Cat psychology and feeding problems

Magritte is very old, but very spry for her age. She has already outlived most cats at an age of over 13 human years. According to a chart I found online she is almost 70 years old in cat years. If she is fed correctly we think she could make it to 100 cat years. Maybe live forever? We searched pet stores for cat feeders to regulate consumption. Not much there, just some very simple items that looked like an inverted container attached to a dish. Fill one of these and she will just eat and eat until she pukes and then she'll be down for the count for a few days. Lethargic and ill. She would not last long with this system.

'There must be something out there!', we thought. We imagined something motorized that would be adjustable and give her just the right amount of food at just the right time interval. We searched the web. There were a few automatic cat feeders, but they were bloody expensive. They were designed to leave your pet unattended for a few days while you go on vacation. Not a good idea, really if you ask us, but I guess sometimes it may be necessary. Still these were not adequate. These machines would dispense at minimum 1/2 cup per serving. Too much for poor old Magrittey.
And the time interval could not be adjusted to short enough interval to be frequent enough to solve her meowing problem. Just not adequate.

Finally we found something that piqued our interest. It was a small, quaint website. Obviously in its infancy, and quickly constructed by a fairly amateur web developer. We always believed in the marketing potential of the internet, to help the small intrepreneur succeed in a niche market. "The long tail effect" its called. Aptly named for this situation. Where lots of products out of the mainstream can find their way into their niche market.

I called the number on the screen. There was a web order form but I was in a hurry as I had to leave town and I really wanted to surprise my partner with a gift to solve the cat problem. Its her cat and our relationship was just beginning at the time. To my amazement the call was answered by the inventor of the device who was working at an office just a short subway ride away! He agreed to meet me although he normally sells them through the internet and ships them all over the world. He was a cat-passionate and caring entrepreneur and he was willing to meet with me personally to sell me his invention. I couldn't believe my good fortune! 'I love the power of the internet and the Long-Tail Effect', I thought to myself. ("Long-tail effect so appropriate for cat products) 'Its so cool to meet an actual inventor in the process of building his company'.

Here is a link and remember to tell him, "Matt sent me." :-)
http://catutopia.com