparison chart for best raccoon proof cat feeders
PetSafe Healthy Pet- Best-selling raccoon proof automatic cat feeder 2017
When it comes to raccoon proof automatic cat feeder, the PetSafe pet feeder is among the most versatile of the lot and among the highest selling as well.
It is a tried and tested pet feeder that raccoons are unable to force to provide extra food. The locking lid and the pet-proof dispenser keep the food secured within the hopper. The feeder has 4D Alkaline Batteries and thus you need not power it continuously for it to remain operational.
The feeding options are plenty to suit a variety of cats. You can use either semi-wet or dry food and the anti-clog mechanism keeps the feeder working with both types quite efficiently.
What did I not like?
While the feeder works great, you will have to invest in a proper feeding station that will be able to hold the feeder in place and prevent it from being toppled over by the raccoons. The feeder is also not meant for outdoor use and you need to make sure that it is well protected from rain, sun and other such natural agents.
The PetSafe automatic cat feeder is among the top selling ones available in the category and is proven to be effective in keeping raccoons away from the food stored in the food dispenser. You may give this a try if you have been having issues with raccoons stealing food kept for your cat. Placing the feeder at an elevated point can be really helpful as well. just make sure the feeding bowl is secured too at the right spot.
Surefeed Microchip - Best raccoon proof automatic cat feeder 2017
There is probably no better raccoon proof cat feeder available at present. While this feeder is not advertised thus, the unique microchip enabled feature makes it perfect for the job.
The feeder is activated by microchip attached to the collar of the cat and when the cat comes to the feeder, the lid automatically retracts to let the cat have the food stored within and then again closes once your furry friend has left. So, no matter if raccoons are able to get to the feeder, it will never open to let them have your cat's food.
Remember, this feeder is not meant for outdoor use. If you are going to place it outside make sure you are placing it within some enclosed space so as to keep it away from the various natural agents.
What did I not like?
The side of the feeder tray is not enough elevated and if any other cat or animal is nearby, that cat or animal can push your kitty aside and have your cat's share of food. The lid does not close quickly enough to prevent that from happening.
The Surefeed microchip activated automatic cat feeder is among the best and most innovative feeders available that will help you keep the raccoons out of your cat's food bowl. The feeder comes with a microchip if you do not have one. you will simply have to attach the microchip to the cat's collar and rest assured.
Cat Mate C3000 - Low budget raccoon proof automatic cat feeder
The Cat Mate C3000 cat feeder is idea for feeding multiple times a day without you having to monitor the feeding time continuously. The hopper has a large capacity of 6.5lbs and allows you to preprogram the feeder to dispense food up to 3 times a day or simply select multiple feeding in small quantity all through the day.
Since the feeder does not need direct power supply and runs on 4 C-Cell batteries, it can be sued for about 6 to 9 months without the need to change the battery.
The feeder also comes with the option of being fixed to a wooden board for secured placement, which is quite helpful if you wish to keep the feeder outside and do not want the raccoons to topple it over to get to the food.
The food dispensing mechanism is secured so that neither the cats nor the raccoons are able to paw in to make extra food fall from the hopper. The top lid of the hopper is secured using a locking mechanism that prevents it from being opened by the animals. It certainly serves as a great feeder that can keep the raccoons away from your cat's food and you can make sure that the timing is set such that the cat arrives on time to have the meal.
What did I not like?
The automatic feeding button is too easy to use. If your cat or any other animal figures it out, the feeder is pretty much ineffective from there on.
The Cat Mate cat feeder is a great raccoon proof cat feeder that is effective I keeping the raccoons from accessing the food stock meant for the cats. It does not need direct power line and you can use it at any convenient place. This will be a good choice since you will not have to monitor the feeder round the clock while you remain free from worry about raccoons getting to the food placed outside.
Pet Feedster USA PF-10- Best raccoon proof automatic cat feeder for outdoor use
While we are combating the raccoon nuisance and trying to find the perfect cat feeder that will help keep the cat's food away from the raccoon, there is one more problem that feeders kept on the outside, or sometimes even indoors, face. It is the issue of the ants and other insects finding their way into the feeder and enjoying the cat food.
If you are looking after feral cats then you will most probably leave the feeder out or in a place which is easily accessible to the cat but not within the household. The Pet Feedster USA PF-10 automated cat feeder is the perfect feeder that you should check out.
It can dispense food in varying amounts up to 5 times in a day. This feeder is compatible with a wide array of kibble sizes and thus you will not have to worry about changing the food if you are shifting to this feeder from a different one. The feeder not only keep the raccoons away from the food, but it also helps keep the food fresh and clean by keeping the ants and insects away.
What did I not like?
The plastic used to build the feeder is not of superior quality. Given the premium price, which is another drawback of the product, the quality should have been much better than what is provided.
This made in USA automated cat feeder is perfect if you are going to leave it out for the feral cats. The raccoons cannot get to the food in any way and you can easily set the schedule for feeding and ensure that the portions are managed.
Cedar - Simple raccoon proof cat feeder for outdoor use
Are you worried about having a mechanical feeder out in the open for the feral cats to have food from?
This cedar dog proof cat feeder might be the one thing that you are looking for. The feeder has a unique design where the feeding bows is accessed from the inside. It is almost impossible for dogs to access the food and the hidden design ensures that the raccoons do not come to have the food you are giving to the cat.
However, I would suggest you to place this feeder at a place that will be accessible to the cats but not so easily for the raccoons. To make this additionally effective against raccoons I would suggest creating a narrow opening to get inside the feeder where the cats can easily get in but the raccoons will not be able to.
What did I not like?
The price is quite high and it certainly is among the premium feeders in the list. Quite honestly, this is not the feeder if someone is looking for a cheap option.
While the cedar feeder is not a really cheap option, this one is certainly a great product that can be placed at place within or outside the house and you will not have to worry about the raccoons finding their way in easily. If you are unable to get batteries or charging point outside to the feeder and cannot create a separate feeding station for the automated feeders to be placed, this one will be a great choice.
While searching for raccoons proof cat feeders it is quite unlikely that you will find any product exclusively marked thus. Manufacturers generally do not put the raccoon proof tag on the products. However, the innovative designs and mechanisms make it easy to ensure that the raccoons are kept away from your cat's food.
In this blog I presented a list of some of the best products available currently. If you are facing similar trouble with the raccoons then you may try out one of these items and see how well they work for you.