Proper nutrition for your cat is an essential aspect of pet ownership. Some cats can develop the habit of hunting for additional food if they feel they're having to wait too long between meals. This natural hunting instinct poses several threats including the possibility of your kitty picking up disease-causing microorganisms that could lead to severe health complications.
Of course, even if you're giving them highly nutritious cat food, if you’re too busy during the day it could result in them having to wait for their next meal. This is where an automatic cat feeder comes into play. This helpful tool reduced the length of time your cat has to go without eating and saves you the worry of them looking for food elsewhere. We've taken a deep dive into the market and handpicked some of the best automatic cat feeders available for you to peruse, to help you make an informed decision should you choose to use one in the future.
The 10 Top Rated Automatic Cat Feeders
| Editor's Pick | Product Name | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder | Buy on Chewy | 4.1 |
| Best with LCD Screen | WOpet Automatic Pet Feeder | Buy on Chewy | 4.6 |
| Veterinarian Recommended | SureFlap Microchip Cat Feeder | Buy on Chewy | 4.6 |
| Budget Pick | PetSafe Electronic Pet Feeder | Buy on Chewy | 4.4 |
| Best with Wi-Fi | Arf Pets Smart Automatic Pet Feeder With Wi-Fi | Buy on Chewy | 5.0 |
| Best with Timer | Belopezz Automatic Feeder For Cats | Buy on Amazon | 4.5 |
| Best with Voice Recorder | WESTLINK Automatic Pet Feeder | Buy on Amazon | 4.5 |
| Best Design | WOpet Automatic Cat Feeder | Buy on Amazon | 4.5 |
| Easy to Use | Cat Mate Automatic Dry Food Pet Feeder | Buy on Chewy | 4.3 |
| Premium Pick | Pet Feedster Automated Pet Feeder For Cats | Buy on Amazon | 3.9 |
1 PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Programmable Cat Feeder
- Made from dishwasher-safe materials
- Serves portions from 29 ml to 940 ml
- Can set up to 12 meals a day
- Includes a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty
This PetSafe Healthy Pet automatic feeder allows you to slowly dispense your cat’s favorite meal over a period of 15 minutes so that it will not eat too quickly which can result in vomiting. The maximum amount that you can program it to dispense is between 29ml and 940ml of food per meal. Additionally, the Healthy Pet feeder can be programmed to have your cat fed 12 times a day. This means you can actually design a very specific menu delivery program for your beloved feline.
This PetSafe product has an Immediate Feed Mode which effectively bypasses the already-programmed schedule. So, if you have programmed it to deliver meals every 6 hours and your pet is obviously hungry, then you can instantly deliver a meal at the push of a button. The same is true when your animal pal is simply not in the mood to eat. You can just hit the Pause Feed Mode and switch it off when you’re ready to resume.
- Can be taken apart and put in the dishwasher
- Batteries last for over a year
- Easy to understand and operate
- The feeder and bowl is quite large
- The smallest quantity can still be too much for limited diets
2 WOpet Automatic Pet Feeder
- Can be used via smartphone controls
- 1-6 meals per day
- Up to 20 portions of dry food per meal
- Work as a smart pet camera
- 7L (29cup) hopper capacity
This sleek little device, with its large, upright food bin, can keep your cat fed for days at a time. Thanks to an integrated LCD screen, you can easily adjust the device to fit your pet’s unique diet requirements. Fitted with a programmable timer, you stay in complete control of when your cat’s food is released. The feeder is easy to install, too, with easy intuitive programming instructions on the LCD screen.
If you’re worried there might be a blackout while you’re out of town, it runs on mains electricity with a set of backup batteries as a failsafe to ensure that your kitty still gets fed even if the lights go out. Though not only does this feeder operate on pre-set meal timings, but it also has smartphone controls and a built-in camera that can be operated via an app! So you can even check on your kitty to be sure they’re eating as they should be.
- Uses both mains and battery supply as a backup
- Pert camera is great for monitoring pets at home
- The smartphone app allows short videos to be recorded
- The app can be glitchy sometimes
- The bowls are plastic which can be difficult to clean
3 SureFlap Microchip Cat Feeder
- Has a built-in training function
- Bowl capacity of 400 ml
- Includes a non-slip mat made of silicone
- Automated flap responds to microchip
SureFlap’s clever automatic feeder is equipped with a microchip detector that activates a dispensation of food for one specific cat. Just link it with your pet’s microchip, or attach a small tag to their cat collar, and you’re good to go. If you need to feed more than one cat, you can also purchase additional tags. The feeder itself can hold up to 13.5 ounces of wet or dry food, so it’s perfect for portions great and small.
Until the correct cat approaches, the bowl is covered by a perspex flap to keep the food fresh. When the cat leans in, this flap raises, giving them access to their grub. But although it’s perfect for greedy pets and special diets, this isn’t the feeder to pick if you’re going out of town for a couple of days. It doesn’t feature a timer or large food bin, so you can only feed your kitty one portion at a time. Nonetheless, it’s a great way to stop cats from squabbling, it’s built to last, and it comes with a three-year warranty.
- Clear operating instructions and easy to use
- Helps cats that are overtaken by their siblings at mealtimes
- Sturdy construction
- More sensitive cats can be spooked by the flap
- Not all cats respond well to the training mode
4 PetSafe Electronic Pet Feeder
- Contains five 200g feeding compartments
- Features a clear LCD display
- Dishwasher safe material
- Includes a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Schedules meals up to 5 times a day
The PetSafe Electronic Pet Feeder provides the best nutrition for your feline friend whether it is dry food or wet food. This PetSafe product is fully programmable to rotate its 5-tray feeding chamber at a given time. This system also comes with the option to choose between a 2-tray and 5-tray feeding system, so you simply have to pick your preferred feeding arrangement. Just keep in mind that wet food spoils faster than dry food so be mindful of what you’re putting into it.
The system comes with a programmable digital timer that automatically rotates its 1-cup capacity 2-chamber or 5-chamber feeding tray at each set time. The lid securely latches onto the device covering the other feeding chambers while one is left open for your cat to feed on. Cleaning the polypropylene-constructed device is also easy as it can be conveniently popped into an ordinary dishwasher. However, you’d have to have an extra supply of size D batteries as it needs 4 of these to operate and does not have a mains supply backup.
- Only one compartment is uncovered at a time
- Stable and sturdy design
- Pause and advance functions help with timing
- No mains electricity supply
- No power button to switch off when not in use
5 Arf Pets Smart Automatic Pet Feeder With Wi-Fi
- Automatic wi-fi operation
- 18-cup capacity food container
- Connects to a free app (Arf Pets)
- Dishwasher safe bowl and bucket
- Mains and battery-powered
This automatic feeder by Arf Pets is simple but effective. Featuring a 1.14-gallon capacity, the device can dispense up to 10 x 0.8-ounce portions at once, and up to four meals per day. Every time food is dispensed, a small alarm sounds, letting your pet know that their meal is ready. And thanks to an LED screen, setting up the dispenser to meet your pet’s unique requirements is easy.
Between meals, there’s no worry about sneaky felines breaking into the food store. A magnetically locked lid keeps their food fresh and totally contained. For added convenience, the device can run on both mains power, with a D cell battery failsafe, to protect your feline friend’s food in the event of a power outage. To soothe your cat and help them to adapt to the device you can even record a personal voice message to play every time that food is dispensed.
- Uses both mains and battery supply as a backup
- Dispenses food accurately and on-time
- Setup of the feeder is pretty straightforward
- The app can be a bit glitchy at times
- The power cord is not very long
6 Belopezz Automatic Feeder For Cats
- 6-liter food container capacity
- 10 seconds voice recording available
- Dual power supply
- Automatic detection and controlled feeding
- For small and medium-size pets
Fitted with a six-liter food bin, this Belopezz automatic feeder can hold enough plenty of dry food to keep your kitty going while you’re out and about. At every mealtime, the device can dispense a small or large portion. These portions can be dispensed up to four times a day, making it simple to customize your pet’s diet for the perfect balance. Whatever feeding schedule you choose, setting it is simple thanks to a set of intuitive controls on the front of the feeder.
You can even record a unique meal-time message for your cat to hear every time food is dispensed, letting them know that it’s dinner time. Belopezz’s clever design also makes it easy to avoid overfeeding. If there is still food in the bowl, the next portion won’t be delivered, avoiding waste. Finally, because it can be powered by either mains power or batteries, it won’t stop working in the event of a blackout.
- Good quality materials, well made, and reliable
- Easy to set up and schedule mealtimes
- Easy to customize portion sizes
- No indicator for when the food tank is low
- Some cats can be spooked by the food delivery
7 WESTLINK Automatic Pet Feeder
- Each meal dispenses 1-39 portions
- 6-liter food container capacity
- Each portion is around 10-12g
- Built-in infrared detection to prevent food locking
- Built-in voice recorder and speaker
Westlink’s automatic pet feeders take the hassle out of mealtimes and make it easier to help your cat maintain a healthy weight. Its six-liter food hopper holds enough food to keep your four-legged friend fed for days on end, while versatile control options make it simple to find the purrfect feeding schedule for them. It can also dispense up to four meals a day, making it simple to follow a ‘little and often’ style diet.
You can even pick how many half-ounce ‘portions’ your pet is fed at each meal, allowing you to keep track of exactly what they’re eating. Additionally, this high-tech feeder lets owners record a short voice message to be played to call their pet to eat – adding that personal touch. It’s a great option for opportunistic cats, too. The food bin is fitted with a secure, lockable lid, preventing clutching paws from accessing all their food at once, and keeping your cat’s food fresh.
- Infrared detection helps to stop food from getting stuck
- Plenty of easy-to-use settings and buttons
- Great long-lasting battery life
- If tipped over some cats can access the food hopper
- The audio clip is not very loud
8 WOpet Automatic Cat Feeder
- Schedules up to four feeds per day
- Holds up to 17 cups of dry food
- Capable of recording a voice message
- Suitable for dry food only
- 24/7/365 technical support
WOpet’s quirky food dispenser design adds something a little different to your home. Shaped like a robotic cat, this is an adorable addition to any cat lover’s home, making for both a fun and practical decorative feature. It is fitted with easy-to-use controls and great portion size control. Furthermore, by using the LED screen on the front of the device, owners can select the ideal meal size for their feline friend- allowing you to set up to five feeding times per day, at any times you like.
The dispenser is also fitted with a nifty infrared detector, which detects how much food is left in the bowl. If the bowl is about to overflow and clog the food chute, the feeder ‘knows’ to cut off the supply until food currently in the bowl is cleared. This durable feeder can be powered by both batteries and the mains, so your timed feeds will continue even if there’s a blackout.
- Uses both mains and battery supply as a backup
- More regular feeding helps to reduce vomiting from overeating
- easy to program 4 meals with a variety for meal sizes
- Some cats are put on edge by the design
- The clocks need resetting every couple of weeks
9 Cat Mate Automatic Dry Food Pet Feeder
- Hopper holds 6.5 pounds of dry food
- Dishwasher safe hopper, bowl, and lid
- Pet-proof snap-lock lid and feed nozzle
- LCD display screen
- Battery-operated timer
The C3000 automatic food dispenser is a sleek, neurally design gravity feeder with a little extra tech for the ideal diet arrangement. It has a timer that allows cat owners to carefully plan out their fur baby’s mealtimes to ensure they’re getting everything they need throughout the day. The tinted plastic hopper can accommodate up to 6.5 pounds of excellent quality feline kibbles. Additionally, the tamper-proof nozzle helps keep the kibble safe and fresh without going stale.
The LCD and control panel are a beauty to touch giving you superb control over the feeding schedule of your kitties. You can set it to dispense food as little as 10 grams. This is especially useful if you have kittens instead of adult cats or perhaps you have a sick kitty who’s lost its appetite due to illness. Whatever the case, you’ll find the C3000 cat food feeder a true gem to use. The C3000 operates on 4 pieces of C-size batteries that can keep the C3000 running for a good 9 months tops.
- Long-lasting battery life (over 6 months)
- Helps to soothe cats that are frantic eaters
- Manual feeding function if extremely useful
- No mains electricity supply
- It is possible for cats to get up the food shute
10 Pet Feedster Automated Pet Feeder For Cats
- Shute can be adjusted for food size
- Half-moon attachment prevents paw access
- Pause mode to extend feed time
- AC power adapter included
- Optional battery backup
If you need an automatic feeder for cats, we also suggest buying the PF-10 Feedster. With an ant-proof and insect-proof design and sturdy construction, we guarantee you will love the PF-10. You can program it to dispense kibbles as small as a tablespoon portion or even as many as 6 cups although we really are not sure if it’s advisable to give this much in a single meal. The Feedster PF-10 comes with a backup power supply that runs on batteries so you can be assured of continuous operation even if you’ve got a power outage.
Failsafes like this are essential for cat owners that spend a lot of their time outside of the house, as they ensure their beloved pet is being fed at all times. Furthermore, a really great feature of the PF-10 Feedster is its kibble protection which prevents your kitty from sticking its paws into the food compartment as it is securely fastened with a cat-proof seal that also keeps out insects and any other troublesome pests.
- Uses both mains and battery supply as a backup
- Customer service is extremely helpful
- Cats quickly become adjusted to the feeding schedule
- Minimum feed amount of 22g can be too much
- Programming can be quite complicated
Best Automatic Cat Feeder Buying Guide
These 10 automatic cat food dispensers are the best of the bunch, and we’re confident there’s something on the list to meet the needs of every pet parent. With so many options, though, choosing the perfect solution for your feline friend can be a surprisingly challenging task. Luckily, we’re here to help. Below, we answer some common questions about these hand-feeding devices, so you can make an informed decision.
Why You Should Use an Automatic Cat Feeder
Pet parents might choose to use automatic cat feeders for a number of reasons, such as:
Convenience
First and foremost, using an automatic pet feeder to keep your kitty full is a real-time-saver for busy pet parents. Once you’ve set up the device, there’s no need to worry about your cat being properly fed. You can rest assured the feeder will take care of everything. For working cat owners, there are a few more benefits, too. With the feeder taking care of things, you can finally have that much-needed lie-in on a Sunday, and don’t have to rush home from Friday night drinks.
Vacation Feeding
Not every pet owner has an army of neighbors eagerly awaiting cat-feeding duty when they’re out of town for a couple of days. With an automatic cat feeder, though, this isn’t a problem. Simply set the feeding schedule, fill the food bin, and go. Your cat will continue to receive their regular meals in your absence – although they may still sulk when you return.
Consistency
Like most pets, cats thrive on a consistent schedule. When your feline friend knows exactly what to expect, and when, they’re much less likely to be stressed, leading to a happy life. One simple way to provide a structured schedule for your cat is to feed them at regular intervals. With an automatic feeder, their meals can become like clockwork. Not only will your pet be fed at the same time every single day, but they’ll also be fed the exact same amount. They’ll always know what’s around the corner.
Weight Maintenance
An automatic pet feeder can be a real boon when it comes to weight maintenance. Whether your cat is a little overweight, or underweight, automatic cat feeders help them eat a balanced diet. Because many feeders allow you to control your pet’s portion size, it’s easy to ensure that they aren’t eating too much or too little. This is much more difficult when feeding a cat by hand!
Special Diets
Automatic feeders can also be incredibly useful when your cat needs to eat a special diet. Certain versions, such as entry number three on our list, are designed so that only certain cats can access the food inside. Because special diets are often dependent on carefully sized portions to work, automatic feeders can also help you feed the right amount.
What to Look for When Buying Automatic Cat Feeders
When you’re trying to find the ideal automatic feeder for your kitty it can be difficult to filter down your options if you’re not sure what to look for. Fortunately, the requirements you will need to consider are not over complicated – so here’s an easy list of the features you may want to take into account when looking at automatic feeders:
How Many Cats Is It For?
If you’ve got multiple cats, you will need to look out for the smart feeders that prevent one cat from being able to hog both meals. Quite often you find that with several cats, if they’re not being supervised, one will try and steal food from the others as a show of dominance. In these instances. it’s not enough to get a feeder capable of feeding more than one cat from an open tray – as the easy access is an invitation for food stealing. Therefore, so it may mean you’ll have to spend a little bit more on an automated feeder designed to stop this from happening.
What Type of Food Are You Using?
Some feeders are not suitable for wet cat food and are not capable of keeping wet food fresh for long periods of time. If you’re going to be using wet food you need to ensure all the food is properly sealed away and eaten within the appropriate time period. It will also need to be easy to clean as wet food containers require a thorough cleanout on a regular basis to maintain hygiene (ideally daily) – unlike dry cat food storage containers which don’t need cleaning nearly as frequently (once every couple of weeks).
What Portion Sizes Will You Need?
If you have a larger cat or a cat that requires larger portion sizes, say for a rescue cat that may need to gain weight, you need to take note of the bowl size. Each automated feeder has a varied bowl size for food distribution and varying amounts of food that they can distribute with each meal. So in order to monitor your cat’s food intake fully, check the distribution limits for each device to ensure your cat will be fed properly in your absence.
How Many Meals A Day?
Younger cats tend to need feeding little and often, as opposed to adult cats that are quite happy eating two or three times a day. Ideally, you want to try and give them a meal in the middle of the day to encourage better digestion, as smaller meals can be processed more easily and are better to avoid bloating. Knowing how many meals you will want to provide your cat with each day narrows down the market a little more, as you’ll notice that every single auto feeder provides a number of meals it can be used for on a daily basis, so look out for this.
Do You Want Backup Power?
This is a simply added extra that some people are not too fussed about having. But some automatic cat feeders come with backup power in the form of either rechargeable or standard batteries. This means if you’re out at work and there’s a power cut, you won’t need to worry about your cat going hungry. That being said, this backup option can put the price up a bit, so carefully consider whether it is something you think you will really need if you’re wanting to stick to a budget.
The Bottom Line
Meeting the nutritional requirements of your pet cat can be tricky. Nevertheless, with our top ten automatic cat feeders, you’re now simply left with the task of deciding whether to give them kibbles or wet food or even both. Though you need to keep in mind that whichever food you decide to go with, the feeder needs to be suitable for dispensing it on a regular basis. But once you’ve got the right smart automatic feeder for you, you won’t look back, as an auto feeder takes all of the stress out of keeping on top of your pet’s nutrition.
FAQs:
As the name suggests, an automatic cat feeder is a device specially designed to feed your pet, with very little input from you. Although there are a number of different designs to choose from, most consist of a food bin, bowl, feeding mechanism, power supply, and interface.
To use the feeder, simply fill up the food bin, and use the controls to set up a feeding schedule. Most high-quality automatic feeders will allow you to control both timing and portion size – they may even let you record a custom audio message for your cat when it’s dinner time.
Most automatic cat feeders are powered by electricity, whether from the mains, a battery, or both. If you need to use the feeder while you’re out of town, it’s a good idea to look out for one with a dual power supply. This means in the event of a blackout you can rest assured your feline friend continues to be fed. You could also choose a gravity-powered feeder, such as entry number 11 on our list. With feeders like this, though, bear in mind that you won’t have much control over portion size.
Yes. Although they aren’t as common as dry food feeders, you can feed your cat wet food using an automatic feeder. Entry number three on our list, for instance, allows owners to feed a dry, wet, or even raw diet with ease.
However, this particular feeder doesn’t facilitate mealtime scheduling or portion control. To feed your cat a wet diet while you’re out of town, you’ll need to pick a device with some sort of built-in refrigeration technology or use ice packs to keep the food fresh. Bear in mind that wet food feeders don’t feature the large food bins of their dry food counterparts. They usually house five or so segments, each of which can hold enough food for one meal.
These sections are rotated under a cover with a single gap, so only one portion can be consumed at a time. Owners can program mealtimes by deciding how much time should pass between each new rotation.
This apparently simple question can be surprisingly difficult to answer. There is no hard and fast rule for how much a cat should eat each day. Your pet’s ideal feeding plan will depend on factors such as their breed, age, activity level, and what type of food you’re using.
As a rule of thumb, a healthy adult cat needs about 30 calories per pound of body weight per day to maintain its weight and active lifestyle. Since the average house cat weighs around eight pounds, you can expect them to require about 240 calories each day.
This amounts to 4/5 of a cup of dry food, or just under one six-ounce can of wet food per day. Particularly active cats – such as outdoor cats – may need a little more, while less active cats may require less. Keep an eye on your cat for any weight changes, and if in doubt about how much to feed them, seek advice from a trusted veterinary professional.
It is possible for cats to share the same feeder, but you, as the owner, need to be sure that the cats you are trying to feed all get along. It is a natural instinct of many animals to be protective of their food, and the same goes for cats. If one cat feels that another one is a threat they will become possessive over the feeder, therefore preventing the other cat from getting the proper nutrition. If you decide to try feeding your cats from the same feeder, try to go with a multi-pet design so that they’re not eating from the same bowl.
