When owning a cat, some items are essential, especially regarding your cat’s diet and health. An automatic cat feeder is ideal for cat parents who enjoy weekends away or cats on a special diet needing strict portion control. They can also be helpful for pet parents who enjoy sleeping in and want to stop their cat from meowing at their bedside for breakfast. Your cat will quickly learn to sit beside the automated cat feeder, eagerly awaiting their food.
There are many options out there, whether you need something simple or are looking for something a little classy and tech-savvy. We have reviews of 10 great automatic cat feeders to help get you acquainted with the array of choices and to help you choose the most suitable one for your needs.
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The 10 Best Automatic Cat Feeders
1. Petdiary Automatic Cat Feeder – Best Overall
| Capacity: | 4 Liters |
| Materials: | Plastic, stainless steel, metal |
| Features: | Portion control |
The Petdiary Automatic Cat Feeder is our best overall choice for busy cat parents or for that night away that you have been longing for. This feeder provides up to four meals a day with nine customizable portions per meal. You’ll use the LCD screen to allocate mealtimes and portions, and you’re good to go. It is also designed with an anti-clod detector so you can rest easy knowing that your feline friend is not missing any meals. For even more peace of mind, you can record a personalized message so that your kitty is left with a sense of you being at home.
One small drawback with this automatic cat feeder is that you can’t add or delete one meal. If you want to add or delete a meal, you need to reprogram all the meals, while some other feeders allow you to turn specific feedings on and off.
Pros
- Feeds up to four meals a day
- LCD screen
- Voice recorder
- Anti-clog detector
Cons
- Need to reprogram all meals when you want to add or delete one
2. Bueteka Smart Feed Automatic Anti-Jamming Design Timed Cat Feeder – Best Value
| Capacity: | 4 liters |
| Materials: | Plastic, stainless steel |
| Features: | Programmable, anti-cockroach design |
The Bueteka Smart Feed Automatic Programmable Anti-Jamming Food Design Timed Cat Feeder is a modern design with a few extras that make it nicer than a classic cat feeder without costing a fortune, and it’s our pick for the best feeder for the money. Its design features a 4-liter capacity, which is big enough to supply up to four meals a day and up to nine options for portions.
It has smart anti-jamming technology, so you can go away with confidence that your cat won’t miss a meal. Another great feature is its anti-cockroach design that blocks cockroaches from entering when the kibble is finished! While this cat feeder has an anti-jamming design, bigger kibble gets stuck in the hopper.
Pros
- Affordable
- Four meals a day
- Anti-cockroach design
- Anti-jamming design
Cons
- Not suitable for large kibble
3. Petlibro Granary WIFI Automatic Two Cat Feeder – Premium Choice
| Capacity: | 5 liters |
| Materials: | Plastic |
| Features: | App operation, dual bowl feeding |
The Petlibro Granary WIFI Automatic Two Cat Feeder is a premium model for cat parents with two cats. It’s great that the cats have each other while their owner is away, but it’s even better when their meals are portioned and dispensed automatically. They can eagerly await their meals and enjoy them alongside each other. This premium design allows you to easily monitor, adjust and schedule their feeding through a convenient and user-friendly app from your phone!
While you are away, you will also receive notifications to keep you updated on your cats’ eating habits and if the food level is low. If that’s not premium enough, the voice recording option should win you over! It lets you record a personalized message that will call your kitty over during mealtime. It’s important to note that when you return from your holiday, you will need to be prepared to handwash all the components of this feeder as they are not dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Suitable for two cats
- App operation
- Low food notifications
- Voice recorder
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
4. Cat Mate Digital 5 Meal Automatic Cat Feeder
| Capacity: | 5 meals |
| Materials: | Plastic |
| Features: | BPA-free, dishwasher safe, portion control |
The Cat Mate C500 Digital 5 Meal Automatic Cat Feeder is an easy-to-use and convenient cat feeder that is perfect for cat parents that work all day and get home late. You can easily time your cat’s meals, and the digital timer will take care of the rest. When it’s feeding time, the lid will open so your cat can enjoy the meal. You can easily program your cat’s meals with the stylish LCD screen and portion them into the meal compartments.
The lid is secure and tamper-proof, so your eager kitty can’t get in before mealtime. Once you get home, you can pop it into the dishwasher so it’s ready for the next day. This automatic cat feeder is not the best for wet food, and according to reports from customers, the meal compartments are too narrow and deep, which may aggravate your cat with its whiskers touching the sides.
Pros
- Five meals a day
- Individual meal compartments
- LCD screen and timer
- Tamper-proof lid
Cons
- Compartments may be too deep and narrow
5. PetSafe Smart Feed Wifi-Enabled Automatic Cat Feeder
| Capacity: | 24 cups |
| Materials: | Plastic |
| Features: | Portion control, WIFI enabled |
You control your cat’s feeding times and portions with the Petsafe Smart Feed 2.0 WIFI-enabled Automatic Cat Feeder. Whether you are away on vacation or for a long day out, you can control your cat’s meals using your smartphone from anywhere. You can schedule meals or feed your cat outside of normal feeding times if you are running late. Furthermore, if you have a cat who devours their food and needs to feed it slowly, this feeder gives you the option to dispense small amounts over 15 minutes.
This automatic cat feeder also works with Amazon Echo, so you can feed your cat using voice commands!
Some pet parents reported that the feeder is too light, which makes it easy for cats to knock over, and unfortunately, you won’t be able to rectify that through an app. Some determined cats can also find their way into the feeding chute and remove extra food.
Pros
- Operate the feeder using a smartphone
- Instant food dispenser out of feeding times
- Works with Amazon Echo
- Great for cats that eat too fast
Cons
- Can be easily knocked over
- The feeding chute may not be secure enough for some cats
6. Dogness Mini Programmable Automatic Cat Feeder
| Capacity: | 2 liters |
| Materials: | Plastic |
| Features: | Programmable |
The Dogness Mini Programmable Automatic Cat Feeder is the perfect cat feeder for a cat owner who has a small space and only needs to use it now and then. It doesn’t require WiFi but is easily programmable to set portion sizes and feeding times. It is designed with a smaller 2-liter storage reservoir that dispenses using an internal turntable without getting jammed. The one drawback of this automatic cat feeder is the cleaning process. It cannot be submerged in water, and you can’t put fluids inside it, so food debris may collect in the corners over time.
Pros
- Ideal for small spaces
- Turntable dispenser prevents jamming
- LCD screen
- Can program portions and feeding times
Cons
- Hard to clean
7. Petlibro Granary Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera
| Capacity: | 5 liters |
| Materials: | Plastic |
| Features: | Camera |
If You want to keep an eye on your fur baby’s eating habits while you’re away, the Petlibro Granary Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera is a great choice! You can set a feeding schedule from anywhere using the smart app and monitor your kitty’s meal through the feeding logs or the built-in camera that lets you see your kitty and speak to them! You can set up to 10 meals a day, and every member of the family can control the feeder with their smartphone. This automatic cat feeder doesn’t miss any features and is perfect for anyone who loves and appreciates a smart gadget. Unfortunately, you have to be careful with the bowl that comes with the feeder since there are no replacements available.
Pros
- Camera and two-way audio
- Set up to 10 meals a day
- Can be managed through multiple phones
Cons
- No replacement bowls
8. Bueteka Automatic Food Dispenser with Splitter & Stainless Bowls Cat Feeder
| Capacity: | 6 liters |
| Materials: | Plastic, stainless steel |
| Features: | Voice Recorder, dual bowls |
The Bueteka Automatic Food Dispenser with Splitter is ideal for pet parents with two kitties! It holds up to 6 liters of kibble and a voice recording function to record a message for your fur babies while you are away. The design includes two feeding methods, manual feeding and intelligent feeding, and includes an LCD screen for easy programming and setup. However, if your cats are smart enough, they may figure out how to open the dispenser lid, so it may need to be taped shut.
Pros
- Dual bowls
- Voice recorder
- Manual and intelligent feeding
Cons
- The lid may be easy to open
9. Closer Pets One-Meal Automatic Timed Cat Feeder
| Capacity: | 14 ounces |
| Materials: | Polypropylene, stainless steel |
| Features: | Non-toxic, non-allergic stainless-steel bowl |
The Closer Pets One-Meal Automatic Timed Cat Feeder is a modern yet simple single-meal design that allows you to feed your cat while you attend a meeting, lunch date, or function. Just set a time for the compartment to open so your cat is fed on time while you aren’t at home. This cat feeder is made to be fly-proof and tamper-proof and is easy to clean. The bowl is made from stainless steel and is non-toxic and non-allergic. While the stainless-steel bowl is easy to clean, non-toxic, and non-allergic, they are unique to this cat feeder and may be hard to replace.
Pros
- One-meal feeder
- Easy to clean
- Feeding time can be timed
- Stainless steel bowl
Cons
- Bowl may be hard to replace
10. Arf Pets Automatic Cat Feeder
| Capacity: | 18 cups |
| Materials: | Plastic |
| Features: | Voice recorder |
The Arf Automatic Cat Feeder is a programmable feeder that allows you to program your cat’s mealtime, up to four a day, and set the portion size. It includes a large reservoir that can hold your cat’s kibble for multiple days so that you can take that well-earned weekend away. You can also leave your cat a personal message using the voice recorder that will play before mealtimes to let it know it’s time to eat! While this automatic cat feeder is compact and nifty, it is lightweight and can easily be knocked over.
Pros
- Program up to four meals a day
- Stores food for multiple days
- Voice recorder
Cons
- Can easily be knocked over
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Automatic Cat Feeder
There are several options for great automatic cat feeders, so how do you know which is right for your cat? There are a few factors to consider to help you narrow down your choice and ensure you are spending your money on the correct one.
Size
The size of the cat feeder is an important consideration and will also depend on your reason for using one. If you are traveling, you may need an automatic feeder with a larger capacity. The size of the feeder is also something to consider since some can be quite large and take up a lot of space in your kitchen.
Ease of Use
Consider how tech-savvy you are and how much time you want to spend learning how to use a cat feeder. Some include several features that can take time to figure out and make using the cat feeder more complicated for you. Our reviews examined cat feeders that are programable and some that are more straightforward. Remember that your automatic cat feeder will come with a manual to help you set it up, but it’s up to you to decide how much time you want to spend figuring it all out.
Features
Some modern automatic cat feeders include high-tech features, but you need to consider how important and necessary they are for you. Some cat feeders are enabled with Wi-Fi, allowing you to conveniently set it up via an app on your smartphone. Most can be programmed with timers, while others can record your voice to call your cat before it dispenses its food! These can be unnecessary gimmicks for some, and your priorities may lie in the quality of the feeding bowls. Some models have stainless steel bowls that are dishwasher safe, and others have clear reservoirs to show you how much kibble is left.
Hepper 360 Cat Feeder, Stainless Steel, Anti-Chew...
Or, if you’re looking to try something a bit different, the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl puts an innovative, modern spin on the traditional cat dish. It caters to the specific needs of felines, like offering whisker relief and elevated dishes that improve better posture. Its also a gra option for pet owners! It's contemporary in style and the base wraps around both stainless steel bowls to ensure that any food and water stays in the tray and off your floor. Find out here if the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is right for you.
At PangoVet, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company
Conclusion
The Petdiary Automatic Cat Feeder is our best overall choice for its clever design, features, and capacity, and the Bueteka Smart Feed Automatic Programmable Anti-Jamming Food Design Timed Cat Feeder is our best choice for the money. All our reviews include great automatic cat feeders that will be suitable for your unique needs, whether it’s a high-tech premium cat feeder or a simple single-meal model. We hope these reviews helped you determine exactly what you are looking for and helped you find the ideal automatic cat feeder so you can enjoy a well-deserved vacation.
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Featured Image Credit: Kylbabka, Shutterstock
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