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Best Automatic Feeders for Cats 2024
Written by Emily Bayne
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 07/31/2024, edited: 07/31/2024
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Every cat parent knows the struggle of rushing home after work or an evening out to feed your furbaby, but it's easy for time to get away from us. Automatic cat feeders can ensure you never have to worry about that. Even work-from-home families can benefit from an auto-feeder.
Cats can be very sneaky and might try to convince their spare human to feed them (when they most assuredly already have eaten). Timed feeders are a great way to eliminate confusion and overfeeding should your cat feel a little snackish.
The automatic feeders of today have come a long way from the simple gravity feeders that we saw in the 90s and early 2000s. Nowadays, automatic feeders are equipped with all sorts of bells and whistles, like voice recordings, two-way speakers, backup power sources, cameras, and wifi connectivity. As with most tech gadgets, the quality and functionality of feeders can vary considerably by the brand and model.
Today, we will be talking about 5 of our favorite automatic feeders to help make shopping for an automatic feeder a little easier.
Overview
PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Pet Feeder
If you are looking for a straightforward automatic pet feeder that will stand the test of time, the PetSafe 2nd gen Smart Feed Automatic pet feeder is a great buy.
Not only can you control this feeder right from your phone, but it can also connect to your Alexa devices.
This version even has a sensor that will alert you if Fluffy’s feeder starts running low while you’re away. Plus you can connect multiple PetSafe feeders to the same app account, making it super convenient for multi-pet households.
PetSafe Smart Automatic Cat Feeder
Why Wag! loves the PetSafe Smart Feeder
- Has a security feature to prevent your kitty from sneaking food between feedings
- At under 2 feet long and about a foot tall, this feeder is is great for smaller spaces
- Has a large open dish which is spacious enough for multiple cats or dogs
- Low food sensor that will send alerts straight to your phone or Amazon echo
Considerations & concerns
- Not recommended for outside use
- If, for some reason, there is a power outage or the device becomes disconnected from wifi, the feeder will not work until it goes back online
- Expensive
What pet parents say about the PetSafe Smart Feeder
“Top 10 Most Important Household Appliances! Our first smart feeder just passed away after 8 years. This has been so reliable and helpful for our family and pet. We replaced it this week and the newer model was quicker to setup on WiFi and it is much quieter when the food lands in the bowl. We could not imagine owning a pet without this feeder.”
Read more reviews on Petco.
Image sourced from Chewy.
Petlibro Granary WIFI Automatic Pet Feeder
The Petlibro automatic feeder is one of the most high-tech and sleekest feeders we've seen! It tracks your pet's eating habits and delivers notifications right to your cell (which can be a lifesaver for parents of cats with certain health conditions!)
Arguably, the coolest feature is the meal call feature, which will play a pre-recorded voice note from you to let your catto know it's time to eat!
This feeder does all these things for a fraction of the cost of similar feeders on the market! (Did we mention it serves two pets at once?!) For under $100, this feeder is a steal!
Petlibro Granary Automatic Cat Feeder
Why Wag! loves the Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder
- Has a back up power source to ensure it works if the power goes out
- Is great for multi-cat households since it feeds two separate compartments, and you can even control the portion sizes
- Compact enough for small spaces
Considerations & concerns
- Batteries are not included (it takes 3D batteries, which can be expensive to replace)
- Some buyers complain that the feeder occasionally gets blocked and is unable to dispense food
- Some pet parents say the manual is confusing to understand
- It has a relatively short battery life
What pet parents say about Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder
"Overall I love it. I feed several community cats, [opossums], skunks.... and I think it's very useful. However, it will completely drain batteries within a week. Would be nice if they made a rechargeable battery pack for it that actually lasts. My other feeder that is not Wi-Fi capable takes forever to drain batteries.. Like a year or more. I use it outside, and have assumed it's not water rated, so I try to unplug it when I know a storm is coming. Would like a cover for the plug outlet. But overall, using my Ring cameras, i can feed the community kids from bed. 😁"
"The app is pretty easy to use. OK, I made a few mistakes when I first set it up but eventually figured it out. Took a couple of tries to dial in the right amount of food for our two kittens but now that we have the quantity set it's working perfectly. We like that we can feel confident that the boys are getting fed while we're traveling."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy.
PATPET Timed Automatic Smart Cat Feeder
Gearing up for a long day at the office? Schedule up to six meals in advance with the PATPET timed feeder. A lot of pet parents worry about their pets trying to bypass the timed feature or the feeder attracting pests, but this model is equipped with three different safety seals to keep your kitty (and pests!) out!
This feeder plugs into an outlet and has a battery compartment, which can be used as a standalone power source or as a backup to ensure it doesn't lose functionality in a power outage.
If you're not a fan of apps or Wi-Fi, this feeder will be a great option since you can set it with a few taps of the touchscreen.
Available colors:
- White
- Deep green
PATPET Timed Automatic Cat Feeder
Why Wag! loves the PATPET Timed Automatic Cat Feeder
- No internet connectivity and apps are required (making it great for travel, too!)
- Can be programmed with the touchscreen buttons
- Has several safety features including a backup power source and 3-part safety seal to keep moisture, germs, bugs, and naughty kitties out!
- Can program up to 6 meals per day
- When the bowl gets dirty, you can remove it and pop it in the dishwasher for easy cleaning!
Considerations & concerns
- Some pet parents complain that the instructions are difficult to understand and that programming the system is challenging.
What pet parents say about PATPET Timed Automatic Cat Feeder
"My cat was 21lbs and the veterinarian said he should weigh 12lbs! Using the vets recommended cat food and suggested amount of 3/4 cups he has lost 5 lbs over [a year and a half. In January the vet [recommended to cut their food down to 5/8 cup [a day] and then go to 1/2 a cup to get him to 12 lbs. I program his 5/8 cup to spread out over 5 feedings. This is only about 7 or 8 pieces of kibble but feeder is pretty precise.
[My] husband and I can now go on short trips as well without having to worry about feeding the cat. There is a battery backup just in case power goes out while we are gone. A couple of days ants invaded the area where feeder was but were not able to get to the food. Highly recommend this machine! My only gripe is that the instruction printed on the lid are in fine print. I ended up taking a picture on my phone and expanded it to read."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy.
Closer Pets Two-meal Automatic Cat Feeder
If your kitty is more of a wet food kind of cat, this feeder will be right up their alley.
The Closer Pets Two-meal Automatic Cat & Dog Feeder will keep your cat's meals fresh and timely since they feature ice packs to keep pate and other fresh foods safe.
This feeder is the most user-friendly on this list, with a simple turn-dial to set the feeder, which will pop open the selected compartment when it reaches the set time. The best part is the feeder has a tamper-resistant design to withstand impatient kitties!
Closer Pets Two-meal Automatic Cat Feeder
Why Wag! loves the Closer Pets Automatic Cat Feeder
- Super user-friendly
- Works with wet or dry food
- Large, stainless steel bowls that are dishwasher safe and free of harmful plastic additives
- Includes an ice pack to keep fresh and wet foods safe and minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses
Considerations & concerns
- Only has two compartments for meals, so it is not an option for parents who are away for longer hours every day
- Needs to be refilled daily (and the ice packs will need to be prepped the night before)
What pet parents say about Closer Pets Automatic Cat Feeder
"This device does exactly what it promises. By being able to give my cat both his bedtime snack while scheduling his breakfast, it has reduced his efforts to wake me up at dawn by 99%. It's a game changer in terms of allowing me to have more hours of quality sleep. The ice pack -included- does keep the food fresh overnight."
"The pieces clean easily. The timer is is analog so NOT accurate to exact time of opening if that is what you need; but for my purposes, the smaller footprint is worth it compared to the larger digital models I looked at. The ice pack space is small - wish it could hold a larger ice pack, but fine for 6 hours. Yes, taking the battery out every time to keep the life of the battery longer is slightly annoying, but in the scheme of difficult things in life, I emphasize SLIGHT."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy.
PetSafe Eatwell Automatic Cat Feeder
If you're looking for a more straightforward automatic feeder that does its job well without the frills, the PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal feeder is a great option. You program the meal settings right on the device with the digital display‚ no apps or Wi-Fi connection is required.
The feeder has 5 separate compartments that can hold a cup of kibble each, making it a great option for multi-cat households that don't mind sharing a bowl.
This feeder can also let you bypass the scheduled feeding time and feed on demand or skip a scheduled meal. The PetSafe Eatwell gets two paws up from us for its user-friendliness!
PetSafe Eatwell Automatic Cat Feeder
Why Wag! loves the PetSafe Eatwell Automatic Cat Feeder
- No apps or Wi-Fi connection is required
- Holds 5 cups of food
- Large enough for dogs, too
- The most affordable automatic feeder on our list
Considerations & concerns
- If you take the batteries out, you have to reprogram the settings, which can be an inconvenience for some parents
What pet parents say about the PetSafe Eatwell Automatic Cat Feeder
"I have used this model for years, with multiple cats, and it's great. Super-easy to program, and because you load each compartment yourself, you don't have to worry about too much small kibble pouring out like with some automatic feeders. I've seen some reviewers mention that their cats were able to advance to the next compartment with their paws, but I've never had that problem. Would definitely recommend!"
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Inage sourced from Chewy.
FAQ
Are automatic cat feeders a good idea?
Do timed feeders help cats lose weight?
How long can you leave a cat with an automatic feeder?
Is there an automatic cat feeder that my cat can't break into?