Stray Cat Feeders

The outside of a cat house (Credit 中安在线)

Feeders (猫屋, "Cat House"/"Kitty House") are the units that the cats eat in. As of February 2024, over 21,000 feeders had been distributed in China. They are connected to the Hello Street Cat apps and people are able to pay to feed the cats kibble or freeze-dried chicken snacks, which are preserved using freshness packets. Each Feeder has at least one Caretaker who replenishes the food supply in the feeders, cleans the cat house floor, decorates it, etc.

A Feeder/Cat House is composed of five main parts: The Dispenser and attached food bowl, the food storage, the cameras, and the shell. There is also a built in water dispenser, a water bottle may be added by the respective Caretaker, as it has been stated to suit most commercial plastic water bottles. (Note: This only applies to the standard cat house model and may be different in other models)

Each cat house has its own variety of cats - there are exceptions to this when the feeder is in close proximity to another (or more than one other) feeder. A good example of this is Happy Canteen and Auspicious Restaurant, which are known to share a number of the same cats.

Every feeder has their own sequence of numbers called an ID. These are mainly how they can be distinguished from each other. The ID can be used on some streaming platforms to find a specific feeder.

Extensive Details Of The Feeders

A post from the Purrrr team discussing the set-up of the feeders:

Before you see our cozy cat houses on the livestream, a lot of love and effort goes into creating a safe haven for stray cats.

Thoughtful Placement Matters

After discussing with nearby residents, our team works select quiet, hidden locations where cats can eat and rest without disturbance.

Guiding Stray Cats to Their Cozy House

• 1 Follow the Treats: Use cat sticks or canned food to guide cats to the house. Snacks make everything better!

• 2 Irresistible Smells: Add freeze-dried snacks or canned food to the bowl inside. Cats will follow their noses straight to it!

• 3 Familiar Favorites: Place their usual food or water bowls nearby. Familiar items make them feel right at home.

And then... our little furry guests remember this “cat cafeteria” as their another home!  By the time you see them on the livestream, they’ve already made so many happy memories here. Let’s keep giving these precious ones a reason to come back!

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  A kitten receiving some food!

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  An orange cat peeking at the feeder.

A post from the Purrrr team discussing the resistance of the feeder:

You might see the cat houses every day during the livestream, but their thoughtful design might still surprise you. Here’s what makes them so special:

Weatherproof and Tough

Made with galvanized steel and a protective powder coating, the cat houses resist rust and withstand rain thanks to drainage grooves and IPX5 waterproofing.

The frame is crafted from fire-resistant materials and tested for UV exposure to ensure it endures up to three years of sunlight.

Food Storage and Feeding

Inside, there’s a sealed food storage box to keep meals fresh and a tilted, semi-enclosed bowl that protects food from wind and rain while matching cats’ eating habits.

Each cat house comes with a built-in water dispenser compatible with most bottled water. Simply insert a bottle, and the dispenser releases just the right amount of water.

Technology is Changing Cats' Lives!

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  The cat house

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  The Dispenser

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  The water dispenser

A post from the Purrrr team discussing the inner working of the feeders:

Comprehensive Monitoring

Each cat house has three cameras at the back, top, and feeding area. The wide-angle top camera provides a clear view of the surroundings, and our team can tag cats, build profiles, and track TNR progress efficiently.

Real-Time Connectivity

With 4G communication, the cat house ensures real-time updates. Warning labels prevent tampering, and an alarm sounds if the house is moved, so volunteers and staff can act quickly.

Sustainable Power

Some of our cat houses are testing solar power! While it’s still a work in progress, in the meantime, rechargeable, waterproof batteries keep things running smoothly, with automatic route planning to ensure timely replacements.

Let’s take a look at our cat house from a cat’s perspective!

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  The Dispenser

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  The top camera, lights, and roof

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  The back camera

Cat House IDs

An in depth explanation of the Feeder/Cat house IDs can be found here:

Main article: Feeder/Cat House IDs

Feeder Models

There are two main types of feeder models outside of the standard model, excluding the kibble-only variants and the original feeder.

The First Feeder

The first feeder made is the most distinct of all, due to the fact it’s fully made of wood. While it has cameras, it cannot be viewed. Many of the differences with the original feeder and the other models are due to the fact it was home-made, and would be the prototype for the later used stray cat shed models. It is located at the entrance of the Hello Street Cat office, and serves as a reminder of the mission to feed all stray cats. (This is not it’s only purpose, it still serves as a way to feed cats).

The first feeder made!

Beta Feeders

"Beta Feeders" are believed to be a model previous to the current iteration, with their main characteristics being: the white outside and blue interior. These models frequently don’t have any signs or markings on the exterior, and a unique Dispenser shape. Despite having a gap to add water bottles, they usually have their own water dispensers.

There weren't many of these produced, hence the lack of documented feeders. One of the few documented feeders still using this model is 5A Scenic Cat Area

You can see the feeder's vibrant colors and unique Dispenser

Shelter Prototypes

Around July 17, 2024, a new feeder model was given a trial run for 3 months in Big Man's Cat Houses. The goal was to introduce the model into more cat shelters to increase the likelihood of adoption. This model is a lot smaller and only has one camera attached. There is no back camera, and the top camera can be placed in any position by the shelter.

A picture of the prototype feeder model

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