This contraption is amazing for feeding a cat or two while you are out of town for a few days. I did find it amusing that a boxer is pictured on the box for this item, as there is no way a compartment could hold enough food to be a reasonable meal for any large dog. I feel like having one for my 2 cats to share gets them just enough food. Of course, you can set it to rotate every 6, 12, or 24 hours. This is a nice feature, and in theory would allow you to feed a larger pet an appropriate amount over a day. But, there are only six compartments, so the shorter you set the cycle, the fewer days of feeding the machine will provide. I have not tried the cooling packs that I assume are for use with canned food, but I don't see how they could possibly stay cold long enough to really help prevent canned food from becoming gross. I do recommend using the advance button to have the lid rotate all the way around again AFTER having filled the compartments as a test prior to leaving it. It can get jammed if over-filled or if a piece of kibble gets stuck between the lid and bowl. And, if it gets stuck, that obviously defeats the whole purpose. As long as I test it first & correct any roadblocks, I have not had any issues with it getting stuck. I definitely recommend this for the traveling cat owner who can't afford a pet-sitter or boarding! And, even for the busy pet owner who wants to make sure pets are fed on schedule. This device could be a great way to train or retrain your pet about when feeding time is! My cats used to try to wake me up for food at 4 a.m. I always stubbornly refused to feed them, as that is essentially them training me. But, it is definitely helpful to have an expected feeding time.