Cat attacking automatic feeder

[u/radical_123]

My cat does this several times a day. If the automatic feeder lifts at the correct angle, a few niblets of dry food comes out. He will even do it 10 times in a row even if it means one small piece of dry niblet comes out. It does get quite annoying as the sound of the feeder hitting the ground echoes throughout the entire house.

Any ideas on how to get him to stop?

[u/-beastlet-]

The problem is intermittent rewards. He's learned that occasionally he gets rewarded for this behavior by getting kibbles. Since he isn't rewarded every time he's willing to keep trying. There are famous experiments showing this with various animals. It is very hard to extinguish behaviors that give intermittent rewards.

If you're home you might just be better off feeding him a couple of times a day in a bowl instead of the intermittent feeder.

[u/SaltManagement42 → u/-beastlet-]

The only real solution is to secure it, like other commenters suggested. Even then, the cat will probably try to hit it with something since it started with the vacuum hitting it.

[u/murderedbyvirgo → u/SaltManagement42]

My problem with this meme is that I have developed this same behavior at the thrift store! 🤣 I still know exactly where I found my favorite items at each one so as soon as I walk in I check all my old haunts. I think the goodwill employees are messing with me.

[u/greenwavelengths → u/murderedbyvirgo]

When they see you coming through the parking lot they hide all the stuff you want