"Do-it-yourself" automatic pet feeding dish?! How do i build one?

Question

I often spend some days out (like 3 to 5 days) and I can't bring my cat with me, so I always have to ask a friend or my parents to feed it and change the water. If I had an automatic pet feeding dish and an automatic pet water dish it would be great. I saw those things on online shops but they are expensive. Plus, I like challenges and I wanted to build one of those things by myself.

So the QUESTION is: how do I build such a thing? Where do I find a suitable timer and how do i connect to such device? Details are welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Hi bell,

I had a gravity fed water delivery system from Walmart.  Wasn't that expensive, $5 I think.  As for the food, I'd start with a programmable timer like those used for lights that have an outlet and plugs into the wall.  As for the device to either open and close separate compartments or open and close a chute to allow a metered amount of food to drop into a dish, I don't know.  Hopefully someone with an imagination can fill in the blanks.  It might get expensive and be worthwhile to buy one of the mid priced feeders in store.  Good luck!!