Animal feeders are disclosed that include a barrier limiting access to feed inside the feeder, doors controlled by an actuator and a control system configured to feed certain species to the exclusion of others by the recognition of those species. Cameras and, in some cases, other detectors are used to detect and identify animals by species. Doors may be configured to be open by default and remain open for the feeding of desired animals with the doors closing to prevent feeding upon the approach of an animal targeted for exclusion.

A security device includes a door handle unit disposed on a door body, a cover layer including a touch sensor and covering the door handle unit, a door locking unit which controls a locking of the door body. The touch sensor may include a plurality of sensor pixels, each including a sensor electrode which forms a second capacitor with a hand of a user when a touch occurs thereon by the user. The touch sensor may generate touch information based on a change in capacitance of the second capacitor corresponding to the touch.

A method of feeding an animal includes placing a food container containing animal food and closed with a cover in an animal feeding system, employing the animal feeding system to open the food container and to present the food to an animal for eating and employing the animal feeding system to re-close the food container.

A dog feeder that includes a base, a lid, and a coupler. The base includes a left wall and a right wall that extend vertically away from a tray between the left wall and the right wall. The tray is configured to contain dog food. The lid includes a front side and a back side, where the front side includes a protrusion that protrudes outwards away from the back side. The coupler couples the base to the lid such that the lid is capable of swinging between the left wall and the right wall. The protrusion is configured such that when a head of a dog pushes against the protrusion to swing the lid to expose the tray, ears of the dog do not reach an edge of the lid.

An insect resistant platform with a base assembly having a plurality of vertical posts on an upper surface that support the bottom side of a cover assembly. A sticky pad is on the upper surface of the base assembly with apertures that surround each of the posts. There is a gap between the base assembly and the cover assembly except at the posts. Any crawling insect will become captured by the sticky pad before being able to climb the posts heading toward the cover assembly. The top of the cover assembly is adapted to support an item such as a pet food bowl.

The inventive concept relates to a smart feeding apparatus capable of feeding a meal and a snack depending on an input received by the feeding apparatus. In addition, the smart feeding apparatus is capable of adjusting an amount of the meal, selecting a type of the snack, and feeding the selected snack thereby feeding a food in consideration of a condition of a subject to be fed.

A method of feeding an animal includes placing a food container containing animal food and closed with a cover in an animal feeding system, employing the animal feeding system to open the food container and to present the food to an animal for eating and employing the animal feeding system to re-close the food container.

A feeding system is provided to permit sequential entry to animals, one at a time, into a feeding station that weighs the animal, and then provides or prevents access to feed based on body weight or other criteria. It exits each animal if no feed is to be provided, or after feeding for a specified period of time. The system accommodates animals housed in groups, and allows individual animals to be fed precisely with minimal labour input. Feed consumption by individual animals is limited by the amount of time they remain in the feeding area of the station and the amount of feed provided to them. The system provides for the ongoing collection of data about the animals growth and controls and monitors feed intake and body weight.

A pet bowl system and apparatus equipped with an immobilized base, bowls, and automated lid is described. The system employs a series of mounts to ensure that the base remains in a fixed position. The system is configured for use indoors or outdoors by conventional domesticated animals. A proximity-triggered automatic lid is present atop the base which is configured to prevent the introduction of contaminants to the contents of the bowls, as well as to prevent use of the system by unwanted animals and pests. An RFID reader is preferably disposed within the base which is configured to communicate with an RFID tag placed on the collar of the pet. The lid opens upon approach of the pet, and is closed upon departure of the pet from the system.

An animal puzzle bowl is disclosed having a plurality of sockets and a lid with a coupling joint configured to couple with those sockets in a plurality of orientations. The lid may include elements such as a lip or grip for an animal to interact with to allow for opening of the lid so the animal may reach the contents of the bowl. The lids may also include holes so the animal may be encouraged to interact with the bowl by the sight or smell of food or other items of interest. The bowl base can include more than one bowl to allow for a combination of lids to be used. By varying the combination and orientation of the lids an animal must problem solve to reach a desired item in the bowl each time, thus mentally stimulating the animal.