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Do you have two or more pets that keep stealing food from each other’s bowls?
The PortionProRx Automatic Pet Feeder for dogs and cats is designed to solve that problem.
You can assign each pet their own feeder. If one pet goes to steal food from the other pet’s feeder, this portionProRx automatically closes the bowl.
The PortionProRx feeders are available with RFID tags that you can attach to your pets.
Like any other automatic feeder, you can also schedule meals and allocate specific portion sizes depending on your pet’s feeding needs.
That said, a complete system is expensive. If you have two pets, you’ll need to buy an extra feeder and RFID tag.
If you have just one pet or your pets don’t steal each other’s food, you don’t need the PortionProRxautomatic feeder.
See our reviews of the best automatic pet feeders selling today for other recommendations.
What’s In This Review
[toc]Designed for Multiple Pets
Most automatic pet feeders work brilliantly at scheduling and portion control. But most don’t solve the food stealing problem.
It can be a real headache, especially for owners of a cat and dog. Your dog will gobble up his food and then eat from the cat’s bowl.
The PortionProRx automatic pet feeder is designed to keep this from happening.
Here’s how it works.
For the most part, thePortionProRxworks like other automatic feeders.
You can set up scheduled meal times, up to six daily. For each meal, you select the portion to be dispensed.
The PortionProRx feeder has no wireless connectivity like WiFi or Bluetooth. You have to configure using the physical buttons on the unit.
One of the things you need to configure is which pet eats from that specific feeder. It involves pairing the RFID tag to the feeder.
When the pet approaches the feeder, the flap opens automatically to let it eat.
If the other pet with different tag approaches, the feeder closes automatically to prevent it from stealing the food.
Each feeder only opens to the pet with the tag that has been assigned to it. As soon as the pet gets within 2 feet, the bowl opens.
When the pet gets its fill and walks away, the flap closes automatically.
This technology is ingenious but not foolproof. Some smart pets learn that if they stand close enough and wait for the other pet to walk away, they can quickly eat some of the food before the flap closes.
But it will solve the worst of the food theft problem.
By the way, if you are wondering why the feeder couldn’t use the microchips embedded in most pets, the manufacturer has a good reason.
Microchips need to be very close – inches – away from the feeder for the flap to open. Battery-powered RFID tags have a more extended range, allowing the flap to slide open by the time your pet reaches it.
Size and Number of Pets
The PortionProRx automatic feeder works great for most cats and dogs.
However, if you have a large dog breed, this may not be the best automatic feeder. That’s because larger dogs often need large kibble sizes that cannot be dispensed by the PortionProRx.
The recommended maximum pet size is 65 pounds.
As for the number of pets, the PortionProRx is explicitly designed for multiple pets.
But the manufacturer highly recommends assigning only one pet to each feeder. This ensures the best portion control.
The only situation where sharing one feeder might work is if you have two healthy cats with no weight problem.
Cats are more amicable when it comes to sharing. But if you have two dogs or a cat and a dog, definitely get separate feeders for each.
Food Capacity In PortionProRx
The food bin holds up to 32 cups of dry kibble or one 6lb bag. That’s a lot of food for a single pet.
If you are going to be away for a few days, that’s enough food to keep your pet well fed.
The food bowl can hold up to 2 cups of kibble, which is more than enough for a single portion.
Only add dry kibble to the food bin. Semi-moist kibble will jam up the belt and won’t be dispensed properly.
The manufacturer recommends a kibble size of no more than 5/8 inches. Uniformly shaped kibble is better for accurate and jam-free dispensing.
The food bowl is made out of steel to ensure durability and coated with ceramic for hygiene (ceramic is naturally antimicrobial) and to make cleaning easier.
All other parts are made out of sturdy food grade plastics.
Feeder Capacity and Frequency
You can configure the feeder to dispense kibble up to 6 times a day. The frequency will depend on the schedule you’ve set.
For dogs, the control panel allows you to choose 2 or 3 meals a day (24 hours). For cats, you can select 2, 4, or 6 meals a day.
Timer and Scheduling Options
Interestingly, you cannot directly set how much food will be dispensed at each mealtime, which is an option in most automatic feeders.
Instead, you select the number of cups you want your pet to eat in 24 hours.
The feeder will then automatically calculate how much kibble to dispense for each portion. The total number of cups is divided equally among the number of portions.
You can set the total number of cups per day to as little as 1/8 of a cup or as much as 6 cups.
You have more control over timing.
You can set the specific times for each portion dispensed to your dog.
For the cat, you can also set individual meal times, but only if you select 2 or 4 meals a day.
If you select six meals a day, you only need to enter the first meal time. The system then automatically fills in the other meal times with a 4hr interval between each.
You can also manually dispense food outside the scheduled meal times.
In case of a power outage, the feeder will not dispense kibble. But it does not lose time and schedule settings. It will reload them when the power comes back.
Running Modes
The PortionProRx has two running modes: open and closed.
The default mode for owners of multiple pets is ‘Closed.’ The food bowl will stay closed until the assigned approaches the feeder.
If you have one pet or your pets don’t fight over food, select the open mode.
The food bowl stays open all the time. The feeder still dispenses food as per the set schedule.
Note: If you have kids around, select the closed mode even if you have a single pet. This will keep their curious fingers from messing up with the pet food.
Meal Log
When you press and hold the + button for two seconds, the screen displays a meal log showing the second to last meal time, the last meal time, and the next meal time.
For the last two meal times, it shows whether the food was successfully delivered or not. So you know if there was a missed meal.
But even before you check the meal log, the feeder will alert you if there was a missed meal.
Pet Safety
The PortionProRx automatic feeder is designed to be completely safe for pets.
Most pet parents worry that the closing flap might trap a pet’s pawn. The manufacturer thought of that.
They’ve designed the door to close gently, and if it senses an obstruction, it moves back. There is no danger of any paws or fingers getting trapped by the flap.
The materials used in the feeder are hygienic and safe for pets.
The feeder also features a wide base that ensures a large pet or a child cannot knock over it.
Some pets may take some time to get used to the new feeding method. If your pet is unwilling or uncomfortable using the feeder, the user manual has a section on pet acclimatization that is very helpful.
Cleaning and Maintenance Of PortionProRx
The PortionProRx feeder is easy to clean.
You’ll have to clean everything by hand; don’t put any of the parts in the dishwasher, not even the bowl.
Use mild soap, warm water, and a soft cloth.
The removable parts that you can clean include the ceramic-coated bowl, the belt system, the food bin, and the base.
Check the manual for more detailed cleaning instructions.
Price
It is one of the more expensive automatic pet feeders in the market. But I believe it’s worth it.
The build quality is excellent, and it makes it so much easier to keep two or more pets well fed. You don’t have to worry about one pet starving or overfeeding.
Unfortunately, the initial cost is not the only one you need to worry about. The RFID tags that you attach to your pets’ collars last only about a year.
Since the batteries are not replaceable, you have to buy new tags.
The costs quickly add up if you have two or three pets.
Warranty Of PortionProRx
The seller provides a 60-day money-back guarantee. If the feeder does not live up to your expectations, you can return it for a full refund.
If you keep it, it will be covered by a 1-year warranty.
Pros
- Great for two or more pets that fight over food.
- Measured portions are healthier for pets on a diet.
- Can be used for both cats and dogs.
- Safe for pets and kids.
- Flexible scheduling and portion control.
- Retains settings in case of a power loss.
Cons
- Expensive especially when you add in ongoing costs for replacement tags.
- No smartphone connectivity, meaning you cannot control or monitor it from your office or vacation.
- Not ideal for large dogs.
Conclusion
If pet meal times in your home feel like gladiator matches with your pets fighting over food, the PortionProRxautomatic pet feeder brings you sweet relief.
You can now assign each pet their own feeder and keep them from stealing each other’s food.
Whether you are home or away, you can be sure each pet is getting the right amount of food at the right time.
It is expensive, but it makes your life so much easier and keeps your pets healthy.
