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We examine 24 Pet Feeders
In This Article
The Spruce Pets / Leticia Almeida
Memorial Day Deals
Save on theCat Mate 5 Meal Dog & Cat Feeder , $ 44 ( was $ 66);Cat Mate C200 2 Meal Automatic Pet Feeder$30 ( was $ 43 ) ; andPETLIBRO Air Automatic Pet Feeder , $ 35 ( was $ 50 ) .
An automatic Arabian tea feeder is a must - have for anyone looking to keep their cats fed while they ’re off , whether during the day or during short vacations . They are also useful for doling out exact portions to cats on specific diet , or automating morning feedings , so your cat break waking you up and instead start waiting by the feeder for breakfast .
We tested 24 unlike example to see the best automatic cat self-feeder for a variety of situations , evaluating them for accurate timing , portion control , software , and other features . you’re able to discover more about ourtesting processin our " How We prove " department further down the page .
Credit:The Spruce Pets / Leticia Almeida
After months of testing , we intend the best feeder for most kat is the PETLIBRO AIR WiFi Feeder , which compound a massive barrage fire life with an intuitive and utilitarian app .
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
PETLIBRO AIR WiFi Feeder
passing long battery life
Useful app
USB - degree centigrade charging cables include wall plug
Credit: PETLIBRO
gentle to coordinate multiple machine and human users
minor capacity
electric battery takes 8 hour to shoot down
Credit: The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
The PETLIBRO AIR WiFi Feeder is not the most fully - boast automatonlike cat birdfeeder we screen , but it does have the best balance of reliableness , affordability , overbold features , and ease of use out of any we ’ve tested . The Wi - Fi version of the PETLIBRO AIR use a tumid , 5200mAh Li - ion barrage fire ( that ’s a high-pitched capacity than the largest iPhone ) to power the birdfeeder for 30 24-hour interval at a time , after an 8 - hr electric charge . In our experience , the long - endure barrage lifetime typically carry well past 30 days .
The PETLIBRO melodic phrase equipment is very compact for an robotlike self-feeder , and since it ’s wireless , it ’s easy to put anywhere in the house — even up on higher surfaces — or to move it from place to place . Its rounded , squat design also seduce it unmanageable to tip over .
One of our test cats can be very compulsive and spent months terrorize his apartment ’s robotic vacuum . But after several nights of trying to extract dinner party too soon , he was only capable to scoot the feeder a few inches across the base , and never drive close to knock it over .
program the AIR WiFi is done all through the app , where you’re able to fructify how many portions to dispense ( each portion is 1/24 of a cup ) , up to 16 per repast . you could schedule up to ten repast times a twenty-four hour period . The app is relatively barebones , but straightforward to use and utile .
It ’s easy to toggle an existing agenda off for the day , and to deepen little configuration option like your preferable unit of mensuration ( we stuck to cupful ) . It retain a log of previous feeding too . The app does n’t even advertise to you , except on a consecrate " Services " tab , through which you could appear at other PETLIBRO devices and order more pet solid food from Amazon .
The app can also be sync with multiple political machine and has up to five user , making it really easy to organise in a multiple - cat family ( our tester has two different machines , one per cat , and both are managed from the same app ) . It ’s make utile telling too , let you roll in the hay when it ’s time to refill the 2 - liter food reservoir or recharge the barrage fire . you could even access a PDF reading of the user manual from inside the app .
The PETLIBRO AIR WiFi Feeder can be used with kibble between 2 and 15 millimetre ( or up to the size of a keyboard key ) . It comes with a metallic element dish that can be washed separately , and most element are easy to rinse off in the sink ( except for the base , which contains the bombardment ) .
While the AIR is an app - enable " bright " bird feeder , it does n’t have any of the bells & whistle we colligate with similar feeders . It wo n’t take your cat ’s picture , or bet a pre - recorded message ( we ’ve discover that cats do n’t demand to get word your voice to know it ’s dinner time ) .
It also has a pocket-sized reposition capacitance . But if what you want is a basic , reliable tributary that combines the peace of psyche wireless notifications can get , then the AIR is a fantastic option .
Maximum Capacity : About 8.5 cups |Dimensions:12.2 x 10.4 x 7.1 inches |Weight:2.86 pound |Food Type : Dry |Power Source:5200mAh lithium - ion bombardment |Mobile App : Yes
Best Upgrade
Whisker Feeder Robot
Useful app and presentment
24 - hr back - up battery
cud - resistant king cable television service
Robust configurations
Easy to utilise user interface
Not dish washer - dependable
shaping serving arena instead of metal or glass
Takes up a fortune of space
After multiple troll of testing , the Whisker Feeder - Robot continues to be the most impressive feeder we ’ve ever tested . The adaptable automatonlike computerized axial tomography confluent has a variety of intuitive feeding options and the most useful app of any feeder we have tested . It also tally especially in high spirits marks for its feature film , potency , timekeeper accuracy , and part control condition . But its high price and big size might be too much for many cat owners .
The design of the Feeder - Robot is at the same time futurist and favorable — though it ’s definitely on the large side in the automatic feeder realm — so buyers should be ready for it to take up a fair amount of space . Despite its substantial property , the Feeder - Robot taper to a 9 by 11.25 - column inch footmark . This makes it find a little top - great , though not enough to be concerned about bozo knocking it over . In our science lab testing , bonk it with a ten - pound sandbag did n’t make it budge , so neither will your hombre .
coiffe up out of the box is a breeze , taking us about 15 minute , including downloading and syncing the phone software ( by scanning a QR code on the back of the affluent ) , which is uncommitted on iOS and Android .
It ’s soft to dial in exact repast times and process increase with the Feeder - Robot ’s racy preferences , through which you’re able to dispense up to a full loving cup of solid food as frequently as eight time a twenty-four hours . A dispenser that uses 1/4 - cup increment is already installed in the Feeder - Robot , but you may trade it for an included 1/8 - cupful dispenser that provides more precise serving control — though this reduce the maximal single dish up to 1/2 loving cup .
There ’s also a setting that parcel out just enough solid food to keep the bowl full , with the Feeder - Robot checking its level every six 60 minutes . If your cat does n’t pig out and you do n’t nearly supervise service of process , this " sobriety mode " ensures that the self-feeder is n’t dispensing an overflowing pitcher of food while you ’re away .
The Feeder - Robot ’s reservoir can hold up to 32 cups of dry intellectual nourishment , though anything other than small , round kibble will likely need the include Hopper Insert . It ’s designed to more in effect funnel food into the dispenser but also reduces the full mental ability to 25 cups — still a hearty amount of food for thought .
The app notification keep you update on your guy ’s meal , and the included backup battery provides peace of judgment by ensuring the feeder will stay on to operate for up to 24 hour should the power suddenly go out in your home . you’re able to also go around the app and schedule feeding forthwith from the control gore keypad , and the Feeder - Robot stores the schedule locally , carry on to maintain the docket even if it ’s offline . An well-off - to - show blue indicator light highlights whether or not the social unit is currently operating on a programmed schedule .
In addition to give notice you with a push notification at feeding time , the app also allows you to see food levels , build schedule , and solicit a push button to remotely dole out a snack - size helping . And it keeps rail of feedings over time , providing daily averages and insights that can be exported to a CSV file ready for Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel which might serve as a datum origin to talk over with your veterinarian .
We were less impressed with the included plastic bowl , since it ca n’t be strip in the dishwasher and because some cats have cutis allergies ( however , all components are BPA - gratis ) . A dishwasher - safe , hypoallergenic chicken feed bowl is sold individually , adding a $ 30 surcharge to an already substantial investing . We would have preferred other Feeder - Robot constituent to be dishwashing machine - secure as well , though its washable components are easy to differentiate from the self-feeder ’s base and mitt washing .
The Whiskers Feeder - Robot is available in four different coloring material combinations , with the consistency available in black or white , in compounding with a clear food grasshopper , or a more opaque smoke - colored choice . It also come with a 90 - solar day in - base trial period in increase to its 18 - calendar month warrantee . There ’s even devoid shipping for customers in the immediate United States .
maximal Capacity:32 cups |Dimensions:15 x 12.5 x 13 inches |Weight:9 pounds |Food Type : Dry |Power Source : Plug and built - in backup barrage |Mobile App : Yes
Best High Capacity
WOPET Automatic Pet Feeder
Streamlined - design can hold seven pounds of cat food ( less than 30 cups )
Easy to clean home basketful and suffice bowl
Programming buttons on gimmick are track so pet ca n’t access
Credit: Chewy
choice to record voice subject matter to recreate along with scheduled feeding
Larger - sized kibble ( dog nutrient in our testing ) was not as well dispensed
Initial programming of feeder is tedious , but subsequent computer programing more straightforward
Credit: The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
New Camera Model
While we examine the non - WiFi version of the WOPET 7L Automatic Feeder , there isa new simulation that add app connectivity . Most usefully , this Wi - Fi version of the feeder includes a 1080P HD camera , so you’re able to check on your pet at mealtimes or take photos and videos .
The Wopet Automatic Pet Feeder holds up to seven lb , or slightly under 30 cups , of dry qat food while providing reliably time feedings with consistently sized portions . Even with its power to hold a significant amount of kibble , the self-feeder has a silky design that stay fresh it from looking bulky or overpowering a space .
The initial assembly of this automatic feeder from Wopet come together rapidly with the majority of detail intact mightily out of the loge , but the programming steps for scheduling feeding were less nonrational than other models we tested .
You must first select which feeding you are doing ( e.g. first of the day ) , then how many component to dispense ( a portion sizing is less than 1/4 cup ) , and then the sentence of day for the feeding . Once we got the hang of it by carefully read through the provided instruction manual of arms a few times , scheduling variations became more aboveboard . It also offers the choice to spark a manual eating with the simple energy of a button , but this feeder does not connect to Wi - Fi so there is no option to verify via your nomadic machine .
In our testing , we used two different sizes of cat kibble along with tumid dog kibble . The smaller - sized kibble was more compatible , so something to keep in creative thinker if your cat has a preference for bulkier food or you plan to use it with a minuscule hound .
To prevent your African tea from accidentally tampering with the schedule you put in place , the computer keyboard is locate behind a plastic cover song that can only be lift by press an exterior button that ’s flush against the birdfeeder . Plus the structure of the feeder is stalwart and unmanageable to tip over , so the solid food contained inside can not easy be access by queer darling .
For human race , the chapeau is comfortable to open and the intimate basketful where the food is stored can be take out for cleaning along with the easy to remove process bowl . For peace of judgement while you are off , the Wopet Automatic Pet Feeder is compatible with two power sources , a plug - in cord or three D - cell shelling as back up in case the power goes out . you may also record a interpreter message up to ten second base to play along with scheduled eating .
Maximum Capacity:7 liters ( ~29 cup ) |Dimensions:9.7 x 12.8 x 15.2 inches |Weight:5.6 pounds |Food eccentric : Dry |Power Source : Plug - in and three five hundred - cell barrage |Mobile App : No
Best for Keeping Dogs Out
Sure Petcare SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
prosperous to program microchips
Included RFID ticket
breeding function acclimates your true cat
Looks like something a cat on a space station might use
Comes with split bowling ball
pliant stadium
barrage fire - power only
utilitarian accessory is not include
The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder has a very different function than most automatic cat feeders . alternatively of regulating your African tea ’s food schedule and ensuring they are fed whenever you are not at home , the SureFeed is more like a true cat food for thought gatekeeper .
Rather than relying on a timer , the SureFeed is plan to restrict approach to specific cats , identified either by their silicon chip or by an include RFID ticket that you may hang from your cat ’s collar . This make it idealistic for pet proprietor with multiple cat on different diets . For instance , if one computed axial tomography has a especial diet and eat on separate food , the SureFeed can ensure that no other hombre in the menage will eat it .
It ’s also a great path to verify only your cat eats the cat food for thought , and not your dog . While it ’s hard to imagine scenarios where you ’d ask this many , the SureFeed can be program to identify up to 32 cats .
The SureFeed is telling to look on work , with a liquid , futurist sliding door that peels back like the cockpit of a spaceship when your cat come near . Plus , it ’s comfortable to use : our tester had it set up and working with the RFID tag in about five minutes .
Because you sum food to the SureFeed using its separate plastic stadium , it can work out with loaded or wry food . A rent sports stadium that leave you to serve two separate circumstances at the same clock time is also admit . The feeder ’s covered design has the additional benefit of protecting food from fly , pack down smells , and more often than not keeping wet food freshman .
Our tester did note a few downside to the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder . For one , the trough is a trivial small . It ’s not really a twist that you could pile several days ' Charles Frederick Worth of food into and forget about . Instead , it ’s more specifically for actively managing a cat ’s diet .
Also , it operate on 4 C cubicle batteries and does n’t have a chew . Since it has a six - calendar month assault and battery life ( and a flashing battery index number ) , this is n’t much of an obstacle , but it would have been overnice to have the pick of using an outlet .
mayhap the large downside is the overt back . While the SureFeed in effect forbid more than one African tea from using it — quickly close up after the identified qat impart the bowl — a really determined dog could in all probability figure out a direction around its defenses . A rear cover is useable to keep out persistent moocher , but it ’s a bummer pay an extra $ 33 for something that could have been built into the equipment .
Our tester felt that all of the issues they identified were modest . The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is fantabulous at what it ’s plan to do . While this khat self-feeder only works for very specific scenarios , it handles that scenario with sang-froid .
maximal Capacity:13.5 oz. |Dimensions:7.875 x 9 x 12.625 in |Weight:5 pounds |Food Type : juiceless and soaked |Power Source : Four C - cell batteries |Mobile App : No
Best Portable
Cat Mate C200 2 Meal Automatic Pet Feeder
Compatible with wet or dry cat food
choice to add ice pack
Lightweight twist with straightforward functionality
barrage fire - power for convenience and no power electric cord to enshroud
Timer is not as precise as other automatic feeders on our list
The Cat Mate C200 2 Meal Automatic Cat Feeder features two compartments each capable of hold up to 1.5 loving cup of wet and/or dry true cat food . And it only ask one AA barrage fire to operate , so you do n’t have to vex about a power outage and you do n’t have to put the bird feeder near an outlet . It ’s lightweight and a reliable pick for maintaining a alimentation schedule while traveling with a cat .
At the fundament of the birdfeeder underneath the food containers , there ’s a speckle for ice camp to sit down which is good if you plan to put soused food or perishable item in the feeder for an extended stop of time . The design is fairly intuitive and the setup process is quick and comfortable , with the majority of the birdfeeder assembled right out of the box .
As for the interface , the simplistic technology — while reliable — does leave way for improvement . A knob gives you the power to delay the tributary from open for up to 48 hours , and each time of day is map on the knob by a Zen with no regard for extra interval . This means that you are only capable of programming the feeder to open at the hour and not by the minute of arc within the hour .
It also lacks some of the other supplemental feature that more robust reflexive feeders have to make distant feeding a little bit easier , like Wi - Fi connectivity for monitoring and check via a mobile equipment . But depend on your lifestyle and your budget , this straightforward feeder might furnish more than enough to keep you and your khat satiated .
Maximum Capacity:3 cups ( 1.5 per bowl ) |Dimensions:10.1 x 8.3 x 3 inches |Weight:1.9 British pound |Food Type : Dry or wet |Power Source : One AA shelling |Mobile App : No
Best Budget
PETLIBRO Air Automatic Pet Feeder
programme up to six timekeeper for food allot
Power corduroy and back up batteries included
ascendancy button hidden behind panel making it impossible for paw to deepen options
Press - to - sack lid seals tightly to preserve the freshness and conceal scent of Caterpillar food
Rotor design keep pests from entering the food tank
No screen index number to confirm timers are apparatus as intended
No Wi - Fi connectivity , mobile gimmick app , or articulation recording capability
The PETLIBRO Air Automatic Pet Feeder has everything you need to faithfully feed a African tea on a timer , but miss the useful app that makes the WiFi edition of this feeder our very favorite . alternatively of the 30 - twenty-four hours Li - ion shelling , this more minimalist AIR theoretical account comes with USB - C plug with a five - foot cord , with three D - electric cell electric battery for backup in casing the power give way out while you are away . An indicator on the gadget prevent track of how much battery life is left .
We test the AIR in our New York laboratory and found that a little over seven cup of kibble was the maximal amount it could hold . The manual eating button works well , and you’re able to push it up to five times in a row for a larger service of process . The default portion is 1/24 cup and you’re able to program up to six timers to dispense a maximum of 16 destiny ( two - third base of a cupful ) at one time . But there is no index number confirming that a timekeeper has been adjust , so we recommend you monitor the feeder over the class of a day to ensure it ’s dispensing as you desire .
The feeder arrives almost full assembled , except for a stainless steel bowl and the pliant tray the trough sits in — both of which are well-off to clean . And to keep unwanted pests from accessing the food for thought tank , a rotate barrier seals off access through the alimentation port wine . Plus , the lid has a public press - to - release button that form a blotto cachet to preserve the freshness of your bozo ’s food .
The PETLIBRO melodic line does not connect to Wi - Fi so there is no mobile gadget app , but the buttons are straightforward and hold in behind a control panel , making it inconceivable for your furred booster to transfer the configurations .
Maximum Capacity:2 liters ( ~8 cups ) or 6 liters ( ~25 cups ) |Dimensions:10.4 x 7.1 x 12.2 in ( 2 liters),9.5 x 7.7 x 14.2 in ( 6 litre ) |Weight:2.9 pounds ( 2 liters ) , 3.9 ( 6 liters ) |Food Type : Dry |Power Source : Plug - in and three D - cell batteries |Mobile App : No
Another Great Budget Option
PETLIBRO Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
Battery back - up
Slot for a food desiccant suitcase
low-priced and fully have
Multiple models for specific uses
mogul adapter is a little tricky to connect
Desiccant refills add to the expense
Before we tested the PETLIBRO AIR and Whisker Feeder - Robot , this highly convenient feeder was our choice for better overall , and the PETLIBRO Automatic Pet Feeder keep to be a reliable machinelike tributary with several dissimilar contour at a very fairish price .
The PETLIBRO has a great power adapter and a shelling musical accompaniment ( which use three five hundred - jail cell battery ) . It has a adequate port for programming a feeding schedule on the LCD screen on the front of the equipment . you’re able to also immortalise a shortsighted message to thread your computerized tomography to the bowling ball for feeding time .
Also include is a slot for a desiccant pocketbook to keep kibble juiceless . However , since PETLIBRO recommends change the drying agent every two hebdomad , it may not be worth consistentlybuying filter refillsunless you know in a very humid climate .
you’re able to schedule up to four eating a daytime , which can each be customized to dish your preferred portion size . However , you ca n’t dress a dissimilar schedule for dissimilar days , such as weekends — the PETLIBRO will run for the same schedule every 24-hour interval . It has a 24 - hour clock which winnow out any ambiguity and seduce it less likely you ’ll lay out the equipment to feed at the incorrect metre , but takes some getting used to for those accustom to a 12 - hour clock with A.M. and P.M. preferences .
Our examiner were also burst on the nutrient artificial lake , which call for both hands to open . It ’s meant to ensure that your dearie ca n’t gain access to the kibble in the reservoir , but testers found it worsen to open and refill . Cleaning was also a number of a task , with multiple components that had to be wash by hand .
But the biggest downside to the PETLIBRO Automatic Pet Feeder was its constancy — it was the only feeder that was knocked over and spilled food during our stability test . To be average , we were wallop feeder with a 10 - pound sandbag , so we still think the PETLIBRO will support up well under most feeding condition . But if your cats are specially rowdy , or if you plan on using the feeder for a dog , you might require to look elsewhere .
Still , this is an overall excellent eater , particularly for the price . While we are highlighting the more affordable model as our " Best Budget " pick , we also tested and can recommend thePETLIBRO Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder , 2.4 G Wi - Fi Enabled , which is nearly the same feeder but with Wi - Fi connectivity and an include app . It also features a stainless steel pipe bowl .
While the affiliated rendering ’s app did n’t impress as much as the software included with the Whisker Feeder - Robot , our quizzer still found it a useful added feature article . There are other optional shape of this feeder available as well , including a larger capacity 6 - liter version and a version with a semi - opaque reservoir that makes it sluttish to see how much nutrient is left .
Maximum Capacity:4 or 6 liters |Dimensions:7.5 x 7.5 x 12 inch |Weight:4.74 pounds |Food Type : Dry |Power germ : Plug - in and three five hundred - cell batteries |Mobile App : Yes
Credit: Amazon
Best for Multiple Cats
PETLIBRO Granary Two Cat Feeder
unstained sword bowl
Easy to programme
accurate dower controls
Credit: The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
severely to accurately correct repast rail-splitter
In previous version of this roundup , we recommended that owner of multiple cats train out theWellToBe robotlike Pet Feeder with Two - Way Splitter , which holds up to 20 cup of nutrient and includes features like a part transcription and barrage fire accompaniment . After more comprehensive examination , we found the WellToBe operated effectively and deal out food accurately . However , our testers dislike a number of design choices , including its inadequate power cable television , strange push button position , and how the two bowls do n’t bust onto the affluent , necessitating finicky adjustments .
Instead , our testers preferred the PETLIBRO Granary Automatic Cat Feeder for Two Cats . We trust it is the ripe pick for anyone who would prefer a feeder that provide a separate sports stadium for each cat . Plus , those freestanding bowls are both stainless blade , which we prefer to plastic bowls .
The PETLIBRO Granary looks a little like its namesake , with a circular , silo design that reminded one tester of an air filter . The feeder has a locking lid that will keep your khat out , though one examiner did find it a little too fluid to grip easily .
Overall , we found the Granary to be among the easiest to set up of any gadget we test , with intuitive programing on a digital display that presented utilitarian information flawlessly . you’re able to program up to ten meals a day and can adjust portion restraint down to the tablespoon , with a maximal meal serving that ’s more than four cups of dry food .
The Granary has other utilitarian feature , include a bombardment backup , a manual eating button , and the power to record a short " amount and get it " content to your cats . likewise to the other PETLIBRO birdfeeder we recommend in this roundup , you’re able to also insert a desiccant bag in the kibble source if there ’s a opportunity of high humidity spoiling the stored food .
The only downside our testers remark was the meal splitter , which can be adjusted to swear out different - sized portions in unlike bowl . In praxis , we found it foxy to make precise adjustments . It was a small defect in a affluent that was otherwise a favourite of our testers .
Maximum Capacity:5 cubic decimetre |Dimensions:13.6 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches |Weight:4.4 pounds |Food Type : Dry |Power reference : Plug - in and three D - cell batteries |Mobile App : No
Best for Wet Food
Cat Mate 5 Meal Dog & Cat Feeder
Ice packs to keep wet food edible longer
Useful for sozzled and dry food
dish washer safe
Batteries only , no outlet plug
Similar in design to our Portable pick ( the PetSafe Eatwell 5 - Meal ) , the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5 Meal Dog & Cat Feeder uses a rotating , multi - compartment tray rather than administer food through a sloping trough . This makes it ideal for semi - wet or crocked food for thought since you could load each compartment yourself and schedule when it ’s " revealed " to your bozo or cats .
Butwet and send away cat foodspoils more speedily than dry food and should be refrigerated after opening , make up it harder to set out in advance . The Cat Mate C500 figure out this job by including two ice packs beneath the rotating tray .
While this make the Cat Mate C500 useful for pre - loading wet food that might otherwise postulate infrigidation , it ’s still not a great choice for serve wet food when you ’re away . We found that the two ice pack kept the food frigid overnight but were n’t long - lasting enough to extend past 24 hours .
Cat owners who are likely to find the Cat Mate C500 utile admit anyone who is disturbed of their cat awaken them up and would rather the cats adjust to waiting by the feeder for their scheduled mealtime . It could also be useful for scheduling a helping of food if you are going to be at work late .
The C500 can be programme for up to 5 schedule mealtime , with each compartment bear 1.25 cup of food . Programming is straightforward , but one tester advised that drug user give close tending that they ’re differentiate a.m. and post meridiem to avoid a missed repast .
The Cat Mate C500 is also easy to clean since the top cover and the food tray are dishwasher secure .
Maximum Capacity:1.7 cubic decimetre |Dimensions:12.2 x 11.89 x 3.7 inch |Weight:14.8 troy ounce |Food Type : Wet or dry |Power Source : Three AAA batteries |Mobile App : No
Best Battery
PetSafe Six Meal Feeder
Locking lid
9 month barrage fire liveliness
Major components are dishwasher safe
Limited computer programming options
The PetSafe Six Meal Feeder is bombardment - major power only , using 4 D - mobile phone electric battery . While we by and large feel that it ’s preferable for robotlike cat feeders to have both the ability to plug into a wall electric outlet and a battery backup ( in case your house loses power while you ’re aside ) , there ’s no abnegate the extra flexibility a stamp battery - power gadget can bring home the bacon .
Rather than being limited to a bulwark electric outlet , you’re able to place the PetSafe Six Meal Feeder anywhere , admit it to live wherever is most commodious . Plus , with a battery life of up to 9 month , there ’s very trivial risk of losing power while you ’re off , especially if you put in young batteries before a trip .
The PetSafe automatonlike confluent is n’t the most fully featured self-feeder on this roundup , but its combining of easy programming , useful lineament , and tactile buttons makes it a sturdy , reliable pick . Feedings can be programmed to any time of Clarence Day ( in 15 - mo interval ) on the LCD screen .
It ’s easy to set up to six different alimentation times a sidereal day . Or , set one feeding fourth dimension , and the PetSafe carousel will dispense one of its six meals into the bowl every mean solar day at that same prison term . There ’s also a separate button for dispensing a repast right away . Since you fill the six compartments severally , you determine the portions — up to one cupful per meal .
While these introductory options make programing soft , it also entail the PetSafe bird feeder may not mould for very specific repast architectural plan . For good example , if you need to feed cats at different times day - to - 24-hour interval , there ’s no direction to do that since the PetSafe dispenses at the same metre ( or times ) every 24-hour interval .
" Everything about it was straight to the point , and there was n’t anything particularly bad about it , " one quizzer noted , characterise the general consensus that the PetSafe Six Meal Feeder was a square , no - gimcrack option .
While principally used for dry food , the PetSafe also works with semi - dampish kibble , though testers did find that some kibble stay behind after feedings were dispensed , and sometimes food stuck in such a style that it become in the way of easily shut the palpebra . Still , these were nonaged issues that did n’t mar any of our tests of its scheduled operation .
Overall , we found the PetSafe Six Meal Feeder simple and leisurely to use , with feature film that make it a solid pick for anyone looking for a basic feeder . Plus , the BPA - free pipe bowl and the food carousel are dishwasher dependable , making it one of the easiest reflexive feeders to clean .
Maximum Capacity:6 cup |Dimensions:15.7 x 9.6 x 6.4 inches |Weight:2.85 pounds |Food Type : Dry or semi - wet |Power Source : Four 500 - cubicle batteries |Mobile App : No
Popular on Reddit
Petlibro Wet Food Feeder
The Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder can keep 7.4 ounces of wet food at a nerveless 50 degree or below for up to three days . Its semiconductor cooling technology quickly cool a variety of wet and semi - moist foods to keep up flavor and freshness — pause 30 minutes before scheduled feedings so food for thought can be served at the optimum temperature for finicky eater . The all - in - one smart app also allows you to schedule mealtime and supervise your ducky ’s diet .
The confluent features an merged PawShield invention that safely restrain wet food for thought in , an anti - pinch lid sensor that keep the lid open as long as your pet is eat or nearby , and a backup barrage power reference that provides 12 hour of protection against outages .
While we have n’t examine this feeder ourselves , we do have architectural plan to test it soon . It has received some positivefeedback on Reddit .
Maximum Capacity:7.4 ounces |Dimensions:14.2 x 13.4 x 7.7 column inch |Weight:7.5 pounds |Food case : Wet and semi - wet |Power Source : Plug - in and three AAA batteries |Mobile App : Yes
Final Verdict
Our favourite automatic cat-o'-nine-tails feeder is thePETLIBRO Air WiFI Feeder , which is affordable , compact , and includes a useful app where you’re able to schedule feeding and get notifications when you ’re not at home . It also comes with a massive battery that can confine a thrill for more than 30 days . We also like the non - smart interpretation , thePETLIBRO AIR Automatic Pet Feeder , which is our best-loved budget filling .
But in the end , the best tributary we ’ve ever tested is theWhisker Feeder - Robot , which holds slews of food , take into account for accurate programming , and has our favorite app of any prove feeder , allowing you to easily set meals and monitor your qat ’s eating substance abuse while you ’re away . But it may be too expensive for many citizenry looking for an reflexive feeder .
If your cats primarily corrode pie-eyed food , you have fewer options , but we recommend theCat Mate C200 2 Meal Automatic Cat Feederwhich uses ice pack to keep wet food coolheaded .
The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
How We Tested Automatic Cat Feeders
We tested 24 machinelike cat bird feeder in ourNew York City labwith two rounds of thorough assessments spaced several months aside . And after each round of science lab examination , each feeder was position in a real house with a tangible Caterpillar ( or small hot dog ) for additional sixth sense into the functionality and reliableness of the each automatic favorite feeder .
Within each lab sitting , we monitor and timed the thoroughgoing frame-up process , from unbox and assembly to programming and , if relevant , mobile app activation . For consistency in our results , each feeder was programmed to render multiple meals throughout the solar day , and we monitored to see if feeders were dispensing food on time .
Our tester made both objective and immanent judgments throughout examination , not only measuring for accurate dowery and feeder capacities , but also providing ratings ( out of 5 ) for multiple facet , using a marking methodological analysis written in advance . We looked in exceptional for our tester ’s blueprint impressions , plus their thoughts on utilitarian features , programing interfaces , software package , and how easy each twist was to clean .
After examination , we ask testers for more thoughts on each feeder , including whether they ’d recommend it to a family phallus and what they would want to change most about the ware . Our current top selections are still under review in real plate for ongoing insight into their longevity and strength .
What to Look for in an Automatic Cat Feeder
Size
There are two main size considerations when it comes to machinelike quat feeders : mental ability and footprint . Overall capacity motley widely from feeder to feeder , which is a primal consideration if you want to use an automatic cat confluent to keep your quat fed while you ’re traveling . While the amount of dry food cat wipe out can depend on their specific dieting , a half - cup per day is moderately standard .
Many of our recommended plectrum can prevail 5 liters or more of dry food , which could feast a single computed tomography for more than a month before you would need to replenish . Other feeders have disjoined compartments that you load up in approach — those models typically have a much scummy overall capability .
Another thoughtfulness is how much blank you want to grant to an automatonlike feeder . Our top overall pick is quite gravid and would be hard to miss in a kitchen . Other urge feeder will take up less flooring place .
Features
Our recommend feeders grade from barebones models that offer canonical options for scheduling meal in advance to amply - feature devices with phone apps and Wi - Fi connectivity . Our favorite features to look for include : battery back - ups ( in case your house loses power while you ’re away ) , stainless steel bowl ( which are dishwasher safe and usable for qat with plastic sensitivity ) , and exculpated reservoirs that provide you to see at a coup d’oeil how much kibble is left . Other features were less important to our testers , or even felt like a gimmick , such as the ability to commemorate a voice message . In our experience , cats quickly learn when they ’re going to be fed and hardly need prompting .
Ease of Use
Since the port for programming a feeding schedule is completely different from feeder to feeder , we ’ve taste to give the best sense possible of how loose or hard each self-feeder was to program . comfort of use come up from a combination of visceral interface and helpful information displays . For most feeders , this means programming buttons and a small-scale LCD screen , but several of our picks can also be programmed through a phone app . We opt confluent that offered both options .
Automatic cat feeders are either battery or plug - in - powered equipment that hold and distribute cat food at sure time of the day . standardised to an automatic coffee maker , automatic cat feeders have programmable configurations for bozo proprietor to customize repast multiplication .
Feeders with a tank have a timekeeper inside the feeder that have a threshold to open up and dispense a set amount of solid food from a container into a arena below . This little door shuts once the pre - programmed amount of nutrient has been allowed to fall into the bowl and fix the remaining food in the container .
Other eater have a circular tray intention , with several small compartment and a lid that ’s open to just one compartment at a clip . At the set clock time , the tray rotates to the next compartment . Both designs keep your cat from getting to the food for thought and help keep the solid food fresh until mealtime .
While multiple cats may have no problem sharing a mantrap that is kept full at all time , sharing a bowl on an automatic eater can be problematic . Since only a certain amount of solid food is provide at each meal , one African tea may terminate up eating all the food while the other CT end up not getting any . Not all cat will be as incite to wipe out as before long as the food drops out of the feeder , so slower khat may miss meals if a nimble cat gets to the bowl first .
If your cats have feed habit that are n’t conducive to sharing a bowl , consider a separate feeder for each cat . There are also birdfeeder that deal intellectual nourishment into two freestanding bowl , including one recommended in this roundup .
Some automatic true cat feeder hold several pound of food , while others only declare a few cup . Less expensive models typically only hold a few meal ' Charles Frederick Worth of food for thought , and more costly pick may hold over 3 pounds of food for thought .
To help you compare models , we ’ve provide the maximum capacity in cup or liters for each of our recommended confluent . While it may seem as though it would be unspoiled for a feeder to hold larger amounts of food , small containers may help nutrient stay fresh since they ’ll be refilled more frequently .
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
This roundup was revamp byAnna Mejorada , a writer for The Spruce Pets , who shares her household with a very cat - like pomeranian , Gidget , which she lovingly come to to as ameoweranian . Before researching and writing about pet products for a living , Mejorada venture on a self - mandated , on-going seeking to find the optimal point for her frankfurter . She is now delightfully devoted to help humans discover and take the most friendly products for their pets .
A former version was pen byAndrew Whalen , a elderly editor in chief for The Spruce Pets with 100 of hour of experience testing pet products . Whalen lives with two rescue cats , Church and Wally , who have wildly different eating schedule and eating habits . Their input and aroused sustenance was of the essence to the reflex cat feeder examination unconscious process .
And the original story was written byAdrienne Kruzer , a Registered and Licensed Veterinary Technician in three State who has been writing on pet and vet topics for over a 10 . She has a special interest in fauna nutrition , providing a wealthiness of experience and specialised knowledge that raise priceless in making the best potential product recommendation .
Credit: Amazon
The SureFeed Microchip Feeder comes with a split bowl that lets you dish up dry and wet food at the same time.Credit: The Spruce Pets / Leticia Almeida
Credit: The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
Credit: The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
Credit: Amazon
Credit: The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
Credit: Amazon
Credit: The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
Credit: Amazon
Credit: The Spruce Pets / Leticia Almeida
Credit: Amazon
Credit: The Spruce Pets / Leticia Almeida
Credit: Amazon
Credit: The Spruce Pets / Leticia Almeida
Credit: Petlibro
Credit:The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
Credit:The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
Credit:The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples
