Have owned 2 (2 cats) for 2 years. They have both performed flawlessly.  Batteries do last one year as advertised.  Only feature that could possibly make this more convenient is if the least dispensed amount could be 1/16 cup instead of 1/8 cup. I use very small kibble and the feeders would be even more versatile if I could split feedings among 4 meals/day instead of 3. Other than that, I don't know how I managed before I had these.  Just normal living, errands, outings, etc are so much less restricted when I know the cats are fed on time.  One day trip turned into an unexpected overnight when car broke down - no worries! Even helps with weight control since I am out of the equation so they do not beg me for more food. Be aware programming requires careful attention to the directions, but when done correctly, feeder is perfectly reliable.