7 Best Automatic Cat Feeders (2024 Reviews)
It’s a universally accepted rule that cats love their food, so why not get them the best of the best and use an automatic feeder?
Maybe you’re tired of having your cat come fuss at you every time you’re late, or you just want to jazz up your kitty’s feeding time. Either way, an automatic cat feeder is the perfect option for you!
There are a ton of different automatic cat feeders, and we’re here to help you find the perfect one for your lovable pet. We’ll work through a variety of different automatic cat feeders that have different features, so you’ll be able to find the best one for you.
On top of that, there will be a guide underneath our picks for the best automatic cat feeders. You can use it to help you decide which automatic cat feeder you should get!
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7 Best Automatic Cat Feeders
An automatic cat feeder can help you solve any number of feeding issues that can arise with your cats. You may have to leave for or a day or two. An automatic feeder can allow you to do this. Maybe your cat needs a special diet or needs to have his portions controlled. There are many reasons that an automatic cat feeder can benefit you and your cat. Here are 7 of our favorites.
PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder
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The PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder is one of the best automatic feeders you can get. It holds 29 cups of food, and you can set it to feed 2 teaspoons to 4.5 cups when it’s feeding time. This is for dry food, and you’ll want to make sure that the kibble is about half an inch in size so that it works correctly.
Instead of using a digital clock to determine meal times, this auto feeder uses a timer to keep a set amount of time between mealtimes. This timed cat feeder works on battery power or by beige plugged in. It’s a good idea to use this timer cat feeder by an outlet so that you can rely on the batteries in the case of a power outage.
One of the cutest functions of this automatic cat feeder is the recorder; you can actually record your own message to play at mealtime!
Manufacturer Specs
- Holds 29 cups of food
- Record message
- Timer-based
What We Like
- The recordable message
- Having a timer makes it easy to make sure your cat gets correctly fed
What We Don’t Like
- Having to limit the kibble size can be difficult, especially if your cat is picky
Summary
If your kibble is the correct size, which most are, then this is a great timer feeder for your cat. The recordable message adds a personal touch so that your cat still thinks you’re the one providing food!
PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed
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- SCHEDULE YOUR PET’S MEALS: Conveniently schedule up to 12 meals per day for your cat or dog; best for cats and small to medium sized dogs
- FLEXIBLE PORTIONS: Schedule 1/8 cup to 4 cups per meal depending on your pet’s unique needs; requires 4 D-cell alkaline batteries (not included) or power adaptor (adaptor sold separately)
- WORKS WITH MOST KIBBLE: Feeder works with dry and semi-moist pet kibble that is up to 3/4 inch in diameter
- SLOW FEED OPTIONS: For pets who tend to eat too quickly, schedule meals larger than 1/8 cup to slowly dispense over 15 minutes
- PET-PROOF: The feeder is designed to keep prying paws from sneaking food before scheduled mealtimes
- EASY TO CLEAN: Place the BPA-free plastic feeder parts and stainless-steel bowl in the top-rack of the dishwasher for easy cleaning; hand wash the conveyor system separately
The PetSafe Healthy Pet Automatic Food Dispenser is a great automatic cat feeder if you have a speed-eating cat. With a slow dispense option, you can serve meals that are over ⅛ of a cup over a span of 15 minutes. If you’re using an auto feeder because you’re worried about your cat’s weight, then this is a great option.
This cat slow feeder is for dry food only, and you can use it with batteries or purchase a power adapter to plug it in. This is also a great option if you’ve got a curious cat with it’s carefully crafted design that stops paws from reaching inside.
According to reviews, you’ll want to do a practice run about 6 times before feeding your cat. There’s a conveyor belt that brings the food to the dispenser, and you have to give it time to bring the food to the front initially.
Manufacturer Specs
- Serves up to 12 meals a day
- Slow feed option
- Can feed ⅛ cup to 4 cup servings
What We Like
- The slow feed option is perfect for a variety of reasons
- There’s a two-way attachment you can buy to feed two cats
What We Don’t Like
- To wash the feeder, it has to be hand-washed because of the conveyor system.
Summary
If you need an automatic cat food dispenser for two cats or you’re trying to slow down how quickly your cat eats, then this is a great option. It holds plenty of food and you can schedule a ton of small meals throughout the day.
PetSafe Dog and Cat Food Dispenser
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Traffic may make you late for your pet’s dinner time, but the PetSafe 5 Meal Pet Feeder has got you covered! This automatic pet feeder has a removable tray with 5 sections that each hold 1 cup of dry or semi-moist food. You can schedule 1-5 meals per day for your cat or dog using the digital clock.
You are able to select the time your pet is fed down to the minute. Once the schedule is set, your pet’s meals will automatically be served at the same time each day. When you fill the feeder, 1 meal will be available and ready for your pet to eat. When it’s time for the next meal, the tray will rotate so your pet can access their food.
If your cat tends to eat his food too quickly, or if you want to help manage your pet’s weight, use the 5 Meal Pet Feeder to schedule smaller meal portions to keep your pet healthy. When it’s time to clean the feeder, place the removable tray in the top rack of the dishwasher for easy clean-up. PetSafe brand is here to help you and your pet live happy together.
If you want an auto cat feeder that runs off of a digital clock, then the PetSafe Cat Food Dispenser is the option for you! You can schedule meals daily with a digital clock, so you can set exact times that you want your pet to eat.
This on-time feeder is a great option if you’ve got semi-wet food. The food, wet or dry, is placed into one of the five sections that rotate when it’s time for your pet to eat. As long as your cat food isn’t like soup, then you’ll be safe using this wet cat food dispenser!
This specific automatic cat feeder comes in a two meal option and a five meal option. This is a great option if you’d like to give your cats treats throughout the day; for example, you can use the five meal option to feed your kitty twice a day while scheduling three treat times!
Manufacturer Specs
- Digital clock lets you schedule mealtimes
- Two options to tailor to your lifestyle
- Dry and semi-wet food
What We Like
- The rotating feeder makes it a great option if you’ve got a curious cat
- Being able to schedule both treats and meals is a fun option
What We Don’t Like
- You’ll have to refill the feeder at least every other day, if not every day, which can be a hassle
Summary
This cat food dispenser is a great option if you’re looking for a product that has some versatility to it; however, you will have to refill it pretty consistently, so it’s not ideal if you’re looking for something to feed your pet while you’re gone for multiple days.
Iseebiz Automatic Cat Feeder 3L Pet Food Dispenser
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- Time and Amount Programmable:You can feed your pet 4 meals at scheduled times ,and every meals have 1-39 portion control,which can help the pet develop a good eating habit;
- Infrared Induction:This automatic pet feeder with infrared sensor, when the bowl fills a certain amount, the machine automatically stops, preventing food from overflowing;
- Voice Recorder:This feeder will allow you to record your voice 10 second where you can record your voice calling your pet to come and enjoy their meal time;
- Power Supply:You can either use the power adapter comes with the feeder or batteries(the batteries is not including) to deliver power to your automatic pet feeder;
- Keeping Food Fresh:The head part where you put the food have good leakproofness and keep fresh;the feeder will be delivered fresh food at every meal for your pet,so you will not have to worry about them getting any old or stale food ingested.
The Iseebiz Automatic Cat Feeder is a great budget option for cat parents who want help with portion control when it comes to feeding their cats. You can schedule up to four meals a day for whenever you’d like, and you can choose a portion control number to help create healthy eating habits.
This cat food dispenser has an infrared light on it that tells it when to stop pouring food, which stops food from overflowing and ensures that your pet is getting the correct amount of food. There’s also a voice recording option that lets you call your cat when it’s time to eat!
Like most other automatic cat feeders, you have the option to plug this into the wall or use batteries to power it. The best option is to keep it plugged in and have batteries in it as a backup in case anything happens to your electricity.
Manufacturer Specs
- Schedules up to 4 meals a day
- Holds 3 pounds of food
- Voice recorder
What We Like
- The voice recorder is a fun option
- The infrared reader is nice for eliminating messes
What We Don’t Like
- There are only 4 mealtime options throughout the day
Summary
This auto cat feeder is simple and great if you’re on a budget. However, you can get the same features with a few better benefits with other options if you’re able to splurge a little bit more.
Sure Petcare Automatic Pet Feeder
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- Key Benefits: Prevents food stealing and stress at mealtimes in multi-pet homes, keeps your pets healthier by controlling portions and helping to keep weight under control, saves money by not overfeeding expensive prescription foods and helping to avoid vet bills related to pet health conditions.
- Great for Pets on Prescription Diets: Holds 13.5 fl. oz, wet or dry pet food. The lid closes to form a seal with the neoprene lip, helping to retain moisture and to keep food fresher longer.
- Airtight storage keeps the food Microchip Compatibility: Works with 9 (Avid Secure), 10 (FDXA) and 15 (FDXB) digit microchip numbers; if unsure of your pet’s microchip number, you can check with your veterinarian, pet shelter or animal rescue. Automatic Cat Feeder opens when the assigned pet microchip ID approaches, and closes when it moves away. Simple one button programming.fresh, Bowl capacity 400 ml or two pouches of wet food
The Sure Petcare Microchip Pet Feeder is an amazing option for any cat owner that has multiple pets who are all microchipped. Microchipping is a simple, cheap process that has a ton of benefits, and more pets are being microchipped every day. This microchip cat feeder reads the microchip of the pet coming near it and opening if it’s the correct cat.
This means that it’s perfect if you have multiple cats looking to eat. The lift-up lid also means that it’s perfect for wet food, making it one of the only options for anyone using wet cat food. On top of that, this wet cat food dispenser seals completely, keeping the food fresh and moist.
Oftentimes, when you have multiple cats, there’s one cat that goes around eating the food that’s meant for the other cats. This leads to an overweight, unhealthy cat, and this microchip cat feeder is a great way to prevent that from happening!
Manufacturer Specs
- Great for wet or dry food
- Microchip activated
- Holds 13 oz of food
What We Like
- The microchip technology is perfect for certain scenarios
- The design is sleek, so having multiple of these feeders would look great
What We Don’t Like
- There isn’t much room to hold food, so you’ll be refilling it pretty regularly
Summary
This wet cat food dispenser is a perfect option if your cats are microchipped, especially if they’re on a wet food diet. There’s also a three-year warranty on it, so you’ll get your money’s worth out of the microchip cat feeder.
Cat Mate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder with Digital Timer
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The Cat Mate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder with Digital Timer will serve up to five meals, one initial feed and four further timed feeds while you are away – during the day, evening or over the weekend. Suitable for feeding both wet and dry foods, the included ice packs and close fitting lid help keep food fresh.
Just program the easy to use digital timer to the required meals. Once set, all programmed feed times are visible on the LCD display. The Cat Mate C500 requires 3 x AA batteries (not supplied) which will give approximately 12 months operation. The five large food compartments each hold 11. 5 ounces of wet food – one meal enough for two cats or a small dog.
Maintenance is simple, both the lid and bowl are dishwasher safe. The Cat Mate C500 is designed to be tamper resistant to pets, the feeder can also be attached to a board (not supplied) to prevent it from being overturned or moved.
Looking for a wet cat food dispenser that’s going to keep your cat’s meals cold and fresh? Look no further. The Cat Mate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder is a great option for wet food with it’s ice packs to ensure that the food stays nice and cold.
On top of that, you can fit up to 11.5 ounces of food in each of its five dispensers, letting you feed your cat as much as you need to up to five times a day. This is a great feature if you’re looking to go out of town for a few days and leave your cat by itself.
This is a battery-operated wet cat food dispenser, so it’ll continue working even if your power goes out while you’re away. On top of that, there’s actually a battery indicator on the feeder itself, so you won’t have to guess how much juice the batteries have left.
Manufacturer Specs
- 5 food slots that hold up to 11.5 oz each
- 2 ice packs built-in
- Wet or dry food auto cat feeder
What We Like
- The ice packs are a unique and handy feature for cold wet food
- The battery indicator will end up saving you money in the future since you won’t have to constantly change batteries to ensure it keeps working
What We Don’t Like
- If you’re using this for daily feeding, then you’ll have to refill it often
Summary
This wet cat food dispenser is one of the best options you can get for wet food. On top of that, it’s incredibly beneficial if you have a prescribed cat food that needs to stay cold considering its ice packs.
WellToBe Automatic Cat Feeder
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Are you troubled by multiple pets are fighting for bowls at meal time?
Do you want to buy 2 pet feeders for two pets but feel expensive and take up space?
All troubles can be solved by our WellToBe Automatic Pet Feeder expecially designed for two pets. WellToBe 2 in 1 Pet Feeder is a great choice for who have multiple pets. The automatic cat food dispenser can feed your multip pets at the same time.
The cat feeder comes with a 2-way spilitter and 2 stainless steel bowls, can simply divides the food amount in half and dispenses it into two separate bowls to feed two pets at the same time, making feeding time a breeze, save space, economical and practical.
The WellToBe Automatic Cat Feeder includes a two-way splitter adapter that makes it perfect for anyone who owns multiple cats. You can feed two cats up to six times a day with custom portion sizes from 1 to 48.
The kibble needs to be less than 0.47 inches in order to stop the food from being jammed. This is a pretty standard kibble size, but it’s definitely on the smaller end, so make sure your food fits beforehand!
There’s also a voice recorder that lets you record up to 10 seconds of noise to bring your pet to the feeder when it’s mealtime!
Manufacturer Specs
- 48 different portion sizes
- Double feeder
- Feed up to 6 times a day
What We Like
- The double feeder feature is great if you have two cats
- It holds up to 13 cups of dry food
What We Don’t Like
- Nothing stands out to make this cat feeder special or unique
Summary
This auto cat feeder is great if you’re looking for a standard automatic feeder option. While it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of some of the others, it’s a classic option that won’t be bad.
Guide: How to Choose an Automatic Cat Feeder
Why You Should Use an Automatic Cat Feeder
There are several reasons you might choose to start using an automatic cat feeder, and one of the most popular ones is to help your cat lose weight. According to Cornell, 5-10% of cats are overweight and 40% of cats are obese. Auto cat feeders are one way to combat that issue.
Cats are natural grazers, so it’s common for a lot of people to leave a bowl of food out for their cat to munch on all day. Automatic cat feeders help combat this problem by providing a set amount of food at certain times in the day; essentially, they stop your pet from snacking all day.
Having scheduled meal times is just healthier for your pet in general just like it is for humans. Plus, it makes sure that your pet isn’t overeating at mealtimes as well. Your cat needs healthy eating habits just like you do.
If you have multiple cats, a problem that you might be running into is one cat eating the other cat’s food. This isn’t unusual, and it can lead to one of your cats being overweight and the other one not getting the nutrition he or she needs.
An automatic cat feeder helps this by letting your cats eat at the same time and not leaving food to sit and be grazed on. After a time, your cats will get used to not having snack food, and they’ll start eating their full meals at mealtime. This leads to two much healthier cats.
Types of Automatic Cat Feeders
There are a ton of automatic cat feeders that exist. There are plenty to pick from, and some might suit your needs better than others.
Rotating Feeders
The first kind we’ll talk about is rotating feeders. These auto cat food feeders are great for wet food, and they work really well with cats that are curious. There aren’t many ways that your cat can get into the rest of the food with rotating feeders.
The main drawback of rotating feeders is the fact that you have to refill them quite frequently. Typically, they hold around 5 meals; this can be great if you feed your cat once a day, but most people choose to feed their pet at least twice a day. Compared to other automatic feeders, this is an incredibly small hopper.
Microchip Cat Food Feeders
This kind of automatic cat feeder is perfect if you have multiple cats and your cats are microchipped. Even if you don’t have your pets microchipped, you might find it worth it to get them chipped because of the benefits.
Microchip feeders allow you to feed your cats different food while only allowing each cat access to his or her food. This works wonders if you’ve got multiple cats, especially if they’re on different diets or on prescription food.
One common way that automatic cat feeders come is with a conveyor belt system that pushes food out and down to the bowl. This is pretty standard, but they are pretty difficult to clean considering the conveyor belt has to be taken out and cleaned specially.
Another downfall to this kind of feeder is that it’s easy for cats to get into the majority of the time. If you’ve got a curious cat, then you know how stubborn they can be about getting into things. Automatic feeders with conveyor belts are definitely one of those things that a curious cat will get into.
Features of an Automatic Cat Feeder
If you’ve got a friendly feline who enjoys eating too fast, then you might want to consider getting an automatic cat feeder that has a slow feeder option.
There are automatic feeders that actually release food in little bits over time, only giving your pet bits of food at a time to force your pet to slow down when eating. This is a great way to help your cat slow down while he or she eats.
Voice Memo
The option to record a voice message before your cat eats is another feature you can get on a lot of different automatic cat feeders. All you have to do is record a short message and the feeder will play it before the food comes.
Recording a message is a great way to remind your cat to eat, especially if he or she is used to seeing you physically pour the food and walk it to them. Sometimes automatic feeders can be tricky for animals, and a voice recording is a great way to help ease them into the process.
Snack Options
If you’re someone who loves to give your cat treats throughout the day, then some of the automatic feeders can help you there (especially if you only feed your cat twice a day).
Many of the rotating automatic feeders have 5-6 spots for food, meaning that you can actually fill half of the slots with meals and the other half with treats! This is a great way to give your lovable cat treats throughout the day.
Overflow Check
Another great feature you can choose with most auto cat feeders is an infrared light in the bowl. This infrared light actually stops the bowl from overflowing in case your cat decides not to eat their entire meal beforehand.
This is a handy feature since it prevents messes and stops your cat from potentially over eating. Most newer, conveyor belt or drop style cat feeders will have this built in, but make sure to double-check when you pick one out.
Safety
Another thing to keep in mind is how the automatic cat feeder prevents your cat from getting into it, especially if it’s one that drops down. There are plenty of ways that feeders get around this issue, but just make sure there is a backup in place like an infrared light.
Also, backups are important because there can be consequences for your cat’s health. Think about it; the automatic feeder is just an electric object, and parts will eventually break down.
The best automatic cat feeders are going to have backup systems in place and an infrared light.
How to Choose an Automatic Cat Feeder
Before picking an automatic cat feeder, you have to determine why you want or need one. There are a ton of different reasons you might need one, and we’ll go over what you might want to look for
If you’re looking for an auto cat feeder because your cats are overweight, then your best bet is to pick one that’s able to feed your cat multiple times in the day. Typically, you want to stick around 4 to 5 meal times a day.
You’ll also want to make sure the hopper that holds the food is pretty secure. Most of the time, putting an overweight cat on a diet leads to them being stubborn about food. You’ll want to make sure your pet can’t get into the food when it’s not mealtime.
If you’re looking for an auto cat feeder because you need to take long trips, then you’ll want to choose a feeder that can hold a lot of food. This normally means you’ll have to stay away from the rotating auto feeders.
Depending on how often you feed your cat, you’re going to need more than just 5 meals. You’ll also want to make sure the feeder is battery operated or at least on a battery backup in case your power goes out while you’re gone.
Another important thing to think about is how well the food will be kept fresh. Depending on the food you use, you might want to make sure there are ice packs for cold food.
Multiple Cats? Here Are Things to Consider
If you’re looking for an auto cat feeder because you have multiple cats, then there’s a few things you should think about. First, if one cat is eating all of the food, then think about isolating each cat’s food.
If your cat is microchipped, then getting a microchip cat feeder is a great option. These allow your pet to eat his or her specific food without worries about one cat eating everything.
This is also a great option if one of your cats needs to be on a special diet. The microchip feeders will only allow a cat access to his or her food, so you don’t have to worry about prescription medicine getting to any cat it shouldn’t.
Another thing to think about is how often you want to refill your automatic cat food feeder. There are plenty of different sized auto cat feeders, so think about how much you want to be involved with feeding your pet.
If you find that you’re forgetting to feed your cat or leaving for long periods of time, you’ll want a larger hopper. If you enjoy getting your cat’s food ready though, you’ll want to choose a smaller hopper that you can refill daily!
Also, keep in mind the kind of food you feed your cat. If you use wet food, it’s much harder to find an automatic cat food feeder. You’ll have to use the rotating feeders. However, if you use dry food, you can use pretty much any automatic cat feeder, including the rotating ones!
Final Thoughts
All in all, automatic cat feeders can be incredibly handy and help you and your cat enjoy some time away from each other. Whether you would like to travel for a few days or just need to have your cat on a set feeding schedule and automatic feeder the solution you are looking for.