This has saved me from getting woken up every morning between 4 and 5 AM because my cat decides he wants breakfast. Now he knows he just has to wait for the auto-feeder and to not bother me. It's also really nice for over the holidays, since my family lives in a different state. The 6 days is inclusive, since that last dish is never closed. It's also kind of awkward finding a place to put it that my cat can get all the way around to eat, since the white part is the part that turns, not the dish. My cat always figures it out, though. Be careful when the battery starts to get low, it won't turn all the way and will turn very, very slowly. The 9 volt generally lasts about 6 months, and I use this feeder for daily use (set at the 24 or 12 hour setting). All things considered, still a great product.