Your pet has a busy life, and you do too. You’ll likely need to remember to feed your pet between work and social life. With that realization, it’s best to enlist the services of an automatic cat or dog feeder to serve up fresh rations to your pet when you’re out of the house.
Automatic cat and dog feeders allow you to go out knowing that your pet will be fed. You don’t need to bribe your neighbor when taking a trip because they can serve scheduled meals. So, are you ready to choose the most functional automatic cat and dog feeder?
After putting up with numerous feeders, the Whisker Feeder Robot is our top recommendation. It uses an app to schedule feedings, set portion controls and keeps track of the feed, so you don’t have to. If the price point is too high for a smart feeder, we have other options on our list. Read on to know the one that meets your pet’s needs.
Top Automatic Cat and Dog Feeders Reviewed
TOP PICK
The Whisker Feeder Robot is the only pet food dispenser you’ll need. Whisker Feeder Robot allows you to control portions. Know how much food is left in the container, and you can also serve snacks. In addition, it notifies you when it dispenses a meal. We like that the kibble never jams up and the chute always drops down properly.
You can always opt for the glass dish if your cat has chin acne. The food bowl sits perfectly to allow cats to feed comfortably. The app is easy to download and use. Besides, you can schedule eight meals per day and program four meals per day if you are programming it manually.
The battery life on the Whisker Robot Feeder lasts 24 hours, and it also has a backup battery in case of a power outage. If you want to ensure that your cat or dog is always fed when you’re away, this model has everything you’ll ever want in an automatic pet feeder.
The SureFeed Microchip Small Dog & Cat Feeder is ideal for homes with multiple pets. This feeder uses a microchip identification method to open for the right pet. Hence, if you have a dog and a cat, you can have two of these and have each know where to feed using a programmed microchip or RFID collar tag.
The feeder will not open for any other pet except the one authorized for that particular feeder. It is compatible with all RFID chips in the world. In addition, the feeder has a memory of 32 chips. This model is our top choice if you have pets on a prescription diet. It can take wet and dry food so you can serve up the appropriate meal to the right pet.
Schedule 12 meals that serve 1/8 of a cup or up to 4 cups per meal with the PetSafe Healthy Pet feeder. This automatic pet feeder can meet the specific feeding needs of your pet. It is suitable for cats and small to medium-sized dogs. You’ll program everything on the feeder such that you can tell the unit to dispense the food early, slowly, or schedule meals at certain times of the day.
This unit’s construction is solid and will withstand scratching or pet attacks. It uses an agitator and a conveyor to dispense the food. Most people say it always works smoothly and would trust this feeder to feed their pets when they are away. However, you need to take proper care of the unit, like vacuuming once in a while to remove food dust.
As an old-school automatic feeder, this model wins in the portion size, dispensing method, and programmability. Get it for worry-free feeds.
If planning a safari, you better grab the PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder. This unit gives you peace of mind and makes your pet feel cared for. Apart from dispensing meals, you can record your voice, and the unit will automatically play it before meals. Hence, the bond between you and the cat will remain even if you’re away.
The PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder has a 4-liter kibble capacity. It can serve up to 4 meals a day and up to nine portions per meal. You’ll like that it is stable and is less likely to be knocked over. The lid also locks to prevent the cat from accessing food and overeating. It will take a while if your cat can “outsmart” automatic feeders.
Other features include manual feeding, a tilted metal bowl, and a dishwasher-safe bowl & storage container. The screen could have been lit, though. Everything else works great, which is why it’s the best option if you travel often.
The Cat Mate C500 can hold five meals in its five meal compartments. After the initial feed, it will automatically dispense the other four feeds according to the time you set. You can have a 12-hour or 24-hour clock to feed pets whenever you want—no more waking up or getting home earlier than you’d like because of a hungry and restless cat.
You’ll like that this feeder comes with ice packs that help to keep the food fresh. Hence, you can serve wet or dry food. The close-fitting lid is handy for sealing the food and preventing cats from opening it. Moreover, the unit is battery-operated, so there are no worries about a power outage. The bowl is also dishwasher-safe for quick clean-ups.
The Cate Mate C500 is ideal for small breeds so it won’t be ideal for large dogs. Each slot carries ¾ pounds of food, an ideal portion for most cats. If you’re planning on helping your pet feed itself, you can use this model for regular schedules that will eventually stop the cat from relying on you to feed them.
For those who forget to feed pets even when you’re at home, the WOPET automatic cat feeder works like magic. It can store up to 20 cups of dry food, equivalent to four liters. You can schedule this model to feed up to 15 meals, perfect for when you are away.
WOPET works using an app. It also has a voice recorder to help pups and cats feel safe when you’re not around. The lid locks securely and will not open even when knocked down and kicked around. As for the bowl, it is wide enough for comfortable eating, and it also has a stainless-steel insert to prevent cat acne. It is also dishwasher safe.
This automatic pet feeder operates on a 2.4 GHz network, so if you have 5 GHz, there are better choices than this one. In addition, the bowl doesn’t stay in place and will likely get kicked around. Nonetheless, it has two power options with the battery as the backup for power outages. You’ll always remember to feed your pet with the WOPET, as it will feed them at the same time every day. What a convenience!
This automatic pet feeder works effectively and consistently to dispense food at the scheduled times. It’s also one of the most versatile feeders, as it works with all foods, including snacks and treats. You don’t need to download apps or connect to wi-fi in this low-tech product. It’s simple to set up, and anyone can do it in a few minutes.
The only thing you’ll need with the PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder is four D batteries. Remember to replace the battery cover since the batteries can easily fall out. It has five parts that hold one cup of food. The first meal is usually immediately available, so it will automatically serve only four meals.
While we like automatic feeding, it can be challenging to set up a routine because of the trays’ setup. You may have to be around to check if the food is dispensed after the third meal because the tray spins whether or not there’s food. It’s ideal if you feed your pet twice a day and will be there to refill empty slots just in case it spins an empty tray.
Need to take a trip for two weeks? No need to take your cat to the neighbors. The Iseebiz Automatic Cat Feeder can dispense meals for up to 15 days. It has a capacity for 39 portions and can serve up to four meals daily. Its clog-free design means you’ll never have to take apart the conveyor.
The military timer may need Googling to find out how it works. Once you figure it out, the setup is fast. It also allows you to make a 10-second recording ideal for summoning pets. It’s a good idea for when you’re away. Again, it has a pet-proof lid and a portion for desiccant to keep the food fresh. The only thing we’d have wanted is a food level indicator.
Overall, the Iseebiz Automatic Cat Feeder is reliable, so you’ll never miss feeding your pets. You can say goodbye to pesters for kibble as your dog or cat learns there will always be food.
The WellToBe Automatic Cat Feeder is designed with two feeding bowls. If you have two cats or two small dogs, the feeder can provide them with equal meals thanks to the two-way splitter. Although it has an anti-clog design, it works with kibble sizes of 0.47 inches and below.
WellToBe allows you to schedule the meals the way you want. It can dispense six meals in a day, and it has 48 portion choices. The food dishes are food-grade stainless steel that is easy to clean. With two power options, you can rest assured your pets will be fed when the lights go out.
Other features to look forward to include a low food warning, a memory feature for storing settings, and it holds around five pounds of food. However, it’s noisy, so you’ll always hear when it’s dispensing the food.
The WOPET 6L automatic feeder is ideal if you have a pet on a strict diet. It has 50 portions that let you know how much food your dog or cat eats at every meal. In addition, it can serve 15 meals daily, so you can give small portions as many times as you’d want. We like that it’s accurate and serves food to the minute.
This model uses an app that is very efficient in setting feeding times. You can change schedules whenever you want. As such, you’ll only need to hit buttons if you want to apply a manual feed. The food bowl and storage container are removable and washable. Nevertheless, having a metallic insert for the food bowl could be good.
WOPET 6L Automatic Feeder gives you peace of mind. It’s virtually maintenance-free and takes care of the stress at feed times. Having a pet never gets easier than this.
An accurate automatic feeder means never worrying about overfeeding or underfeeding pets at every meal. With the Faroro automatic feeder, you can count on it to dispense precise amounts every time. Additionally, it allows you to give different portion sizes for every meal. As such, if your cat or dog requires a small meal in the middle of the night, you can set it to dispense a small amount for night feeds.
Faroro is extremely easy to set up. It is also pet-proof, so no bumping or messing with the lid can deliver food to the tray. It will hold 7 liters of food which is quite sizable. You can see how much food remains in the container, and it’s also easy to clean the storage bin and the food tray.
Everything from the setup to the portion sizes and automatic food dispensing is well-thought-out in the Faroro. You’ll want it for its accuracy, consistency, and large food container.
Features to Look for in An Automatic Cat & Dog Feeder
Capacity
The capacity of an automatic feeder is important as it determines how often you will need to refill the storage container. If you’re usually away for several weeks, a large capacity model like the Fararo can give you peace of mind since it won’t require refilling every other day.
Most feeders have a 4-liter capacity which is usually enough to feed one pet for about three weeks with dry food. When paired with an automatic litter box and water dispenser, you’ll never need someone around for your pets during vacations or business trips.
Ease of Use
All units have some programmability in their feeder. Some are easier to set up than others. The low-tech options like the PetSafe 5-Meal and Cat Mate C500 are some of the easiest feeders to set up. Meanwhile, a model like Iseebiz can take more than a few minutes to figure out. You can look at the interface, photos of the display, and reviews about setting up to find out if a particular model is straightforward.
Features
Automatic feeders can be as basic as setting the feeding times or as sophisticated as wi-fi compatibility. If you are all about smart stuff, a model connecting to an app is a delight. It allows you to choose portions and schedule and change meal times and sizes according to your cat or dog’s needs. However, they are a bit pricey, with some costing as much as $300.
Our Pick
Whisker Feeder Robot
The Whisker Feeder Robot is about convenience, peace of mind, and thoughtful feeding. It takes out the guesswork and pestering of pets for reliable feeding each time.
Special Mentions
After much deliberation, we decided to show you which other automatic cat & dog feeders are out there, albeit with a few drawbacks.
PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder for Two Cats: This feeder is ideal for two pets as it comes with two feeding bowls and a separate food splitter. However, it tends to dispense more food on the right than on the left. It can be frustrating to keep moving food to the left bowl if you need to learn how to set the splitter with a 1/5 bias toward the right side.
WOPET Automatic Food Dispenser for Cats and Dogs: This model is the ideal size for dog food. It can serve up to 20 portions, but if you set it to 20 portions, the chow can back up, and it will not push the last portions out.
Ymiko Automatic Cat Feeder: With a 3-liter capacity, the Ymiko is ideal for serving fresh food when you’re gone for a day or two. You have to do a few tests to figure out the portions. In addition, a smart cat can figure out how to open it, which can lead to overeating.
Arf Pet Automatic Pet Food Dispenser: This model is easy to use and consistently serves the exact amount of food. But like the Ymiko, cats and dogs can learn how to get more food.
PetNet SmartFeeder for Cats and Dogs: A wi-fi-controlled feeder is always a welcome feature in an automatic feeder. PetNet allows you to set up everything on your phone. However, the setup instructions could be clearer, and it isn’t easy to reach customer support.
WOPET Automatic Feeder for Cats & Dogs: A unique feature of this automatic feeder is the camera. It’s also a large-capacity feeder with a 7L food container. It’s so well-executed that it will always attend a meal or dispense more or less. However, setup can be tricky for some.
PetSafe 6-Meal Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder: This feeder is low-tech and can hold dry or semi-moist food. It’s pricey for a model that is not as sophisticated as other feeders. In addition, it uses up four D batteries fast, which can mean high maintenance costs.
PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera: This is another smart feeder with everything from app control to a 1080P camera for remote monitoring. There are, however, problems with connectivity with some units, so you may get one that won’t connect to the app.
Faroro Automatic Cat Feeder: This feeder is sturdy with a 7L capacity. You can use it with cats and dogs as it is pet-proof, easy to use, and programmable. The portion size control is only sometimes accurate. Also, the battery backup only sometimes kicks in when power is out.
PETLIBRO Easy Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder: This compact feeder doesn’t require a large footprint. It also comes with clear instructions. Nonetheless, it starts to have functioning issues after a year.
