Snails (typically Giant African land snails and Chinese mystery snails) frequent the Cats Who Love to Eat feeder. They have since been spotted frequently at other feeders.
Snails are gastropods with coiled shells. Many have been seen making guest appearances at the feeders. Giant African land snails are invasive in China.
A snail falls to the ground in a pitiful manner (GIF)
The snails have recently been seen appearing at feeders en masse, with many feeders seeing 2 or more at a time. They slowly slide around the feeders, generally towards the food bowl, leaving sticky trails and often blocking cameras.
Appearance
The snails seen at the feeders are generally brown and tan colored, roughly 3 inches long, with a spiral shell with lines along it, terminating to a point.
Giant African Land Snail (featuring a strawberry)
Sightings
April 2024
April 9, 2024: At 7:00 AM (CST) Mr. Gunk's feeder has seen an incursion of the sticky horde, with multiple snails seen crawling over the cameras, around and into the food bowl, and around the feeder in general. The cats seem unperturbed by this hostile invasion.
June 2024
2 snails feasting on said burglary's objective (June 6, 2024 Event)June 6, 2024: The dark sky was the perfect camouflage. At 4:30 AM (LFT), a snail was spotted in the empty Mr. Cloud & Mr. Peach feeder thinking she was sneaky. After a long 6 minutes of crawling she raged on the leftover kibble. A companion of the snail was spotted around 4:38 AM, climbing on the feeder's walls with a burning motivation to reach the kibble. At 4:43 AM, they were successful in their burglary without being caught. Here is the first snail checking out the kibble.
(Not every cat sighting is documented.) (LFT = "Local Feeder Time")
Gallery
A snail attempting to rob us of Gunk's top camera feed by covering it with its body.
Arrows clarifying the positions of two snails in a feeder. Know Your Enemy.
Ms. Side Eye observing two snails joining forces (and possibly organs) at Mr. Gunk's feeder.
A snail relieved of its duty to block the feeder camera, retreats to goop another day.
A snail looks for a drink.
Mr.Snail gazing at his brethren with a sense of purpose.
A snail party at Mr. Gunk's feeder
The snail mafia strikes again at Mr. Gunk's feeder.
A snail is just passing by
Two snails kissing while Mr. Unibrow relaxes in the background
