You love cracking open a can of cat food for your feline partner on a daily basis, but sometimes, work or life obligations take you away from your responsibilities. You’ve asked others to come by and feed your cat, but with mixed results. Your kitty doesn’t seem to eat as well when you’re not home.
You can’t always control whether you have to be away, especially if you have a job that requires you to travel. In those kinds of situations, an automatic cat feeder will make such a big difference.
The best automatic cat feeders should offer wet or dry food feedings and not make so much noise that they terrify your kitty, especially when you’re not around, to make them feel better.
I found eight such automatic feeders, and I want to share them with all of you cat owners out here.
Product
Details
Best Overall
Litter-Robot Feeder Robot
- Product Dimensions:
13 x 9 x 15 inches - Product Weight:
12.1 Pounds
Best Low-Cost
PetSafe Simply Feed Automatic Feeder
- Product Dimensions:
18.54 x 8.7 x 12.36 inches - Product Weight:
4.61 Pounds
Equipped with Voice Recorder
Petlibro Space Automatic Pet Feeder
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 16.9 x 9.8 inches
- Product Weight:
9.4 Pounds
For a Large Number of Meals
WOPET Automatic Cat Feeder
- Product Dimensions:
14 x 7.6 x 14.2 inches - Product Weight:
4.75 Pounds
Best Compact Design
Cat Mate 5 Meal Dog & Cat Feeder
- Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 11.89 x 3.7 inches
- Product Weight:
0.9 pounds
Best for Multi-Cat Households
SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
- Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.06 x 8.46 inches
- Product Weight:
3.28 Pounds
Sleep Option
PetSafe Six-Meal Feeder
- Product Dimensions:
15.7 x 9.6 x 6.4 inches - Product Weight:
2.85 Pounds
Our Top Picks for the Best Automatic Cat Feeder
Below are some carefully chosen smart feeders to make your life as hassle-free as possible. Read the reviews to make an informed decision that best suits you and your cat.
1. Litter-Robot Feeder Robot
If you have an overweight cat or they’re on a diet for other health reasons, you may worry about how much a smart cat feeder would give them. There’s no need to stress with the Litter-Robot Feeder Robot, which controls portion size exceptionally well.
The feeder can hold 32 cups of dry kibble if you don’t use the hopper insert. With that insert in place, it’s only 25 cups. A pre-installed dispenser controls how much food your cat gets at any one time and slows down their eating pace, releasing half a cup of food in 1/8th portions between one and eight times a day.
You can control the feeder remotely and get to choose how frequently or seldomly your cat eats so you can manage its weight even if you’re thousands of miles away. Anti-jam technology keeps the food coming out smoothly every time.
It gets even better!
The Litter-Robot Feeder Robot has smart capabilities. From your smartphone, you can manage how much your feline friend has eaten, receive a push notification when your cat’s food levels run low, and customize their schedule based on the number of cat’s meals per day.
Is yours a multi-cat household? If you have several Feeder Robots in the house, you can add several to your phone and control them each individually. You can even give your kitty treats through your phone!
Pros
- An available backup battery ensures that even if the power goes out, your cat still eats during its feeding time, uninterrupted.
- All the parts of the Litter-Robot Feeder Robot come out, so you can clean them by hand. You even get a cleaning brush to keep the food dispenser tidy!
- It also provides a slow feed option.
- This automatic feeder works for dogs and cats, including semi-moist or hard food.
Cons
- You have to buy the backup battery separately.
Litter-Robot Feeder Robot
The price of “Litter-Robot Feeder Robot” varies, so check the latest price at
2. PetSafe Simply Feed Automatic Feeder
You love the idea of automatic feeding, but you don’t have the biggest budget for all the high-level tech out there. With the PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder, you can enjoy an affordable automatic feeding solution for your kitty.
Available for under $120, this smart cat feeder delivers pre-portioned meals, so whether you’re stuck at the office or on vacation, you can rest assured that your feline friend will eat.
If you have someone who comes by the house to check on your pet, the translucent pet-proof hopper will let them see how low the food levels are. The hopper also locks so that even the smartest kitties can’t reach it.
The hopper can hold 24 cups of semi-moist or dry cat food. The automatic feeder will release 1/8 cups to four cups of food between one and 12 times a day. You won’t have hungry cats in your household, that’s for sure!
You don’t have to stress about Wi-Fi outages or storms knocking out your power with the PetSafe automatic feeder. The reason? The Simply Feed runs on D-cell alkaline batteries rather than Wi-Fi.
And here’s the best part! You only need four batteries, and they’ll last for approximately nine months.
Pros
- PetSafe makes a two-meal splitter that’s perfect for two cats sharing the smart feeder, but you have to buy this separately.
- All the plastic parts of the Simply Feed automatic food dispenser are BPA-free.
- You can take apart this feeder and clean it easily. The stainless steel bowl is dishwasher safe, and you can wash the conveyor system by hand.
Cons
- With the large portion sizes, it wouldn’t take too much to overfeed your cat using this pet food dispenser.
PetSafe Simply Feed Automatic Feeder
The price of “PetSafe Simply Feed Automatic Feeder” varies, so check the latest price at
3. Petlibro Space Automatic Pet Feeder
Petlibro has made a name for itself in the automatic cat and dog feeder department. I already have one Petlibro product in the #3 spot, which is testament to the product’s viability and popularity in the automatic pet feeder market.
I love this one in particular because it’s made for either cats or dogs. Unfortunately, my Rag doll cat (Persephone) passed away a few weeks ago, so she couldn’t take advantage of the Petlibro Space Feeder. My Dobermans love it, however. The Space includes vacuum-sealing tech, so your dog food stays fresh, longer.
The tank is huge as well, with a 34-cup max capacity, and accepts up to 18 mm kibble sizes. With the Petlibro app, I can schedule their feedings, feed them whenever I want, and control the exact amount of food, down to 1/12 of a cup.
You can also assign a “meal call” audio signal, either using the feeder’s automated voice or by recording a meal call of your own. The system is simple and effective. Two push tabs release the seal and let you pull the lid off. Once you fill it up and return the lid, a simple press of the button (on the app or on the front of the feeder) initiates the vacuum seal again.
I also have a high-end gaming router, so the fact that the Petlibro Space Feeder connects to the 5.0 GHz band is perfect. However, if you prefer 2.4GHz, it will connect to that as well. The feeder comes with the bowl, power cable and adapter, bowl tray, and use manual. In other words, everything you need to get started!
Pros
- The Petlibro Space is designed for easy cleaning, with all of the important components separating easily
- Has an extra large food bowl for easy and comfortable feeding time
- Lightweight and easy to transport
- App is simple and intuitive
- Schedule feedings for any time of the day or night
Cons
- Doesn’t come with batteries for power back up in case of an outage
Petlibro Space Automatic Pet Feeder
The price of “Petlibro Space Automatic Pet Feeder ” varies, so check the latest price at
4. WOPET Automatic Cat Feeder
If you have several cats all using one automatic feeder, then you may need to program more meals than the norm. The WOPET Automatic Cat Feeder is just what you’re looking for, as it’s ready to program up to 15 meal plans each day!
Connecting to Wi-Fi, this automatic feeder includes a free app you can download on your smartphone. From the WOPET app, you can choose feeding times for your kitty over a span of 24 hours.
You can select from portion sizes up to 50, with each portion measuring five grams or 1/16 cup of cat food up to 250 grams.
Built of sturdy ABS plastic, the WOPET Automatic Cat Feeder uses either three D batteries or a power adapter. The manufacturer suggests using both so that the feeder will continue to work if you have a power outage when you’re gone.
Pros
- You can also send a 10-second audio clip to your kitty from your phone with this pet feeder.
- The dual power supply option is a smart way to combat storms and outages.
- The WOPET Automatic Cat Feeder can hold a whopping six liters of food at once.
Cons
- The WOPET smart feeder only works with wet food, not semi-moist food.
WOPET Automatic Cat Feeder
The price of “WOPET Automatic Cat Feeder” varies, so check the latest price at
5. Cat Mate 5 Meal Dog & Cat Feeder
Not your conventional automatic feeder, the Cat Mate is compact and circular to save valuable room in your kitchen.
Now, this model offers five meals, but you can also select a three-meal cat feeder if you only have one cat.
Either way, the Cat Mate issues a first initial feed and then two to four timed feeds that you pre-program. The feeds can occur in the morning, the afternoon, the evening, or even the middle of the night.
All food compartments hold ¾ pounds of food, so you have a great solution if you have more than one cat. Cat Mate says the five-meal cat feeder can feed two cats.
Capable of feeding dry and wet food alike, the Cat Mate includes a tight-fitting lid and two ice packs to keep the food fresh even if you won’t be back home to feed your kitty for several days.
The LCD display makes it simple to program the mealtimes and review the settings you’ve selected.
Running on three AA batteries (that come separately), the batteries last for 12 months, so you can be in and out of the house without worrying about your feline ingesting enough food.
Pros
- Most components of the Cat Mate are dishwasher safe, as they’re made of plastic.
- If your cat has a history of acne, you can select a stainless steel version of the Cat Mate.
- Cats cannot break into the Cat Mate with its smart design.
Cons
- Like a few other cat feeders I’ve discussed, some users have had a hard time programming the CatMate.
Cat Mate 5 Meal Dog & Cat Feeder
The price of “Cat Mate 5 Meal Dog & Cat Feeder ” varies, so check the latest price at
6. SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
I’ve recommended several automatic pet feeders that suit multi-cat households, but the SureFeed Microchip Cat Feeder might be the top pick.
The reason this cat feeder has a “microchip” in the name is that it can ID your felines with microchips. If you haven’t gotten your pets chipped, then they can wear an RFID collar (sold separately) that SureFeed communicates with.
If a cat has already received food for the day, especially if it’s more than its allotment, then SureFeed doesn’t issue them food. However, if another cat with a different ID has yet to eat, it can get fed.
Crazy, right?
It gets even better. The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder can hold up to 13.5 fluid ounces of dry kibble or wet food, even prescription food. In addition, you won’t have to worry about the food going bad prematurely since the SureFeed has a neoprene lip around the opening that locks in food freshness and moisture.
Pros
- Suppose you have issues with one of your cats dominating and stealing the other kitties’ food. In that case, you might use a feeding solution like the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder even when you’re not traveling or vacationing.
- SureFeed works with nine 10, or 15-digit microchips.
- You can program the SureFeed cat feeder with the push of one button.
Cons
- If you haven’t microchipped your cats, you have to spend additional money on the RFID collar, or the SureFeed is useless.
SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
The price of “SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder” varies, so check the latest price at
7. PetSafe Six-Meal Feeder
The last best automatic feeder I recommend is the PetSafe Six-Meal Feeder.
This feeder comes with a sleep function. When it’s asleep, the PetSafe feeder won’t release food but won’t forget its schedule, either.
The PetSafe feeder can either deposit six meals in one day (such as for several cats) or all six meals over several days for one cat. The slots, which are evenly divided into six, can hold a cup of food apiece.
This automatic feeder works with both semi-moist kibble and dry kitty food to add some variety to your feline friend’s diet. An LCD screen built into the feeder includes a clock so you can toggle ahead and determine when the kitty’s mealtimes are.
The PetSafe Six-Meal Feeder runs on D-cell alkaline batteries (requires four) with a lifespan of nine months. A locking lid is translucent so you can track the amount of food the feeder has left.
Don’t worry about your cat getting into the PetSafe feeder, as the lid will stop that!
It has a BPA-free plastic bowl and tray carousel, which can go in your dishwasher’s top rack for convenient, fast, hands-off thorough cleaning.
Pros
- A Feed Now option allows you to bypass the next assigned feed time and get some food in your kitty right away.
- The tamper-resistant design will prevent your cat from overeating, as will the specially-designed portion sizes.
- The PetSafe Six-Meal Feeder works for cats and small dogs!
Cons
- The battery life is not as long-lasting as advertised.
PetSafe Six-Meal Feeder
The price of “PetSafe Six-Meal Feeder” varies, so check the latest price at
What To Consider When Buying an Automatic Cat Feeder
Now that you have eight awesome automatic pet feeders at your disposal, the question becomes, which one should you choose? Here are some considerations that will make that decision easier!
Your Cat’s Needs
You know your cat best of all, except for maybe their veterinarian. What kind of needs do they have, especially when it comes to their diet?
Do they have to control calories and lose weight? Do they have a hearty appetite without any dietary restrictions? Do they eat a regular amount of food? Do they have to contend with another cat in the household stealing food from them?
No matter how you answered those questions, there’s a kitty feeder on the list above that suits your situation. Most automatic cat feeders I looked at have portion control in mind, although how large those portions vary.
You can even find solutions for multiple pets. For example, the SureFeed Microchip feeder especially should stop other cats from thieving or overeating at the other cats’ expense, as the microchip-driven feeder only deposits food for designated pets who haven’t eaten yet.
Wet or Dry Food
Few cats eat either all wet food or all dry food. They tend to consume a mix to get a balanced diet with nutrients, minerals, vitamins, protein, carbohydrates, and fiber.
Every cat feeder I reviewed on the list of eight can disperse dry food, but most can only do semi-moist food, which isn’t exactly the same as wet food.
The WOPET Automatic Feeder and CatMate can both feed your feline wet food if that’s what they need!
Overall Functionality
A cat feeder is only as valuable as it is easy to use. If you struggle to configure the settings, program the feedings, or check your cat’s eating habits, then no matter how many spiffy features the automatic feeders may have, it won’t make much of a difference to you.
You won’t get much use out of the cat feeder.
For those who like old-school programmability on an LCD screen, you can find plenty of cat feeders like that. If you’d rather toggle everything from your smartphone, there’s an automatic pet feeder for you!
Size
The best automatic cat feeder doesn’t replace a cat’s food bowls except for when you’re not around to feed them. However, you don’t want the feeder to take up more floor space than you can afford, so select one that’s a reasonable size for you.
Features
At the very least, an automatic feeder should be able to dispense food properly. In addition, many cat feeders have additional features that increase their value for the money.
For instance, perhaps you can record 10-second voice clips of yourself talking to your cat or review their feeding progress via a phone app. You might even be able to give your kitty kibble treats from the app no matter where your adventures take you.
Maybe your cat feeder uses RFID or microchip technology or features stainless steel bowls to lessen kitty acne.
You don’t need an automatic feeder with each and every one of these features, of course, just the ones that matter to you!
FAQ’s
If you still have a few questions about the best automatic cat feeders, this handy FAQ section should help you!
How Do Automatic Cat Feeders Work?
Automatic cat feeders can work in various ways.
Some have a sensor that determines when food has emptied out and then will open up to dispense more food. Others use that sensor to read the programmed time, release the amount of allotted food, and then wait until the next programmed time to feed a cat again.
These feeding solutions are typically reliable, and with the way that technology has progressed and our ability to check if the feeder is working via our smartphone, you’d be the first to know if your cat feeder had issues!
Can Multiple Cats Share the Same Feeder?
Multiple cats can share the same feeder, but you must ensure you choose a feeding solution where every cat gets the required number of calories.
A six-meal feeder or similarly portioned cat feeder is one such option. You can also look into a microchip automatic cat feeder or buy a partition for any cat feeder if you need two cats to eat but not munch into each other’s food supply.
How Much Food Can an Automatic Cat Feeder Hold?
This is another question where the answer varies. At the very least, an automatic cat feeder can store a few cups of food, but many more can stash several pounds.
Just because the cat feeder can hold a specific amount of food doesn’t mean it’s all coming out at once into your cat’s bowl, don’t worry. You can set the precise portion control to prevent your cat from overeating!
Final Thoughts
Automatic kitty feeders are a godsend if you take longer trips for work or pleasure. Likewise, if you’re often kept late at the office or struggle to get out of bed early in the morning, you’ll also appreciate an automatic feeding solution.
The best automatic pet feeders slot into your budget, don’t take up too much room in your kitchen and use just the right amount of technology for your comfort and ease of use. Learning why your cat is meowing will help you understand that your cat won’t meow for food when they’re so well-fed!
Like all cat owners, you love your cat, and even when you can’t be there, with an automatic feeder, you can still feel confident that your kitty will eat well!
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