Home: Pet: Cat: Entertainment
Cat Evading Feed Bowl   (+18, -2)  [vote for, against]
Simulated prey

Motion sensors surround your otherwise innocent seeming cat feeding bowl. On the approach of said kitty, simple robotic object avoidance algorythms kick in. Hidden wheels under the bowl send the food skittering about the floor, attempting at all times to stay a certain distance away from cats and other obstacles. This provides kitty with a stimulation of the natural hunting instinct which might otherwise be suppressed by the daily feeding ritual. Kitty will then be fed, satisfied that they are a mighty hunter, and too tired to chase wildlife.
-- BunsenHoneydew, Jan 11 2007

I knew it sounded familiar. The_20Feeding_20of_...ngway_20type_20cats
[ldischler, Jan 11 2007]

Selfless elf-promotion RC_20mouse_20with_2...food_20distribution
Shows I didn't do my research... [theleopard, Dec 14 2011]

Pumpkii https://pumpkii.com/
It appears that this is now a thing ... [8th of 7, Aug 10 2020]

wow

fluffy is skidding around the kitchen and she needs the exercise.

needs feathers...
-- po, Jan 11 2007


and wish bones..+
-- skinflaps, Jan 11 2007


Well searched there [ldischler]. I had only looked in the home:pets category, not in the food:pet food one. The linked idea is remote controlled, not autonomous, but then [8th of 7]'s anno says //if the bowl had PIR movement sensors it could automatically scuttle away from any approaching heat source.//

Mmm. Borderline, but probably [m-f-d] redundant.
-- BunsenHoneydew, Jan 12 2007


I see where you're coming from, but i just don't think this would prevent my cats from bringing in a decapited bird and sicked-up mice? Would be a great way to pass time though... How long could i go tormenting my cat who enjoys biting me?.. endlessly.. Bun from me +
-- deoxyribonucleic, Jan 12 2007


Bun for the mess this would create alone.

Also, a study in successful idea naming. This was essentially a previously posted idea with a less snazzy name that only got two buns.
-- doctorremulac3, Dec 14 2011


Oh, bum. I did one two years after this as well! <linky>
-- theleopard, Dec 14 2011



random, halfbakery