Maybe I'll try the pillow case idea but I think Callie smells the food. I only want to use it for vacation time but would like to keep her from getting the food out all the time. She just goes crazy, sits by it all day and gets impatient and puts her paw in the chute which makes the food fall release. What a pain. I think she would eat all day if she could. Thanks for the info. I'll give the pillow case a try. I'm going to be gone for about 4 days around the end of the month. I always put it up a few days ahead to make sure it is working out.
I used to have to keep a pillow case tied around the base so they couldn't see the food and would leave it alone, but they have learned they can't get to the food anyways so I don't need it anymore. I just bought the second feeder when the two new brothers arrived. They're only for when I work early or late or know I won't be around to feed them. They all patiently wait their turn and feed very well on only two feeders, mine have shared for years and the youngsters picked it up pretty fast - take a few bites, then let someone else have a turn, or get swatted!
I see your dry food feeders in the background. I have one like that I tried using daily but my food hog Callie figured out how to make the food drop anytime, what a pain!! Now I just use it when I'm going on vacation and have the cat sitter come once a day. Do your cats bother the feeder?