Not all pet owners can work from home all day surrounded by their fur babies, but technology has given them the ability to check in on their pets face-to-face, and one teacher is using this to her advantage. I’m doing it.
The teacher, known for TikTok @madisondemayo, discovered a pro tip that works as a double whammy to involve both students and the cat waiting at home: an automatic feeder. She offered the class a “reward” by giving the pet a treat, and they were immediately on board.
Automatic feeders give owners peace of mind. You can set a schedule for food to come out throughout the day, which is convenient when you’re out and about, and helps your pet stick to a routine. Rover’s article explained that these automatic feeders can also help with portion control and overeating. It could also allow owners to sleep in instead of being woken up by their pets begging for breakfast at 4am.
This automatic teacher feeder from PetLibro has a camera that you can access remotely to check on your cat. Press a button on the app to pour more food into the bowl.
In a Sept. 17 TikTok video, she shared how her class was able to earn rewards and interact with cats at home.
She pulled up the stream and used AirPlay to project it onto the classroom whiteboard. When the cat was broadcast in the classroom, the students laughed and cheered, making it an instant hit.
Screenshot of a TikTok video from September 17th. A teacher sets up a pet camera so students can see their cats. She fed the pet as a class reward. Screenshot of a TikTok video from September 17th. A teacher sets up a pet camera so students can see their cats. She fed the pet as a class reward. @madisondemayo/TikTok
The caption reads: “They went totally wild for this.”
Students weren’t the only ones who liked this reward. One of the teacher’s comments on the video explains that her cats, Orzo and Ziti, also liked it, as evidenced by the fact that they immediately scooped up the treats the class had left for them into their bowls.
Newsweek reached out to @madisondemayo via TikTok for comment.
The rare TikTok video has garnered more than 1.8 million views, 304,500 likes and 733 comments as of Thursday.
One viewer commented: “Now it’s their class pet,” while another said: “Those cats will wish the kids well every day.”
It would be no exaggeration to say that some adults are jealous. “I’m a senior in college and I’m worried this is going to change my life.”
Do you have a funny or adorable video or photo of your pet you’d like to share? Send it to life@newsweek.com with details about your best friend. It could be featured in this week’s pet lineup.
