Star rating: 3.7 | Cat Mate C3000 is an automatic feeder with several features and mode settings.
This review will give you a general description of the Cat Mate C3000, features, mode settings, pros and cons, and the final conclusion if this unit is recommended for your cat. We also include a video so you can see how this device works.
Note: If you like the Cat Mate brand and need to feed your cat wet food, check my review of the Cat Mate C500 that comes with ice packs.
CAT MATE C3000 DESCRIPTION
The Cat Mate C3000 allows you to program up to 3 individually sized meals within a 24-hour period with the ability to dispense each meal with a minimum of approx. 10 gr. (1/3 oz) at a time. This automatic feeder is designed to work with kibble sizes between 1/4″ and 6/8″ in diameter. For better accuracy in portions, you may want to use a 1/2″ diameter kibble size.
The Cat Mate C3000 has a programmable LCD control to set the clock and feeding schedule. This automatic feeder has several mode settings to customize your cat feeding schedule. If you want to feed your cat more than 3 meals per day you can trigger an extra meal manually by pushing a button or you can program manually the extra meal. To feed your cat an extra meal you need to program this extra portion daily.
FEATURES
Feeds up to 3 meals per day.- Capacity to dispense small amounts of food with a minimum of 2 teaspoons.
- Optional mode settings.
- Easy to program using the LCD control.
- Snap-lock lid (lid is not cat-proof)
- Food hopper with a capacity to hold 6.5 pounds.
- Dishwasher-safe components.
- May be attached to a wooden board for extra stability if required.
- It has a low battery indicator on the LCD screen.
- Dimensions: 8.3 X 8.3 X 14.5 inches
- It works with 4 C batteries (not included).
WATCH TWO CATS EATING FROM THE CAT MATE 3000
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ADDITIONAL MODE SETTINGS:
In addition to the classic “Set Meal” of 3 meals per day within a 24-hour period, this automatic feeder has 4 extra mode settings:
- Extra feed (in addition to a Set Meal). This allows you to feed your cat additional “feed units” (meals) than the 3-times-p/day feeding schedule. You can add one extra meal (entering 4 in total) or you can add more meals as well. These extra feed units have to be programmed manually daily.
Cat Mate C3000 LCD Control
- Advance feed (serving the next Set Meal early). With this setting, you can bring a programmed set meal forward. You may only advance feeding schedules programmed for the same day. For example, if you have set 3 meals per day and you want your cat to eat the second meal earlier, you can do it by pushing 2 buttons and the second meal will be served. After this, the screen will flash the next programmed meal (3rd meal).
- Manual feed (dispensing controlled feeds on demand). This setting allows you to feed your cat a determined amount of food without programming meal times.
- Frequent feed (small feeds at regular intervals). This setting is perfect for cats with specific dietary requirements (e.g. example, diabetic cats). The “frequent feed” allows you to set a determined amount of food to be dispensed at regular intervals you define within 24 hours. You define the “start” and “end” of this 24-hour cycle. The intervals are defined by how many times you want the food to be dispensed during that cycle.
What are the Pros and Cons of the Cat Mate C3000?
If you need more specific information about the advantages of this auto feeder and also its disadvantages, the following Pros and Cons will help you to decide better:
PROS
- It allows you to feed your cat up to 3 times per day and you can increase the times manually.
- It allows you to customize the feeding schedule.
- “Frequent mode” is special for cats that eat too much at one time.
- It retains the settings when turned off.
- You can change the batteries without reprogramming if you do it within 60 seconds.
- The components are dishwasher safe.
- Convenient price.
CONS
- Cats can reach extra food from the chute if using small size pellet (1/4″ diam.)
- The dispensing is not accurate if you use a small pellet (1/4″ diameter).
- The chute goes assembled with the unit and is not attached to it.
- A little tricky to be programmed.
- It works only with batteries.
- Loud when operating.
TIPS ON HOW TO USE IT:
- After setting the clock you have to wait 60 seconds before setting the feeding schedule, this is very important.
- If you love the idea of getting this device but you have a cat very obsessed with food and you know it will try to defeat this feeder, you can check this great customer solution (US link) to use this automatic feeder.
CONCLUSION
The Cat Mate C3000 is a good automatic feeder that works with accuracy when dispensing medium-sized kibble. The bad part of this feeder is that you need to keep your cat’s paws away from the lid. This unit is not a cat-proof pet feeder because somehow cats can lift the lid with their paws. Securing the lid is as simple as taping each side of it to the hopper. With that said, and according to customer reviews,
√ This feeder is recommended in these situations:
- If you feed your cat with a 1/2” diameter pellet size (better accuracy in portions).
- If your cat eats up to 3 meals per day.
- If you need to feed your cat a determined amount of food per day at regular intervals, by using the “Frequent Feed” mode.
- If you have the patience to program this feeder (it takes time to figure out the programming).
With a small pellet size (1/4″ diameter), is recommendable only if:
- Your cat is well-behaved with food, not a cat obsessed with food.
- You want to feed two cats.
- Your cat is not on a diet.
x I don’t recommend this automatic feeder:
- If you have a food-driven cat and you don’t want to put tape to secure the lid of this feeder.
Get the Cat Mate C3000 automatic feeder with fast and free shipping at Chewy by visiting this link.
Works fine once it is programmed.
Programming takes about two hours at best; manual is not clear in how to manipulate the 4 buttons; much time is lost waiting to reset; never shure if the thing accepted the latest programming, switches to next step or not.
It has one major similarity with my cat: unpredictable!
would love to recommend it when a more precise and proper working programming/manual is available.
Thanks Tom for you input. As one of the “Cons” states, the programming of the feeder is tricky. Once the unit is setup, it works fine. Remember to change the batteries within 60 sec to keep the programming retained.
Been using the Catmate C3000 in a somewhat customised version for a while now and I’m pretty fond of it. Since one of my cats is pretty clever and VERY foodmotivated I needed a way to get the feeder out of his reach, while it still being able to feed both of my cats and give them both equal opportunity to get the kibbels. The final solution was to build a case around it, hang it on the wall out of his reach, and saw the little ‘catching bowl’ in half. Now when the Catmate switches on to dispence kibbles, they come raining down on the ground. Picture of the little cupboard and modified tray: http://i.imgur.com/U4K72YC.jpg
The programming took me about half an hour to an hour I think, takes some getting used to but very doable nonetheless.
And a little video of the Catmate working, along with my cats. https://youtu.be/oXwLCPizc7c
I placed a food enrichment activity board beneath it, a lot of kibbles will bounce off of it, but the few that do land there provide a little bit of extra challenge for the cats.
Thanks Eve, for sharing your experience with us!
Anyone knows how long it lasts the food on the container if feeding one single cat 3 times a day? More or less? Thanks!
Hi mariana, if you feed your cat approx. 7 Oz of food a day the food will last about 2 weeks. Hope that helps!
leaving tomorrow, i took to much time te check the batteries. I am unable to set my cat mate again.
shop closed…
If somebody have an idea…
new feeder is missing owner’s manuel. Need help locating a copy of it.
Here’s the link http://www.pet-mate.com/us/Downloads/CM%20Feeder%20C3000%20Jun14.pdf
why is the feeder so loud? after 1 turn i’m ready to chunk it
Hello Buck, you mean the motor is loud or the sound of kibble falling?
I spent an hour or so trying to program and still not sure if its set up to where i can go somewhere over two nights. ill have to play with it again to night.
Did someone say Chuck it??
Hi Donna, here’s the link with the programming instructions https://youtu.be/Tba0E7v1bfU?t=44 Hope that helps!
Pleas help me. I only want to feed in the morning. I do not want to feed three times a day. I programmed the clock and the first feeding session but then for the second and third feeding which I want to be zero it has six and I cannot push the plus or minus it does not change that. Please advise how to fix that so it only feeds one time a day in the morning at the time I have set
Hello Parkerlene, once pushing the button “FEED” it should show the letter F and two zeros “F 00” for the next meal, if this doesn’t happen and you see the #6 instead you need to contact the customer service.
Will the frequent feeder also feed over night? So if I set the start time to 6:00 and end time at 6:00 with 11 feeds, will it also dispense between 12:00 am and 6:00 am? It wasn’t clear because the last feed time jumps from 24:00 to 6:00 am. I’m worried it will only dispense at 6:00 am.
Thanks,
Sarah
Hello Sarah, do you mean the Start will be at 6 pm?
Yes, but you need to keep it all in the same day(between 00:00 and 24:00). So would need to have a start time of 00:01 and end time of 23:59 (or so). It will evenly divide the number of feedings you set over that time period. e.g. 12 feedings over 24hr period will start 1 minute after midnight and repeat every 2 hours with the last feeding occuring at 22:01(10:01pm).
Great review.
I wish it was possible to find out the power usage of this machine.
While it does not have an DC input, a lot of us would like to use an battery eliminator on it bt putting in dummy batteries. If it was possible to know if it needed let say 500mA or 1A, that would be helpfull :)
Had mine for a few years, happy with it!
I am happy you like this automatic feeder, Brent. I don’t have that technical information though, I am sorry I couldn’t help more.