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
A vet recommendation for a microchip feeder is a really good sign — it means they've spotted the problem early, and a six-year-old Ragdoll at the wrong weight is absolutely worth getting ahead of. Microchip feeders are one of the most genuinely useful innovations for multi-cat households: each cat's microchip unlocks only their own bowl, so the food thief simply cannot get into their sibling's portion. Before I point you to the right one, can you tell me: are both cats already microchipped, and is it just the Ragdoll doing the stealing, or does the other cat muscle in too? Also, is the sibling on a specific prescription diet, or mainly just getting their food pinched before they can finish it?
Both are microchipped yes. It's just the Ragdoll stealing — he inhales his own food then pushes the other cat off hers. The sibling isn't on a prescription diet but she's much smaller and just doesn't get enough. The vet wants to put the Ragdoll on a weight management food but obviously that won't work if he can eat hers too.
inparticular.ai
That's the classic scenario and honestly the microchip feeder was invented for exactly this. The one I'd recommend is the SureFlap SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder. It works by reading your cat's microchip as she approaches — the lid opens for her and stays firmly closed for your Ragdoll. It's straightforward to set up, reliable day-to-day, and the lid seal is robust enough that a determined Ragdoll won't be nosing it open. One quick question: do you want a feeder just for the smaller cat so she can eat freely, or are you thinking of getting one for each cat so both are contained?
I think just one for the smaller cat to protect her food. The Ragdoll will be on scheduled meals so we can supervise him — it's really just about stopping him cleaning up her leftovers between meals.
inparticular.ai
Perfect — one SureFeed for your smaller cat is exactly the right call then. Programme her microchip into it, put it somewhere she feels comfortable eating undisturbed, and her food is completely off-limits to him from that point on. It also has a portion-control mat inside which helps slow down fast eaters, though that's more of a bonus for you. The SureFeed runs on four AA batteries and lasts a good while, or you can use the optional power adapter if you'd rather not deal with batteries. It's the market leader for good reason — vets recommend it constantly precisely because it just works. I'd get the standard SureFeed rather than the Connect version; the Connect adds app monitoring but you don't need that here, and it saves you some money.
Great, that's really helpful. Will she take to it straight away or do cats usually need time to adjust?
inparticular.ai
Most cats adjust within a day or two, but SureFlap actually designed a training mode for this — you leave the lid open at first so she gets used to eating from the bowl, then gradually introduce the opening and closing motion over a few days. Shy or cautious cats can take a week, but Ragdolls' siblings tend to be pretty unfazed once they realise it opens reliably for them and not for him. The main thing is to not rush the training mode — a few extra days upfront means no food anxiety long term.
Your situation is probably different. Get a specific answer for yours.
