Best Automatic Cat Feeders 2022

However, we have places to go and people to see, and our cats' feeding schedules should not be disrupted as a result. If your cat has become accustomed to regular feeding times throughout the day and your schedule does not coincide, an automatic feeder is a wise purchase to keep your cat fed without causing any disruption. While we can't promise that an automatic feeder will make your cat happy when you leave them home alone, you can rest assured that they won't go hungry while you're gone.

When purchasing an automatic cat feeder, there are a few things to keep in mind.

We've identified the best automatic cat feeder alternatives to match your (and your kitty's) needs, whether you're looking for a no-frills, basic gravity feeder or a full-fledged gadget to schedule properly timed and portioned meals. Here are a few things to remember:

✔ Which type of food does your cat prefer: wet or dry? Wet food dispensers will require more maintenance and cleaning on a daily basis than dry food feeders.

✔ Your cat's needs: Consider your and your cat's habits, as automatic feeders should never be used in place of human interaction. Is the feeder something you'd use on days when you're in meetings or preparing to leave the house for a while? If it's the latter, your feline companion may experience separation anxiety, so choose the one that best meets their needs (like one that allows you to leave voice recordings).

✔ Overall functionality: If you plan to use the feeder frequently and have a dishwasher, search for dishwasher-safe containers or bowls so you don't have to wash them by hand every week. If you're prone to forgetting timings, invest in a programmable feeder that will keep track of them for you. If your cat is prone to snacking throughout the day, avoid a gravity feeder in favor of one that distributes a set amount of food.

How to teach your cat to use a pet feeder that feeds itself.

The younger a cat is, the easier it will be to train them to accept an automatic cat feeder, but cats of any age should adjust quite quickly. After all, it's food, so they'll eat when they're hungry enough, even if they're wary of the fancy new robot hanging out in their feeding area. However, there are a few pointers to keep in mind to make the procedure go more smoothly:

✔ Keep in mind that cats prefer routine and familiarity, so don't be shocked if your cat rejects the new equipment. Allow them to adjust to the automated feeder's presence — especially if it makes a noise — and allow them to sniff and inspect it for as long as they need to feel at ease.

✔ If your cat hasn't yet become accustomed to a regular feeding regimen, start there. An automatic cat feeder with timed food dispersion will come as a shock to them if they're used to having a dish of food available at all times.

✔ Keep your cat's current food bowl near the automated feeder so they can eat some food even if they're nervous about the new equipment. For a few weeks, leave both the old bowl and the new feeder out, reducing the amount of food in the old bowl while increasing the amount of food in the automatic cat feeder.

✔ Keep a watch on your cat's behavior near the food bowls as much as possible. You can start removing their old pet food bowl for good after they are eating largely from the automatic feeder.

✔ Placing some of your cat's favorite goodies in the automated feeder is a sure way to get them to use it.

The most important thing to remember while training your cat to eat from an automatic cat feeder is that you can't just put the automatic feeder in front of your cat and go for the weekend. This will take some time and patience, so prepare ahead of time and offer them lots of comfort and cuddles along the road.

What kind of food can you put in an automatic feeder?

Dry cat food is great for automatic cat feeders, which are normally well-sealed to prevent dry food from becoming stale over time. Kibble of any size or shape should fit inside the feeder and dispense effectively without clogging or overflowing it. Because the nature of an automatic pet feeder relies on cat food sitting out for a while, most automatic cat feeders aren't built to hold wet or semi-moist food, which can degrade quickly in only a few hours. Some pet feeders, on the other hand, are equipped with a cooling mechanism that allows for the distribution of wet food. Before you buy an automatic cat feeder, make sure you know what kind of food it's designed to feed.

Which is the best automatic cat feeder?

Imagine being able to sleep in late without being bothered by hungry cats, or working extra without feeling guilty about missing your kitty's lunch. You can make it a reality with an automatic cat feeder, and your cat will undoubtedly appreciate it.

To assist you in deciding which option is best for you, we looked into the most popular models on the internet and categorized them based on the qualities that cat owners value the most. Here's where you can find the greatest automatic cat feeder for you and your cat in 2022.

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1. Best Overall: PetSafe Simply Feed Automatic Feeder

The PetSafe Simply Feed allows pet parents to schedule up to 12 distinct daily meals, ranging in size from one-eighth of a cup to four cups, for single or multi-cat households. The big-capacity hopper can store up to 24 cups of dry or semi-moist food at once, which should last most cats for a long time before requiring refilling.

The slow-feed option is a standout feature that cat owners will appreciate. This mode distributes your cat's food over a 15-minute period, preventing your cat from bingeing and vomiting its meal. There's also an instant feed option, which allows you to give your cat a quick snack in between their usual mealtimes.

It comes with a bowl and stand that attaches to the feeder, but you can use it with your cat's favorite dish as well. The pet-proof dispenser keeps paws away from the food and keeps it fresh. The majority of the parts are made of BPA-free plastic and stainless steel and can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher.

✔ Capacity: 24 cups

✔ Meals: Up to 12

✔ Power source: Battery/adapter

2. Best For Pampered Cats: Wopet Automatic Pet Feeder

This feeder takes care of everything. It lets you set the portion size of each feeding (which can be planned up to four times a day), enables you to leave a voice-recorded message for your pet to let them know when it's time to eat, and it looks good doing it.

This Wopet dispenser is unlike most others in terms of design. Its clean white surface can blend well with any decor, and its compact design will fit almost anywhere. And, if the power goes out while you're gone, don't worry: this dispenser has a backup battery system, though batteries aren't provided.

Infrared sensors in the feeder halt the dispenser if there is already food in the bowl. This keeps your cat's food fresh and prevents spills or clogging.

✔ Capacity: 20 cups

✔ Meals: Up to 4

✔ Power source: Battery/AC adapter

3. Best For Special Diets: SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder

This automatic cat feeder is the one for you if you have a special feline who requires a specified diet or is on a weight-loss program. It's incredibly high-tech, with an RFID collar system that only allows the correct cat to open and distribute food (especially important when you have more than one cat in the house). For added convenience, it is also compatible with any implanted microchip. This allows your cat to eat their special food while denying access to any other pets. There's plenty of room for all your cats in the SureFeed Microchip Feeder, which can store up to 32 microchip identifications.

It's also a great option if your cat needs meds given out during the day. The cover keeps flies, ants, and other nasties out of your cat's food, and it's perfect for feeding wet food without it drying out. It's also capable of handling dry foods. The batteries should last up to four months of continuous usage, and the low battery indicator will alert you when it's time to replace them.

✔ Capacity: 2.5 cups

✔ Meals: 1

✔ Power source: Battery

4. Best Budget Pick: PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Feeder

Thanks to this equipment, pet parents may enjoy all of the convenience of an automatic cat feeder without the high price tag. The PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Feeder has five compartments, each of which can store up to one cup of food. It can be used with both wet and dry feeds of all shapes and sizes because of its covered, rotating construction; unlike hopper-style feeders, there's also nothing to become jammed. You can program the feeder to spin every day at the same time.

The meal tray is BPA-free and dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze. Keep in mind that, while there are five rooms, your cat will only have access to one at a time. The rotating method is convenient since it allows you to see how much food your cat has eaten (or hasn't) at the end of the day.

This feeder is also a good choice for when you have to travel with your cat and want to keep them on their normal meal schedule because of its compact and lightweight design. This feeder is simple to program, even if you aren't very tech-savvy.

✔ Capacity: 1 cup/chamber (5 cups total)

✔ Meals: Up to 5

✔ Power source: Battery

5. Best For Smaller Cats: Iseebiz Automatic Cat Feeder

This Iseebiz feeder (opens in a new tab) in the shape of a robot is ideal for little cats (or other small pets) who don't require a lot of food per meal. It can carry enough food to feed your pet for up to 15 days with precise portion control, and it's reasonably priced for all the features of more expensive feeders. Its screw-lock design keeps food fresh inside while keeping curious pets out, and it incorporates an IR detector to avoid clogging and spilling. Best of all, you may record a 10-second message that will alert your pet to the feeder when it's time to eat, even if you are unable to do so yourself.

✔ Capacity: 12.65 cups

✔ Meals: Up to 4

✔ Power source: Battery/AC adapter

6. Best For Portion Control: Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder

You can arrange up to four meals per day and up to nine little pieces per meal with the Petlibro programmable pet feeder so that your feline companion always gets the exact amount of dry cat food — no more, no less. It has a large enough capacity to feed most cats for up to 25 days before needing to be refilled, and its tight lid-lock design keeps food fresh even if the cat feeder is knocked over. You may also use the automatic feeder to record a 10-second movie that will play when feeding time comes up, so you can reinforce your bond with your cat even if you can't be there physically. In the event of a power outage, it also features a battery backup, albeit the batteries are not included.

✔ Capacity: 16.9 cups

✔ Meals: Up to 4

✔ Power source: Battery/AC adapter

7. Best for Wet Food: Cat Mate Automatic Digital Pet Feeder

This is the feeder you'll want if you're looking for an automatic pet feeder that can keep wet food fresh. It has five food compartments that can store up to 11.5 ounces of wet food, as well as two ice packs to keep the food cool and fresh so your pet doesn't eat spoiled food.

The Cat Mate Automatic Digital Pet Feeder(opens in a new tab) has a built-in LCD screen that makes programming the time simple, so your pets may eat at precise times. It also has a tight-fitting, tamper-proof lid to prevent even the most determined cats and dogs from snatching an early meal. It also requires three AA batteries, which are easier to come by than D batteries (the type of battery needed by the other feeders on this list), and which can last up to a year with this feeder. The feeder's bowls are also removable for simpler dishwasher cleaning.

The only important disadvantage of this feeder is that it is designed for tiny dogs or cats; if you have a huge breed dog, you'll need something with larger portions than 1.45 cups.

✔ Features: Ice packs, sealed design, 5 compartments, built-in timer, and LCD screen

✔ Capacity: 5 meals

✔ Portion: 1.45 cup

✔ Max programmable meals per day: 5

✔ Requires: 3 AA batteries