The Best Automatic Cat Feeder: TOP Rated Auto Cat Feeders (Reviews)

An automatic cat feeder is a useful thing. It is designed to feed the pet in the absence of the owner. This feeder is useful if the cat likes to eat a very early breakfast and you want to sleep. In addition, veterinarians prescribe such devices for correcting the pet’s weight, since, with an automatic feeder, you can strictly follow the feeding schedule.

Car feeders are different, and each type of device has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, automatic feeder-bowls are good for those cases when you plan to be away from home for one or several days. As a rule, such devices run on batteries, so your pet will not be left without food if the electricity is suddenly turned off.

If your cat’s diet includes wet food, choose a cat feeder with a cooling element. But do not leave such food to the cat in case of your long absence: even a chilled, wet product is not to be stored for more than a day. Another type of automatic feeder is a device with a timed-opening compartment. They usually have a large container, so these feeders are suitable for those cases when you plan a long absence.

At a Glance: Our TOP-3 Choices for Automatic Cat Feeders

When choosing automatic feeders, we paid attention to the capacity of the device and its functionality. The structure must be strong and stable so that the pet does not overturn it. Food should be supplied regularly and in the right amount. In addition, certain models are equipped with the function of recording and reproducing the owner’s voice.

Feeders also differ in the feeding mode. Each feeder can be programmed in a specific mode – it can be a 4-time meal for one day, 2-time feeding for two days or for 5 days, where the food is issued once a day.

To help you decide which option is right for you, we scoured the web for the best options available for your furry companion, focusing on aspects such as customer reviews, features, cost, and functionality. Ready to see the best 3 options? Let’s dive right in!

*Ratings are formed by the author of the article and based on own research and customer reviews.

Best Automatic Feeders Reviews: 10 Top-Rated Automatic Cat Feeders

As there are many options to select from, making the right choice can be a daunting task. Lucky for you, we narrowed your search down to 10 highly-rated cat food dispensers pet parents can buy to ensure that a pain-in-the-neck feeding regimen is a thing of the long-forgotten past.

1. Petmate Pet Cafe Feeder

The Petmate Pet Cafe Feeder is an excellent choice for those who prefer the convenience of an automatic cat food dispenser without having to pour money down the drain on a unit. It comes with a simple design that will surely fit any interior, and it features a twelve-pound storage capacity. It is made of durable plastic and does not contain bisphenol-A, which provides peace of mind when you feed your kitten.

The appliance is relatively easy to clean, and it is also dishwasher-friendly. The transparent food storage container is a little more difficult to fill than the other choices in our top 15, but pet parents appreciate the ability to accurately determine how much food is remaining in the container. With the lid raised, you can add food. It does not allow you to choose portion sizes, so it is the best used for felines who can free feed.

Features:

• Can be used indoors and outdoors.
• Automatically replenishes the food compartment when necessary.
• Available in various colors.
• Looks good for its price and goes well with any interior.
• Easy to check the level of food.

2. SureFeed Microchip Feeder

If you have multiple cats, you are familiar with the struggle of separating food and providing enough kibble for each cat. With this product, that is a problem of the past. This appliance includes food only to the designated microchip owner. As soon as this product identifies the programmed microchip, it opens and pours food into the bowl. One collar tag is supplied with the product.

This feeder is ideal for multi-pet households to prevent greedy pets from becoming overweight and to ensure prescription or life-stage food is consumed by the right pet. This product can register up to thirty-two microchip identifications, so you will have enough space to store food for all your feline companions.

Features:

• Opens only for the designated cat.
• Perfect for cats that are prone to gain weight.
• Perfect for owners s who intend to control their cat’s diet.

3. SKYMEE 8L Smart Automatic Pet Feeder

The SKYMEE 8L feeder has a big feed box that syncs via Wi-Fi with your smartphone. Through the app, the serving volumes and feeding schedules are set, and, at the right time, the food is poured into the bowl.

The device has an HD camera that broadcasts online everything that happens to your pet. This calms those owners who are worried that their cats are bored at home alone. Up to 8 users can watch the pet and access the settings. Also, the feeder has a high-quality, two-way microphone that will allow you to talk to your pet or listen to it.  

Features:

• Manual or automatic.
• Remote control feeding via app.
• Perfect for pet parents who intend to control their cat’s diet.

4. HoneyGuaridan Pet Feeder

This automatic feeding machine eliminates your anxiety about your kitty needing to be fed if you need to be away from home for a long time. It can also be helpful to ensure that your cat is well-nourished, thus helping to generate excellent health.

This home appliance is a complete mealtime solution that is easy to set up and program. After you have set up the feeding schedule required by your feline’s diet plan, you can rely on the machine to distribute the exact portions at your set times. You can schedule up to 6 meals a day, and its storage compartment can hold up to thirteen cups of kibble.

Features:

• Programs up to 6 meals to feed your kitty.
• Built-in low food alarm.
• You can record a personalized voice message for mealtime calling.

5. Petsafe Healthy Pet Simply 12-Meal Feeder

Petsafeis a famous brand. You can rely on for its high-quality products. It is a premium product and an all-around win when it comes to feeding your cat. This feeder uses a conveyor belt to dispense food for the best portion control and accuracy. Petsafehas a built-inLCD screen, the ability to serve up to twelve daily meals and a large bowl at the bottom. This means you only need to fill it twice a month!

This automatic feeder was designed to handle both dry and semi-wet cat foods. Several items are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, including a steel bowl. It boasts a cat-proof shape that is hard to knock over. Pet parents love the slow-feeding feature, which distributes food over fifteen minutes to prevent felines from overeating.

Features:

• Convenient programming option.
• The slow-feeding program distributes each meal over 15 minutes, reducing vomiting and bloating.
• Easy to clean.

6. WOPET HD Camera Automatic Cat Feeder

WOPET is undoubtedly one of the best automatic cat feeders. It is a smart pet feeder that allows you to schedule and manage feeding times, portion sizes and food supply for your pet. The product has received great appreciation from pet parents. This product features a large storage container and provides your fur baby with four meals a day. Thus, you can easily spend the whole day out with this tiny home appliance.

This is an excellent option for single-pet households due to the relatively small size of the bowl. With functions such as a voice recorder for alerts, distribution alarms, and food portion control, you’d expect it to be pretty costly. Surprisingly, you can easily purchase this item for quite a reasonable price.  

Features:

• Suitable for dry food only.
• Great for cats of various sizes.
• Wi-Fi enabled.

7. PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder

Petlibro is a 4-liter automatic feeder that has a built-in voice recorder for recording a 10-second message and control for feeding on schedule. Petlibro can provide food for a cat (or dog) for several days, which will allow the owner to safely go on a business trip or a short vacation and sleep in the morning or stay at work without worrying about his/her pet.

The Petlibro is powered via the included 5V power adapter and also has backup power from three type D batteries in case of a power outage. Pet owners who purchased this feeder complained only about the complicated program – everything else was fine.

Features:

• 4L / 16.9oz food tank.
• Automatic cat feeder programmable.
• Flexible feeding.

8. Cat Mate Automatic Cat Feeder

Cat Mate Automatic Cat Feeder was designed to let you easily control when your cat gets to eat. Just schedule a feeding routine using the digital timer and it will only distribute food at the time you set it to.

This feeding machine has five compartments, holding up to five meals for cats. A tight-fitting lid and ice packs keep the food fresh throughout the day. And keeping it clean is a breeze since the lid and bowl are dishwasher-friendly.

Features:

• Allows you to easily control, with a digital timer, when your cat receives food.
• LCD display allows you to see all the programmed “meal times” for your buddy.
• Comes with five food compartments that are ideal for several cats.

9. BELOPEZZ Smart Cat Automatic Feeder

The BELOPEZZ Cat Feeder has an automatic detection function. This helps prevent overfilling a bowl with food and helps control portion size. This feeding machine can hold more than six pounds of kibble.

You can program this product for up to four meals a day. It also comes with a voice recorder so your furry friend can hear you speak when he/she eats. This appliance is made from environmentally friendly materials, and the parts are easy to disassemble and clean. The product can be battery-operated or plugged into an outlet.

Features:

• A 10-second voice recording that allows you to record the voice call for your cat.
• Provides up to 4 meals a day.
• Automatic detection feature that helps to avoid food excess.

10. Petsafe 5-Meal Cat Feeder

Petsafe 5-Meal Cat Feeder is divided into 5 feeding slots, each holding approximately 1 cup of dry food. The appliance is dishwasher-friendly, which makes it convenient to clean. It is not perfect for long trips away, but it is a good choice for weekend getaways, since its five sections can store only one cup of food at a time. The shape prevents your pet from being able to turn this dish over quickly.

You can program it to dispense one large meal or several small portions throughout the day. Testing shows that it is more accurate than similarly timed feeders. You can also use it with wet food, but this is not surprising given its tight-fitting lid.

Features:

• Holds 5 cups (1.18 l) of kibble.
• Features a secure tight-closing lid.
• Requires four D-cell batteries.

Why You Should Use an Automatic Feeder for Your Cat?

For owners whose work takes up most of their time, an automatic feeder is a great choice. This tempting piece of technology serves food to your fur baby at a pre-set time.

In the past, vets voiced different opinions about automatic feeding machines:

Automatic dry food dispensers make cat owners not pay careful attention to what their cats really consume, from too much to too little.

says Dr. Laura Monohan of Atlantic Vet Seattle ^[1].

Old-fashioned feeders that always keep the bowl full make it challenging to determine if a feline is well-nourished or half-starved.

Fortunately, modern feeding machines have made a meaningful headway. These days, food dispensers provide portion control and many models distribute wet food. “Automatic cat feeders can be quite helpful when used properly,” notes the American Association of Feline Practitioners.^[2]

Auto feeders have a boatload of benefits. The best advantage is the ability to “forget” about feeding your kitty.

They save a lot of time and worry and allow pet owners to live a bit more freely

says veterinarian Dr. Carly Fox, a staff doctor at Animal Medical Center ^[3].

There are also several other advantages; for example, these small home appliances help owners to stick to a well-nourished plan for their cats, which can help solve health problems and keep them safe from various diseases.^[4]

Buying Guide — Important Things to Consider When Choosing Automatic Feeder

There are several things you should consider when choosing an automatic food dispenser for your kitty:

1. Size of the feeder

When choosing a feeding machine, you want one that goes well with your design esthetic and caters to individual needs. If you do not have much space, select a smaller pet feeder, but size it up if you have a multi-cat household.

2. Features and additional functions

Food dispensers range from basic gravity feeder models to automatic models with some unusual features. For instance, some will play a personalized voice message for mealtime calling, while others will let you schedule a feeding routine ahead of time.

3. Ease of use, even for beginner cat owners

Some food dispensers are easier to set up and use than others. High-tech devices allow you to feed your feline using an app on your smartphone; with others, you simply have to pour kibble into it. Do not forget to also think about how easily you can clean the feeder. Your level of comfort with technology and your lifestyle should determine choosing the best one.

READ MORE: Cats Stomach Making Noises

Frequently Asked Questions About Automatic Cat Feeders

Article Sources:

1. ​Dr. Laura Monohan. “Why Veterinarians Hate Automatic Dry Food Cat Feeders.” Atlantic Vet Seattle, 3 June 2019, atlanticvetseattle.com/why-veterinarians-hate-automatic-dry-food-cat-feeders/.
2. ​“How to Feed a Cat Consensus Statement.” American Association of Feline Practitioners, catvets.com/guidelines/practice-guidelines/how-to-feed.
3. ​Carly Fox, DVM, Staff Doctor, Emergency & Critical Care. The Animal Medical Center, amcny.org/find_doctor/carly-fox/.
4. ​Munkevics, Maris, and Signe Munkevica. “Are Automatic Cat Feeders a Good Idea? How Do Automatic Cat Feeders Work?” Pet-Happy.com, 19 Aug. 2020, pet-happy.com/electronic-cat-feeders-provide-two-huge-behavioral-benefits/.
5. ​Earth, National, et al. “Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats.” The National Academies Press, nap.edu/catalog/10668/nutrient-requirements-of-dogs-and-cats.
6. ​Robin Downing, DVM, DAAPM, and Robin Downing, DVM, DAAPM. “Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Cat.” VCA Animal Hospital, vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-cats.
7. ​Munkevics, Maris, and Signe Munkevica. “How Much Should Cats Eat a Day? What Time Should You Feed Your Cat? Why Is My Cat Hungry All the Time.” Pet-Happy.com, 19 Aug. 2020, pet-happy.com/how-often-should-you-feed-a-cat/.
8. ​“How Often Should You Feed Your Cat?” Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 10 Feb. 2020, vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/how-often-should-you-feed-your-cat.