This is a specific conversation about Microchip feeders — feeding the right cat — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Microchip feeders are one of the most genuinely useful innovations for multi-cat households — they make sure each cat only accesses their own food, which matters enormously when you've got cats on different diets or with very different feeding needs. A size mismatch between cats is actually a really common challenge, and the feeder opening can become a real issue when one cat is substantially bigger than the other. So — how many cats are you feeding, are they both microchipped, and is the main concern keeping their food separate, or is it also about one of them physically fitting comfortably at the feeder?
Just the two — a 6-year-old Siberian who's quite heavily built, probably about 7kg, and a tiny Cornish Rex. Both microchipped. The Siberian needs a prescription renal diet and I'm worried he either can't get his big head in comfortably or he'll just barge into the Rex's feeder.
inparticular.ai
That's a really clear-cut case — a 7kg Siberian is a serious cat, and prescription renal food makes accurate separation non-negotiable. The good news is that both problems are solvable with the right setup. Before I point you to a specific product, can I ask: is the Siberian already microchipped with a standard 15-digit ISO chip, or do you know if he has an older 9 or 10-digit chip? Some feeders handle both, some don't, and it's worth checking before you buy.
He was chipped by the breeder years ago so honestly I'm not sure — I'd have to check with my vet. Let's assume it might be an older chip. And yes, keeping the renal food strictly his is the priority.
inparticular.ai
Good instinct to flag that — older chips are more common in pedigree cats from breeders. The product I'd steer you toward is the SureFlap SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder. It reads both 9-digit and 15-digit chips without needing an adaptor, which immediately solves your chip uncertainty. More importantly for your Siberian, the bowl opening is wider and lower-profile than cheaper alternatives — it's genuinely designed with bigger cats in mind, and a large Siberian won't be craning his neck or hovering awkwardly. For your Cornish Rex you'd get a second unit programmed to her chip only, so your Siberian physically cannot trigger it open. Two separate feeders, each locked to one cat — clean, simple, and the renal diet stays exactly where it should. You can find both on Amazon UK; search 'SureFlap SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder' and buy two units.
That makes sense. Is there anything I need to do to set them up, or is it straightforward?
inparticular.ai
Very straightforward. You hold the feeder open, press the 'train' button, and let each cat approach — it reads and stores their chip automatically. No app, no Wi-Fi, no account needed. The one thing worth doing first is confirming your Siberian's chip number with your vet so you can verify it's been stored correctly — that takes two minutes and means you won't have any doubt the right cat is unlocking the right feeder. Once trained, both units run on four AA batteries each and will last months between changes. That's genuinely all there is to it.
Perfect, that's really reassuring. I'll check his chip details with the vet and then order two.
inparticular.ai
Great plan. One last tip — when you first introduce them, leave the lids open for a day or two so both cats get comfortable eating from the bowls before the locking mechanism comes into play. Especially useful with the Rex, who may need a moment to trust a lid that opens suddenly. After that they both adapt quickly. Good luck — your Siberian's kidneys will thank you for getting this right.
