This is a non technical review of my experience with the PETKIT FRESH ELEMENT SOLO. I'm not going to list the specs etc. but rather give my thoughts after using it for a few months now.
Firstly after looking a various cat feeders, I decided to go with the Petkit automatic cat feeder given it offers notifications on my phone and I'm really glad I did. It gives piece of mind getting a notification after each feed or when food is low etc. If I didn't receive such notifications then I wouldn't know if it ever failed to dispense food. Without this feature, you would have to be checking the feeder very often to confirm it's still working. The notification feature alone make it worth the higher price over other feeders that doesn't offer this feature.
The app does the job although after it's setup, I rarely have to use it. I also have the Petkit water fountain and I periodically check in on the app to review everything is working as expected and to check when desiccant and filter are due to be changed (the latter being for the water fountain). I also give my cat a packet of wet food daily in between dry food; sometimes my cat is a bit fussy with wet food and goes off it for a few days so on occasions, I go into the app and manually give an extra feeding of dry food instead (or press the button on the side of the feeder as I'm passing to dispense an extra meal).
Initially and over a few days I had to determine the ideal quantity size for each feed. I feed my cat with dry food in the morning, lunch and supper time and offer a packet of wet food early evening. After working out the right balance, my cat is not hanging around where she's fed wanting more food and she soon eats all the food that's dispensed. When I started using it, I checked the portion size and tried to offer a similar amount to what I would have normally given but found I had to tweak it a bit. Also, given it's automatic, rather than feeding my cat twice a day as I previously did, I now feed her four times in total which seems to work well. My cat seems to be very content with this regime.
As above, I've been using the cat feeder for a few months now and it's worked flawlessly. Note the desiccant needs to be replaced every 30 days and it's not particularly expensive however I purchased 3rd party food grade desiccant packets which work out more cost effective than the Petkit replacements.
The food is air-tight sealed within the feeder and with the aforementioned desiccant it is fresher than when I didn't have this device. The feeder and the water fountain both contributes to ensuring my cat is being given fresh food and water at a set times. I would recommend this device without hesitation and if you don't opt for this specific model, I would urge you to ensure you get one with the smart notifications.
| Product Dimensions | 29.6 x 16.7 x 31.6 cm; 2.09 kg |
|---|---|
| Item model number | FRESH ELEMENT SOLO Automatic Pet Feeder |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
| Pet Life Stage | All Life Stages |
| Colour | White |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Care Instructions | Only the stainless steel bowl support dishwasher, Recommended for indoor use only; the desiccant should be replaced every 30 days, The bowl base can not be washed. Please separate the stainless steel bowl from the bowl base before washing |
| Special features | Portion Control, Remote Control via App, Feeding Schedule, Food Grade Material, Battery Backup System |
| Specific Uses | Indoor |
| Batteries required | No |
| Batteries Included | No |
| Item Weight | 2.09 kg |
