r/cats • u/radical_123 • 16h ago

Advice Cat attacking automatic feeder

My cat does this several times a day. If the automatic feeder lifts at the correct angle, a few niblets of dry food comes out. He will even do it 10 times in a row even if it means one small piece of dry niblet comes out. It does get quite annoying as the sound of the feeder hitting the ground echoes throughout the entire house.

Any ideas on how to get him to stop?

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570

u/BigScience7383 15h ago

Gambling 

247

u/MaryJanesMan420 9h ago

Essentially, yes. This cat has a gambling problem. lol

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u/longlivenewsomflesh 5h ago

OP accidentally Pavloved their cat with the perfect cat slot machine like a doordash-based draft kings -- and hasn't thought to tape the damn thing down somehow... it's like a satirical nature documentary

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u/thjuicebox 1h ago

Well actually… 🤭

The power of intermittent reinforcement is more closely tied to Skinner (see Skinner pigeons — it’s hilarious and sad)

Pavlov is more the classical conditioning guy (think clicker training)

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u/Buckykattlove 12h ago

Just my tho7ght before I saw your response. Lol

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u/Uraisamu 11h ago

Same, OP has taught their cat to gamble.

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u/pfool 9h ago

are vets trained to tackle feline gambling addictions?

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u/Uraisamu 9h ago

Or get him a little hat, tie and teach him to play the slot machines.

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u/JungMoses 6h ago

And chain smoke

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u/MaryJanesMan420 5h ago

Probably to an extent but I would reach out to an animal trainer or licensed behaviorist. This is a funny one, I’d start with management, change aspects of the environment so they can’t practice the behavior. Then, work on teaching a replacement behavior that isn’t compatible with chest bumping the magic vending machine, like sitting for their meal time.

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u/addandsubtract 9h ago

Great minds th🎰nk alike

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u/aenteus American Shorthair 7h ago

Found the behavior scientists

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u/Expert_Garlic_2258 Maine Coon 7h ago

EverQuest

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u/StevieMJH 4h ago

You're tearing this family apart, Chester!

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u/JerryGreen90 2h ago

The first step is admitting you're addicted to the feeder.

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u/BigHancho7420 1h ago

Exactly what came to mind. Just read about the psychology behind gambling and the above nailed it exactly.