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“Cat Food” Stove

December 12, 2017 By bearplate 1 Comment

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Have you ever made any of your own backpacking gear? Cat food stoves are a type of homemade backpacking cooking stove.  They’re called “cat food” (A.K.A. Super Cat) stoves because they are typically made from an empty Fancy Feast can.  However, you can make a stove out of any small lightweight can.

A couple of days ago I was about to toss out an old wasabi can when I realized that it would probably make a great stove.

ULTRA LIGHT!!! Cat Food Backpacking Stove! An easy, lightweight, and inexpensive backpacking stove #ultralight #gear #diy #supercat #backpacking #myog #makeyourowngear

To make the stove you need to:

clean and dry the can

punch holes into the can approximately 1/4 in apart

make a second set of holes under the first one.

With a cat food can, a hole punch will work to make the hole.  The wasabi can turned out to be too strong for this to work. So I made the holes with a hammer and nail and then enlarged them by inserting the end of some needle nose pliers and twisting back and forth until they were the desired size.

At a 2in diameter and a .8oz weight, this stove is slightly heavier and more narrow than a cat food can.

ULTRA LIGHT!!! Cat Food Backpacking Stove! An easy, lightweight, and inexpensive backpacking stove #ultralight #gear #diy #supercat #backpacking #myog #makeyourowngear

Advantages of using a cat food stove

  • inexpensive: can potentially be made with items you already own
  • lightweight
  • can burn a verity of alcohols as fuel: methanol, ethanol, isopropyl, or even  tealight candles
  • easy to find fuel for while on a thur-hike
  • no parts to clog or break
  • no stand is needed since the pot goes directly onto the stove
  • easy to see how much fuel you have left
  • fuel can be multifunctional: depending on the type of fuel used as a disinfectant

Disadvantages

  • tippy: needs to be used on a very flat surface to avoid tipping
  • can be blown out by the wind
  • fire hazard: open flames are much closer to the ground than other stoves
  • no off switch: if the stove does tip over the fuel inside of it will spill out
  • alcohol has less energy per weight than some other stove fuels
  • slower cook times than other systems
  • doesn’t work as well in cold weather

 

ULTRA LIGHT!!! Cat Food Backpacking Stove! An easy, lightweight, and inexpensive backpacking stove #ultralight #gear #diy #supercat #backpacking #myog #makeyourowngear

To use the stove, add the alcohol of your choice. Ignite the fuel and wait a few seconds before placing the pot on top.

ULTRA LIGHT!!! Cat Food Backpacking Stove! An easy, lightweight, and inexpensive backpacking stove #ultralight #gear #diy #supercat #backpacking #myog #makeyourowngear

ULTRA LIGHT!!! Cat Food Backpacking Stove! An easy, lightweight, and inexpensive backpacking stove #ultralight #gear #diy #supercat #backpacking #myog #makeyourowngear

 

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Comments

  1. Anne says

    December 14, 2017 at 6:03 am

    I’ve always wondered how to make one of these stoves. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

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