🧩 Prototype V1 — The Beginning (Cryatex Gravity Slow Feeder)
Overview:
As the dad of three cats — Zacky, a ginger oriental; Yorik, a black flock Peterbald; and Yeti, a gray brush Peterbald — I learned firsthand how easily they can gain weight when eating freely from an open bowl. They're incredibly picky and very food-motivated — especially the ginger and the gray ones. When given a full plate of kibble, they would eat like excavators until the bowl was empty, and then I'd have to clean up the inevitable mess.
That was the main reason I decided to design a slow-feeding system that forces them to eat gradually, helping them maintain a healthy weight and avoid post-meal vomiting.
The first working prototype of the Cryatex Gravity Slow Feeder marked the start of a long iteration process aimed at solving that problem — cats eating too fast. Designed, modeled, and printed entirely in-house, this 3D-printable feeder introduced the core Cryatex principles: modular design, easy printing, and functional improvement through geometry.
Now, one fully assembled feeder comfortably holds enough food for a full week, keeping the cats healthy and well-fed without overindulging.
Design Goals
- Encourage slower, more mindful eating to prevent overeating and vomiting
- Help maintain healthy weight for cats prone to gaining weight
- Turn feeding into a puzzle-like activity for mental stimulation and engagement
- Hold enough dry food for up to one week of feeding
- Work entirely on gravity — no moving parts or electronics required
- Be easy to disassemble, clean, and refill between uses
- Stay fully 3D-printable on any standard FDM printer with minimal post-processing
- Be durable and food-safe when printed with PETG or similar materials
- Allow future modular expansion for different tower sizes and plate patterns
Engineering Notes
- Consisted of a three-stage vertical tower, with an adjustable outlet to control kibble flow
- Each level acted as a maze chamber, forcing the cat to use its paws or tongue to retrieve food
- Printed in PETG for durability and food safety
- Included exchangeable funnels to test different kibble sizes and prevent clogging
- Early tests focused on maintaining consistent flow while avoiding "stuck kibble" points — a balance achieved through subtle funnel-angle tuning
Field Testing
- Cats adapted quickly to the slower feeding rhythm
- Feeding sessions extended 3–5× compared to traditional bowls
- Reduced regurgitation and post-meal laziness
- Encouraged light physical activity and focus
Lessons Learned
- Slight variations in kibble size could block the funnel — led to future development of loosened or floating internal connectors to improve flow
- The plates should be cleaned regularly to prevent bacteria growth, as dried food residue can accumulate over time and affect both hygiene and kibble flow due to the layered surface texture inherent to FDM 3D printing.
- Planning to experiment with ironing settings in the 3D printer slicer to achieve smoother plate surfaces, which may reduce residue buildup and make cleaning easier.
- Showed strong potential for modular families (different tower heights and plate designs)
✅ Outcome
Prototype V1 proved that a simple 3D-printed feeder could meaningfully change cats' eating behavior. It became the foundation for the Cryatex Feeder's modular family system, influencing all subsequent designs — from configurable plate patterns to aesthetic shells.
- Makes cats spend more time eating, which is beneficial for mental stimulation and prevents boredom
- Maintains healthy weight and digestion
- Gravity-fed mechanism controls food flow
- Easy to clean and refill
- Holds enough food for a full week for 3 cats
- Compatible with standard 3D printers
- Successfully tested with real cats for almost 2 years
Multiple Configuration Options
Launch of the full Cryatex shop with dozens of feeder configurations to match different cat sizes, eating speeds, and preferences.
- Different tower heights
- Adjustable flow rates
- Various capacity options
- Different shapes, surfaces, and aesthetics
- Modular design system
Expanded Product Line
Developing additional 3D-printable pet accessories and feeding solutions for cats and dogs and homes.
- Modular Hydroponics
- Beautiful Planters for herbs and small plants
- Pet toy collection