A French-made feeder called Yomy is designed to give cats access to both wet food and kibble without relying on fixed meal schedules. Its approach is based on the idea that cats prefer many small meals rather than a few large servings.
The device uses a proximity sensor to detect an approaching animal, a camera to confirm its presence and feline facial recognition to identify individual cats. It can be configured for up to three cats and serves a portion according to each animal’s settings. Once the cat has finished eating, the drawer closes and remains shut until the next approach, with an optional pause available if necessary.
Yomy stores wet food in a patented, airtight 350-gram pouch that does not require refrigeration. The pouch is designed to empty completely and serves the food at room temperature. A built-in weighing sensor records how much the cat actually eats, while the companion app displays calorie intake and the quantity consumed.
During setup, owners enter information such as the cat’s breed, age, weight and activity level. The app then suggests a daily calorie target, which can be adjusted along with the balance between wet food and kibble. The system can be configured for an entirely wet-food or entirely dry-food diet, and the settings can be changed at any time.
The owner behind the test had initially struggled to find a practical way to serve wet food overnight. A previous refrigerated feeder allowed only three meals over a maximum period of three days and required frequent cleaning. After discovering mould inside that device, he stopped using it and turned to Yomy instead.
His cat, Emoon, adapted quickly. According to the account, she understood the connection between the feeder’s dispensing sound and her food within the first day, and showed no significant hesitation by the third day. After about a month, she was reportedly eating within her daily calorie target and no longer demanding meals, although the feeder did have occasional minor issues, including weighing errors that could affect dispensing.
The device measures 49 centimetres in height, 33 centimetres in length and 22 centimetres in width, and weighs 8.8 kilograms. Its beige finish is intended to blend into different interiors, although its size means it takes up a noticeable amount of space.
Yomy also sells wet-food recipes including beef, chicken and carrots; duck, turkey and beetroot; chicken and pumpkin; and cod, turkey and spinach. Sample packs can be ordered for cats whose preferences are uncertain.
The feeder is currently available for preorder at €299, compared with a standard price of €349. Delivery for the next batch is scheduled for December. The company’s 350-gram pouches are sold in packs of four for €22, or €5.50 per pouch. Based on a daily intake of about 120 grams, the tested cat would use roughly 10 pouches per month, costing around €55. Yomy plans to offer subscriptions with a 15% discount, which would reduce that monthly estimate to approximately €45.
That cost is higher than the alternative cited in the test, consisting of Purina One sachets purchased through Maxi Zoo. However, the owner considers the additional expense worthwhile because the cat can eat when hungry without overeating, the food remains sealed, waste is reduced and the app provides detailed dietary data that could be useful when consulting a vet.
Sources: Numerama.