A new website lets you feed real cats around the world via livestream and it's already taken social media by storm.
Cute cat videos have been going viral since the dawn of the internet, but have you ever "fed" a cat through your screen? A new website is taking the internet by storm by letting anyone, anywhere, feed real cats live.
What Is "feed-the.cat"?
Feed-the.cat is a website where viewers can trigger an automatic food dispenser with a single donation click. A live camera feed lets you watch in real time as the cat comes over and eats the kibble you just provided.
A built–in cooldown system prevents overfeeding by limiting how often the dispenser can be triggered, though honestly, the cats tend to eat only what they need anyway.
Beyond the feeding itself, the site offers a chat function and a live radio station to round out the experience. Each stream also has a gallery icon where you can browse highlights of past cat appearances.
The platform runs entirely on donations, no ads, no sponsors. All profits go directly towards infrastructure and supporting the shelters featured on the site.
How It All Started
The developer behind feed-the.cat was unemployed when he first came across the Chinese app "Hello Street Cat" (哈啰街猫). The concept immediately clicked: livestream cats and let viewers feed them remotely.
His original plan was modest, just a webcam at home so he could check in on his cat Bishop whenever he was out. He set up an automatic feeder, added a live camera, and the idea was born. He then added a chat and a radio, made the site public and Feed the Cat went viral almost overnight.
Today, the platform features cameras in multiple shelters and rescue centers around the world, with more locations currently in the works.
The Inspiration: "Hello Street Cat" From China
The concept that sparked it all was developed in April 2023 by Guangxi Hachong Network Co., Ltd. Its mission: use technology to feed, track, and support stray cats and integrate them into TNR programmes (Trap, Neuter, Return) to prevent uncontrolled population growth.
Each feeding station comes with three cameras (front, top, back), automatically scans the cat's features, and even creates a digital profile for each individual animal.
Between 2023 and 2024, the platform became a viral phenomenon on X and TikTok. Famous cats like "Mr. Fresh", better known as Side–Eye Cat, originated from these streams.
Its accessibility, media reach, and meme potential inspired similar projects worldwide. Feed the Cat is now the best-known Western equivalent.
How Does Feed the Cat work?
Just head to feed-the.cat in your browser, no download needed, though an app is also available.
From the homepage, pick a "room", different locations or shelters around the world. Make a donation and the automatic feeder releases dry food for whoever happens to live there.
The cats don't show up on demand though. They come when they're hungry, which means the site genuinely rewards patience. You can also browse past cat sightings anytime through the gallery icon.
Creating an account is completely optional. Sign up and you get your own profile, the ability to like cat sightings, and access to the leaderboard, a ranking of the most active feeders across all time, the last 30 days, or the past seven days.
The Bigger Picture
Feed the Cat's focus goes beyond entertainment. By spotlighting shelters and rescue centers, the platform aims to raise their visibility and encourage adoptions.
Every cent donated goes towards infrastructure costs and directly supports the participating organisations.
Similar ideas exist on Twitch, MarineMammalRescue streams otters, and some creators let viewers feed cows via donations. But Feed the Cat is the only dedicated standalone website of its kind in the Western world.
The developer is actively expanding, with more cameras and new shelter partnerships on the horizon. If you run a shelter or know one that might be interested, you can reach out directly through the site.
Feed the Cat is proof that the internet doesn't always have to be loud, controversial, or chasing clicks. The cats show up when they feel like it. There's no algorithm, no brain rot, no schedule.
It feels like a quiet, gentle pushback against the noise and negativity we scroll through every day. Sometimes all it takes is a food dispenser, a camera, and a cat doing its thing, to put a smile on faces around the world.
