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Petmate Le Bistro Portion-Control Automatic Pet Feeder | 
| Brand: Petmate
Category: Pet Products
Buy New: $52.99 - $159.39
as of 9/10/2010 11:47 CDT details
Where applicable you'll select size, color, etc. after you click the buy button.
Rating:  458 reviews
Media: Misc.
Model: 24232-PARENT
ASIN: B001I44IHS
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| Features:
| • | Fully automatic pet food feeder | | • | Programmable from 1-3 feedings per day | | • | Control the portion per feeding from 1/4 cup up to 2 cups per feeding | | • | Removable bowl for easy cleaning |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Great for cats and dogs, this fully automatic pet feeder features a tough plastic base that holds a food reservoir for food "on demand." The electronic pet feeder's simple, programmable electronics prompt the feeder to dispense portions from 1/4 to 2 cups at three selected times per day. The unit can be set to meet scheduled feeding times and amounts when caretakers are away, but it is not meant to replace human care--please be sure someone still visits the pet daily. The unit's hopper accommodates a full range of dry food sizes, shapes, and types. The feeding bowl is removable for easy cleaning. Required batteries, which are not included, sustain a long battery life of six months. One-year limited warranty.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 458
 Works as advertised, easy to program June 14, 2008
P-squared
54 out of 54 found this review helpful
We purchased this feeder for our small cat. Just received yesterday. It will dispense in 1/4 cup increments up to 2 cups, 3 times per day. It is VERY easy to program, unlike the horror stories in the reviews for the previous LeBistro models. We ran it through several test feedings and it completed this morning's feeding without a problem. The bowl/chute combo covers the hopper entrance very effectively to prevent a clever cat from accessing the food. A paddle wheel inside rotates to dispense the food, but the paddles are sectioned and made of soft flexible material to prevent jamming. So far so good!
Need smaller portions? Read on. December 4, 2008
Work of Life (Miami, Florida USA)
48 out of 48 found this review helpful
I read all the negative reviews on this feeder and I compared to all the other feeders on the market right now. Hands down, this is the best value for the money, even with its glitches. I used to own a pet sitting company and I have seen every kind of pet feeder there is. I used to wish for someone to create one like this Petmate Le Bistro feeder. Granted, it does need some additional engineering/design work, but until that happens or someone creates a better feeder in this price range, this one gets five stars. Here is the scoop:
The Pros:
1)Will feed 4-5 pounds of food!
2)Will feed three times a day at the exact time you choose.
3)Dispenses the portion you specify.
4)LCD display counts meals so you *know* your furry friend has been fed (even if they act like they haven't)
5)Food is not "hidden" (like some feeders) so you can see it going down
6)Removable bowl for easy cleaning
7)Quiet operation that does not "tip off" other animals in the house if the feeder is meant for a particular furry family member (yes, we have two cats and only one eats from the feeder, the other cat who happens to be a food hog is clueless about it, even after three months of daily early morning feedings to our "special needs cat"). Note: we have a big house with cats that tend to avoid each other unless food is involved, so #7 may not apply in smaller homes/apartments or with pets that are always together in the house.
8) Excellent Customer Service from Petmate.
The Cons:
1) Portion control is not precise (but I created a solution for that, see below and see picture)
2) Battery power can get low enough for the unit to cease dispensing food, yet low battery indicator does not come on and LCD still displays. This happens if you use low voltage D cells (some generic brands are 1.3V each). The unit needs 4.5 volts of power (1.5V per D cell) to operate correctly. Use name brand batteries and it will be fine. To the feeder's credit, the "meal" icon will blink if the unit does not dispense a meal, indicating the unit is clogged or simply under-powered.
3) If the unit were knocked over, it would most certainly spill food everywhere as the lid is not well attached. This unit might not be a good match for rambunctious pets, but fine for all other fur babies.
4) If you take the batteries out, you will have to reprogram some settings. It isn't a big deal, the programming is fairly quick and simple.
The Portion Control Fix! Based on a tip from another Amazon reviewer, I tried all sorts of funnels and plastic cutouts to try to limit the flow of food into the paddle wheel. The funnels/plastic plate/partial covers didn't work, even with the uniform shape and small size of Hill's Prescription diet cat kibble. The food would either get clogged and not drop down to the paddle wheel or it would just continue to fill the paddle wheel as if there was no restriction at all. What I ultimately came up with is what I call "saran wrap pillows" that are secured to the paddle wheel itself. Check out the pic I uploaded to see a detail of the "pillows" I created. You could use another material to "fill" the paddle wheel, maybe cut foam pads or other material. I needed to limit the portion to about 1/8 a cup of food at a time for our kitty. It took about an hour of experimenting (including the various "funnels") to get the right size portions, but I did it and my "pillow" solution has been working great for three months! Here is what you do. Get your saran wrap and a 20 inch piece of string. Start with three pieces of saran wrap that are the same size. Fold each piece into a long strip (to the same width of the paddle wheel compartment) and then gently roll to create your "pillow". If you need to cut your portion from 1/4 to 1/8 like I did, then you will create pillows that will fill about 1/2 of each section of the paddle wheel (each section of the paddle wheel holds approx 1/4 cup). To Adjust the size of the pillows, either trim away some of the strip or wrap another strip of saran wrap to existing pillows. Don't put them into the paddle wheel just yet. Slide one end of your string between the center "fingers" of one of the paddle wheels (this should hold the string in place, but if your string is too thin, you may need to double it or knot it so it stays). Use the manual feed function to rotate the wheel until your string is pulled all the way around the wheel and you are holding both ends again. Now place your first pillow into the paddle wheel and use the manual feed function to rotate the wheel one third. Allow the string to travel with the wheel and wrap around your first pillow. Keep loading your other two pillows in the same manner and then tie the string in a quick knot (that you can undo). Now test! I used a measuring cup to verify the amounts dispensing from all three wheel compartments. Adjust your pillows until you are dispensing the right amount and then tie your string with a strong knot (but don't cinch down or you will flatten your pillows and mess up the portions). It sounds complicated, but isn't so difficult. Once you get a look inside at the paddle wheel, it will make much more sense. Again, check out the picture I uploaded to the product description for a detailed look at my "Le-Bistro paddle wheel pillow". :-) Good luck!
Fantastic Machine, period June 19, 2008
Ben Rhode (San Jacinto, CA USA)
29 out of 29 found this review helpful
One of my two cats was recently diagnosed with a slew of food allergies. He was also referred to as obese during that vet visit. The result: He now requires expensive cat food at measured intervals and quantities during the day. The problem with that is that my wife and I work long hours and can't always be there when he needs to be fed, and if we leave out two servings, he demolishes them both instantly, which either leaves him hungry later on or requires that we feed him more than he needs which is hard on his weight and our pocketbook. This feeder has solved all of our problems. Even better, it appears Petmate took the negative reviews of their previous electronic feeder and fixed every common bug. This device is light, portable, VERY easy and intuitive to use, is not easily sabotaged by overly intelligent felines, delivers well measured (not perfect, but close enough) portions when it is needed. The bowl is removable for cleaning and it has an AC port. The only drawback is that the cord is a separately purchased item, but at least it's an option. I would recommend this to anyone, and for the price, it's pretty hard to beat.
I've had no problems with the food dispensing portions with cat food - all works great! August 7, 2008
MechEngineer (Austin)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
This newer version fixes all of the problems with the earlier model. It's a breeze to program, the food dispensing dish is detachable (and therefore washable) and everything works great. I've had no problems with the dispenser releasing too much cat food (I use Wellness formula cat kibble which is pretty small). either they've fixed this problem, or the reviewers who reported having the problem were using some kind of dry cat food that's even tinier. I've dispensed the food a number of times and measured it in a measuring cup, and every time I get an even 1/4 cup (obviously having selected the 1/4 cup dispensing option).
I used to own the earlier model, but after the nightmare with the programming and other issues, when I saw the new model was available, I returned the first one to Petco where I'd bought it (they only sell the old model) and ordered this new one from Amazon. Not only is this one much cheaper ($50 as opposed to $70 plus tax from Petco), it works better and looks nicer! The screw on bin that holds the food is a lot easier to attach and detach, too.
I couldn't be happier with this purchase (I bought it mainly for when I'm traveling for the weekend but now, since it's so easy to program, if I'm going to be out for several hours (or the entire evening) I just do a quick programming so my two cats are fed and I don't have to rush back early to feed them. And although they never like to share a food bowl otherwise, this bowl is big enough that they don't get in fights over whose turn it is to eat.
Hungry Meows, Begone! July 24, 2010
C. Prutzman (Jefferson City, MO)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I've had the Petmate LeBistro feeder for over a year now, so I suppose I'm qualified to post a review.
I purchased this feeder to replace the size small Ergo feeder I tossed in the trash (after two replacements and several times being broken down). If you're comparing this one with the Ergo, just take the Ergo off your list. This one is far more reliable for half the price.
I really love this thing. It works great, I've had no issues with it, the cats like it, and it affords me all kinds of freedom. No more worries about getting home to feed kitties or leaving for a couple of days...the feeder takes care of everything.
It's easy to program, the batteries last for a long time (no worries if the power goes out), and the parts don't get jammed up.
I see that several folks here have made modifications of all types. I have not. I have two kitties, one of whom is extremely food driven. While she will shove her paw up into the hopper, all it does is loosen food designated for her next meal. She isn't getting anything extra.
I have yet to see her "empty 1/5" of the feeder (which could only happen if, perhaps, the feeder were dispensing too much kibble due to incorrect measurement by her owner). The most I've ever been able to shake loose by jostling the feeder is a couple of kibbles.
Regarding the issue of too much food coming out, the food I feed my cats is far smaller than 1/2", but I just decreased the amount to be fed according to how much actually comes OUT of the feeder, not by how much the selecter says. You don't have to buy different food, just measure it with a measuring cup and decrease the amount selected.
I also paid attention to how much weight the cats seemed to be gaining/losing and adjusted accordingly. More active kitties need more food. For a while I fed 1/2C (more came out due to small kibble) in morning and evening (at total of 1 C). The cats started gaining too much weight, so I changed it to 1/4 C at morning, noon, and evening (total of 3/4 C). They dropped down to a healthy weight easily and seem quite happy.
I've found that spreading out meals to three times a day instead of two stops her from shoving her paws into the feeder at all, even though they are getting less kibble. don't feel like you should only feed them twice a day...the feeder gives you options!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 458
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