Microchip feeder for kitten and adult cat

Microchip feeders are one of the most genuinely useful innovations for multi-cat homes — they make sure each cat can only access their own food, which is critical when feeding needs are as different as those of a newly weaned kitten and an adult cat. Kitten food is calorie-dense and portioned for tiny tummies, and you really don't want your adult cat hoovering it up, or your kitten trying to eat adult portions. So — how many cats do you have in total, are they both microchipped (or is your kitten too young to have been chipped yet), and is the main concern the adult stealing the kitten's food, the kitten getting into adult food, or both?

That's a very common setup and totally solvable. The good news is that even though your kitten isn't microchipped yet, you can still use a microchip feeder effectively — you'd programme it to open only for your adult cat's chip, then simply place the kitten's food in a separate bowl out of reach, or in a space the adult can't easily access like a high surface or a kitten-only room. The feeder locks the adult out of the kitten's portion rather than the other way around. Does that approach make sense for your space, or do you need both cats restricted to their own feeders?

In that case, one microchip feeder is all you need right now — set it to open for your adult cat's chip so she always has access to her own food, and keep the kitten's food in a separate bowl somewhere your kitten can reach but ideally in a spot you can monitor at mealtimes until the kitten is old enough to be chipped and have their own feeder. The product I'd recommend is the SureFlap SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder. It's the most reliable option on the market — the sealed bowl design also keeps food fresher, the programming is straightforward, and it handles both microchipped and collar-tag pets. It's robust, widely trusted by vets, and has been around long enough that the tech is genuinely mature. One unit will sort your immediate problem completely.

It works with all standard 9, 10 and 15-digit microchips, which covers every chip format used by UK vets — so your adult cat's existing chip will work without any issue. You just hold the feeder's button, let your cat approach and it reads and stores the chip automatically. Takes about 30 seconds. And when your kitten gets chipped at around 8 weeks or whenever your vet recommends, you can simply add a second feeder for them at that point and programme it to their new chip. The system scales easily as your household needs change.

You're very welcome. The SureFeed is a solid long-term investment — it'll serve you well once the kitten is chipped too and you have two feeders running independently. Good luck with the new arrival!