I have the most annoying persistent cat. He ripped apart a previous auto feeder. Could not get into this one. In the process of training him to stop begging insistently. This has done the trick. Now the feeder has 4 set times that the locking into and slowly he is leaving us alone when in the kitchen. He is becoming aware of feeding times. Waiting by the feeder in silence and leaving us the f@$k alone. Easy to use, setting times a breeze. Ordered 2 more ice packs.