Apparatus and method for feeding an animal

Abstract

A feeding apparatus includes a container for, in use, containing food for an animal. The container has a side wall through which a slot is defined, the slot extending between closed upper and lower ends of the slot. In use, a feeding restrictor rests on top of the food in the container. A retaining element is positioned outside the container and is movably engageable with an outer portion or surface of the container side wall. The feeding restrictor is coupled to the retaining element before the animal starts to feed, and moves downwardly, guided by the slot, as the animal eats the food. The feeding restrictor can then be uncoupled from the retaining element after the food is eaten, and withdrawn from the container to allow further food to be placed in the container.

1 .- 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A feeding restrictor for a slow feeder, in which the feeding restrictor is light colored. 
     
     
         34 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 33 , in which the feeding restrictor reflects more than 50% of the incident visible light. 
     
     
         35 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 33 , in which the feeding restrictor is white. 
     
     
         36 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 33 , in which the feeding restrictor is pale grey. 
     
     
         37 . A slow feeder comprising a container for food, the container having a side wall, in which an upper edge or rim of the container side wall is light colored. 
     
     
         38 . A slow feeder according to  claim 37 , in which the upper edge or rim of the container side wall reflects more than 50% of the incident visible light. 
     
     
         39 . A slow feeder according to  claim 37 , in which the upper edge or rim of the container side wall is white. 
     
     
         40 . A slow feeder according to  claim 37 , in which the upper edge or rim of the container side wall is pale grey. 
     
     
         41 . A feeding restrictor for a slow feeder, in which openings are defined through the feeding restrictor through which an animal can access food, in which at least 80% of the openings are between 35 cm 2  and 50 cm 2  in area. 
     
     
         42 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 41 , in which all of the openings are between 35 cm 2  and 50 cm 2  in area. 
     
     
         43 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 41 , in which at least 80% of the openings, and preferably all of the openings, are between 43 cm 2  and 47 cm 2  in area. 
     
     
         44 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 41 , in which the openings comprise between 45% and 65% of the total area of the feeding restrictor. 
     
     
         45 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 41 , in which the openings comprise between 50% and 60% of the total area of the feeding restrictor. 
     
     
         46 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 41 , in which the feeding restrictor is circular, and the openings comprise a central opening and three concentric circular rows of openings. 
     
     
         47 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 41 , in which at least 70% or 80% or 90% of the openings in the feeding restrictor have aspect ratios of more than 1 or 1.5, and less than 4 or 3.5. 
     
     
         48 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 41 , in which the aspect ratios of the openings is more than 1 or 1.5, and less than 4 or 3.5. 
     
     
         49 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 41 , in which the feeding restrictor comprises a plurality of struts between the openings, and in which the struts are between 0.75 and 2.5 cm in lateral dimension. 
     
     
         50 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 41 , in which the feeding restrictor is between 40 and 70 cm in diameter or maximum lateral dimension. 
     
     
         51 . A feeding restrictor according to  claim 41 , in which the feeding restrictor is between 50 and 60 cm in diameter or maximum lateral dimension.