Lime and Mint: the two sisters who changed our lives
It all started when we became foster parents to two calico kittens. It wasn't the plan, of course. It never is. But Lima and Menta arrived at our house, settled on the sofa, and there was no turning back.
At first, everything was perfect. Well, almost everything. Because at mealtime, our two little ones turned out to be real foodies. And that's when the problems began.
The problem: Lima, anxiety, and vomiting
Lima has always had food anxiety. When mealtime came, she would dive into her bowl as if there were no tomorrow, eating everything at once... and a few minutes later, she would throw up. Again and again. Seeing that daily broke my heart.
The solution seemed simple: an automatic feeder that would give them small amounts several times a day. No gorging, no vomiting. I bought it with great enthusiasm and it worked... for a while.
The unexpected twist: Mint enters the scene
Are you wondering why it stopped working? Because Menta, who's as clever as can be, discovered that when the dispenser sounded, there was free food. And of course, she ate it all before Lima could get there. What started as a solution became an even bigger problem: Lima still wasn't eating well, her anxiety increased, and the vomiting returned.
The half-solution: SureFeed
After searching and searching online, we found the SureFeed feeder: only the cat with the correct microchip can open it. Perfect! Lima would eat peacefully without Menta stealing her food. But there was a problem: the SureFeed is not compatible with automatic dispensers. So we were back to square one — I had to leave enough food for the whole day while I worked, and with that... the binge eating and vomiting returned.
We were stuck. We had two half-solutions that didn't work together.
The light bulb: a 3D printer and many hours of racking our brains
One day, the lightbulb went off. What if we could adapt the automatic dispenser to the SureFeed? Change the feeder door with a new design that would allow the two systems to connect?
What started as a crazy idea turned into weeks of study, design, and 3D printer testing. Prototype after prototype, adjustment after adjustment, until we finally found the solution: a replacement door for the SureFeed with a precise opening, a slide that guides the food directly into the bowl, and a riser for the dispenser that makes everything fit perfectly.
Today, Lima and Menta eat happily. And so do we.
Now each one has her SureFeed feeder with her microchip. The automatic dispenser gives them small amounts several times a day. Lima eats peacefully, without competition and without gorging. Menta eats her own food. And the vomiting... disappeared.
If you also have pets that need to eat separately, whether due to food anxiety, an allergy, or to prevent the dog from eating the cat's food, I know exactly what you're going through. We created this product because we needed it, because we searched for it tirelessly and it didn't exist, and because our cats deserved a real solution.
I hope that Lima and Menta, without knowing it, also help yours. 🐾
