When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Shoshi Parks/InsiderCats may not be as food-obsessed as dogs, but anyone who’s ever lived with one knows that mealtime is serious business.
If you’re running late or forget to put out dinner, most cats won’t hesitate to inform you — loudly. Whether your pet wakes you up at the crack of dawn for breakfast, prefers to eat multiple small meals a day, or is in need of stricter monitoring of their food intake, automatic pet feeders can take the work out of feeding a cat. And if you need to be away overnight, they’ll keep your loved one from going hungry.
There is quite a bit of variation in automatic cat feeders. Most large-capacity feeders are fitted with an internal hopper that dispenses dry or semi-moist kibble into a dish below. Others feature a tray that rotates or a lid that pops open to reveal kibble or wet food at designated times or for designated pets.
We tested seven automatic feeders with two cats to determine which were easiest for both humans and felines to navigate. Learn more about our testing methodology at the end of this guide. Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and evaluates pet products.
The best automatic feeders for cats in 2022Best automatic cat feeder overall: Litter-Robot Feeder-Robot, available at Litter-Robot, $299The WiFi-enabled Litter-Robot Feeder-Robot is super easy to program and its app can be used to set and track multiple feedings daily. Best automatic cat feeder on a budget: Cat Mate C3000 Automatic Feeder, available at Chewy, $59. 99The affordable Cat Mate C3000 Automatic Feeder works reliably to dispense up to three programmed meals per day.
Best automatic cat feeder for wet food: Sure Petcare Surefeed Connect Microchip Feeder, available at Sure Petcare, $207The Surefeed Connect Microchip Feeder tracks an individual cat’s eating habits while protecting food from unauthorized household pets. Best automatic cat feeder overallShoshi Parks/InsiderThe WiFi-enabled Litter-Robot Feeder-Robot is super easy to program and its app can be used to set and track multiple feedings daily. Pros: WiFi-enabled, large capacity, programmable via control panel or app, money-back guarantee, warrantyCons: Less than 24 hours of backup battery life, WiFi and power outages prevent data tracking via appCapacity: 32 cupsPower source: AC power source or backup batteryWiFi enabled: YesControl panel on device: YesCompatible foods: Dry and semi-moist kibbleMeals per day: Up to 4 or free feedDimensions: 13 inches wide, 15 inches high, 12.
5 deep; footprint is 9 inches wide, 11. 25 deepWarranty: 90-day money-back guarantee, 18-month warranty, extended 3-year warranty ($30)The large-capacity Feeder-Robot ranked highest in ease of use and functionality. It can be programmed to dispense scheduled feedings or keep the dish full at all times.
This device required little assembly and was easy to connect to WiFi. With the built-in control panel, you can program meals and portion sizes and send a snack. The same functions can be controlled via the app, which also lets you change the feeding schedule for different days of the week and track how much your pet eats on average per day.
My cats ate from the Feeder-Robot without any trouble and it didn’t jam during testing. Because the dish is wide and shallow, there’s no risk of whisker fatigue. The mechanical whir of the hopper and cascade of kibble that followed were audible from other rooms but weren’t so loud that they startled me.
If the WiFi goes out, the feeder continues to dispense food, but the app stops tracking the meals and snacks dispensed. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive a push notification when the connection was lost. I had to open the app or look at the feeder’s control panel to see it was offline.
When I turned the WiFi back on, the feeder reconnected to the internet within seconds. A backup battery steps in during power outages. In my test, the battery lasted 21.
5 hours instead of the advertised 24 hours. The app also did not notify me when the power went out, so this feeder isn’t a good option if you plan to be away for a long weekend. Although the Feeder-Robot holds the second largest volume of food of the machines we tested, its footprint is relatively small.
It comes with a hand-washable plastic food dish, but a dishwasher-safe glass dish is available for an additional $25. Best budget automatic cat feederShoshi Parks/InsiderThe affordable Cat Mate C3000 Automatic Feeder reliably dispenses up to three programmed meals per day. Pros: Large capacity, long battery life, 3-year warranty Cons: Assembly and programming can be confusing, not WiFi enabled, cats may be able to get into the hopperCapacity: 26 cupsPower source: 4 C-batteries, not includedWiFi enabled: NoControl panel on device: YesCompatible foods: DryMeals per day: Up to 3 or on demandDimensions: 8 inches wide, 13.
5 inches high, 14 inches deepWarranty: 3 yearsIf you’re looking for an inexpensive large-capacity feeder, the Cat Mate C3000 is an excellent choice. It doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it reliably dispenses meals and has an on-demand feeding button. Because it runs on batteries, it also won’t miss a beat if the power goes out.
Of the feeders we tested, this one required the most assembly. Although the instructions were relatively straightforward, I struggled to get the two main pieces in place. My assistant immediately figured out the problem, however, and had the machine ready to go in less than two minutes.
Programming the machine wasn’t intuitive either, but the instructions helped. The smallest meal this machine dispenses is two teaspoons (a “feed unit”). To increase a meal’s size, you can program additional units.
The feeder hummed along day after day reliably dispensing meals without jamming, and my tester cats comfortably snarfed up their food. Thanks to the wide and shallow food dish, sensitive cats won’t experience whisker fatigue. The falling kibble and whirring machine was audible in other rooms of my home but not so loud that it made me jump.
The Cat Mate C3000 is BPA free and everything but the base is dishwasher safe. The batteries will last for six to nine months of continuous use and an indicator flashes when power is running low. Be warned: Unless you change the batteries within a minute, the feeder must be reprogrammed.
Compared to our best overall pick, the Cat Mate C3000 is less sturdy and a curious, problem-solving cat may be able to unlock the lid. However, the feeder performed its job just as well as its competitors. Whether you plan to use it daily or just for long weekends away, the Cat Mate C3000 is a great deal.
Best automatic cat feeder for wet foodShoshi Parks/InsiderThe Surefeed Connect Microchip Feeder tracks an individual cat’s eating habits while protecting food from unauthorized household pets. Pros: Tracks portions and feeding frequency; prevents unauthorized pets from stealing food; holds wet food, semi-moist food, or kibble; battery-operated; comes with a 3-year warrantyCons: Automatic lid may startle some cats, hub sold separately, must be connected via ethernet cable and placed within 30 feet of feeder to enable WiFi, batteries not includedCapacity: 1. 6 cupsPower source: Feeder requires 4 C-batteries, not included.
Hub requires AC power source. WiFi enabled: YesControl panel on device: YesCompatible foods: Dry, wet, and semi-moistMeals per day: On demandDimensions: 9 inches wide, 11 inches high, 12. 5 inches deepWarranty: 3 yearsThe cleverly designed Surefeed Connect Microchip Feeder doesn’t hold a lot of food, but its genius lies in how it prevents unauthorized pets from stealing what’s there while monitoring how much authorized pets eat.
By syncing with a cat’s existing microchip or the included RFID collar tag, the feeder only lifts its lid when an authorized pet approaches, then closes when they walk away. The device can store up to 32 different identities so you can track food intake for multiple cats. The Surefeed’s basic functions are controlled with buttons on the device and it also operates in concert with an ethernet-connected hub and app.
The app is not as useful as those of other feeders: It primarily tracks how frequently and how much a pet eats, but you cannot program additional pets or open and close the device. When disconnected from WiFi, the only thing that stops working is the tracking. Although the app sends a notification each time a pet eats, it did not inform me when the connection was lost.
The feeder has a battery life of approximately six months and there’s a low-battery indicator light. Because of the way the lid rises, sensitive cats may struggle with the Surefeed. It is nearly silent, but the lid’s sudden lift and folding motion startled my tester cat.
Fortunately, there is a training mode for acclimating hesitant cats. It’s important to note that pets without a microchip who cannot wear a collar to hang the RFID tag will not be able to use this machine. If the tag is lost, which my cat accomplished in just a month, you can buy a two-pack of replacement tags.
The Surefeed comes with two hand-wash-only BPA-free plastic bowls and a mat. The bowls and mat are available in additional colors and also stainless steel. If you don’t need to monitor your pet’s consumption, Surefeed sells a less expensive machine, the Surefeed Microchip Feeder, that lacks the weighing and tracking functionality provided by the Connect.
For more on the Surefeed Connect Microchip Feeder, read our full review. Our automatic cat feeder testing methodologyShoshi Parks/InsiderWe tested each of the seven automatic pet feeders in this guide for a minimum of three weeks. One, the Surefeed Connect Microchip Feeder, went through a six-week testing period that resulted in a full-length review.
In addition to monitoring the reliability of each feeder, I also considered the following:Ease of assembly: Some of the feeders arrived almost fully assembled while others required some effort to put together. I assessed how quickly and easily I was able to set up each feeder, including whether I had to purchase batteries. For the smart-enabled devices, I determined how quickly and easily the feeder connected to WiFi and its mobile app.
Ease of programming: The control panels on each device varied significantly. I considered how complicated they were to use by programming each to dispense three meals per day. I also looked at whether the size of a meal could be adjusted from feeding to feeding.
Capacity: Although the automatic feeders we tested have different functions, I measured how much food each machine could hold. For the large-capacity feeders, I also determined whether the machine or, in the case of smart feeders, the app, notified me when the food was running low. Noise: When the machine dispensed a meal, I evaluated whether just the cats could hear it or if the humans could too.
Some of the feeders were louder than others and some even triggered a startle response in the cats. I also considered whether a feeder could be programmed to play a personalized voice recording to call my cats to their dinner. Power and WiFi: Since it’s essential that a feeder reliably dispenses meals even when you’re away from home, I looked at the power supply for each.
While some feeders run solely on batteries, others rely on an outlet and have a limited backup battery, if any. I also wanted to know whether the smart feeders would continue to work if the WiFi went down and how long it took a feeder to come back online. I tested this by turning off the WiFi several times for anywhere from 5 minutes to 24 hours.
Cat accessibility: A cat needs to feel comfortable eating from an automatic feeder in order for it to do its job. I monitored my two cats to see how easily they were able to access food and whether the machine or its dispensing nozzle got in the way. I also considered the size and shape of each dish, favoring those that were wide and shallow enough to prevent whisker fatigue.
Mobile app: The mobile app for an automatic feeder should be straightforward and easy to use for even the least technologically savvy. I played around in the apps of each smart feeder to determine how challenging it was to schedule meals, send a snack, and/or track my cats’ eating habits. Because an app will not connect to the smart feeder when the WiFi is out, I also looked at whether a feeder had a control panel that could be set and adjusted without internet access.
Ease of cleaning: After testing the machines, I gave each a thorough cleaning, noting which had parts that could be thrown in the dishwasher and which had to be washed by hand or wiped down with a moist cloth. What else we testedShoshi Parks/InsiderPetsafe Eatwell 5-Meal Automatic Feeder: While this feeder functioned reliably, I couldn’t help but wonder whether it was worth the bother. Because I feed my cats at least three times daily, I had to refill this machine every other day.
I’d only recommend it to those who regularly miss mealtimes or plan to be away for one night. Petsafe Automatic 2-Meal Feeder: This small feeder is a decent budget option for brief trips away from home, but because it can only hold two meals, it’s not a good option for a cat that requires multiple feedings a day or longer trips away. Without rotating parts or dropping food, it’s much quieter than the other feeders.
Petsafe Smart Feed 2. 0 Automatic Feeder: Like the Feeder-Robot, the Smart Feed 2. 0 is WiFi-enabled and can be programmed for multiple meals of any size via an app.
The biggest problem with this 24-cup feeder is that besides a single on-demand snack button it can only be controlled via app. The machine lacks an LCD display or other programmable features. Arf Pets Automatic Feeder: This reasonably priced 16-cup feeder was the only machine that allowed me to record a message calling my kitties to eat.
My biggest issue is the way it dispenses kibble. My cats had no trouble reaching it immediately after dispensing, but when down to the last of the kibble in the dish, they struggled with access, unable to get their bulbous heads up close enough to the well of the machine to eat the food. How to shop for an automatic cat feederBoth of the veterinarians we interviewed agreed that automatic pet feeders are a good option for many families with cats.
“Automatic feeders are great for people that work long hours and cannot free feed because the cat overeats or for people that go on short business trips,” said Megan Wilson, a veterinarian at Pennsylvania SPCA in Philadelphia. “It’s also a useful tool to help with portion control if we are trying to maintain and/or lose weight. “When shopping for an automatic feeder, the first thing to consider is its primary use in your household.
If you plan to use an automatic feeder to provide small meals throughout the day or to keep your kitty fed during overnight trips away from home, you’ll need a large-capacity feeder that can hold several meals at a time. If you plan to use an auto-feeder to monitor your cat’s food intake or help them lose weight, both large- and small-capacity feeders can get the job done. The capacity of the feeder you choose also depends on the type of food you want to dispense.
Large-capacity feeders that release meals from a hopper only work with kibble or soft dry food whereas flat feeders with multiple preportioned compartments, such as the Petsafe Eatwell 5-Meal Feeder, can work with any type of food, including wet options. With large-capacity kibble feeders, look for a machine that has the ability to dispense multiple small meals daily, which is the preference of most cats, according to Ana Hodgson, a veterinarian at Maryland SPCA in Baltimore. “In the wild, cats are known to eat 10 to 20 small meals a day,” she said.
A good large-capacity feeder should also have some, if not all, of the following features: A power cord plus a battery in case of power outagesA programmable console on the machineLittle to no assembly requiredA wide, shallow food dish that slopes toward the cat for easy access and the prevention of whisker fatigueAn easy-to-remove washable food dishA good wet food-capable feeder should have some, if not all, of the following features:A power cord plus a battery in case of power outagesThe ability to program when each meal will become accessibleLittle to no assembly upon arrivalA wide, shallow food dish that slopes toward the cat for easy access and the prevention of whisker fatigueAn easy-to-remove washable food dishSmart options exist for both large- and small-capacity feeders. WiFi-enabled and mobile app-controlled feeders should have some, if not all, of the following features:A range of functionality in the app, including the option to schedule multiple daily meals of different sizesThe ability to notify you when the food level is low or the machine is offlineA control panel on the feeder that can be used if the WiFi connection is lostThe ability to track how often and how much your cat eatsThe ability to send a snack on demandA wide, shallow food dish that slopes toward the cat for easy access and the prevention of whisker fatigueAn easy-to-remove washable food dishSmart automatic feeders vs. dumb automatic feedersShoshi Parks/InsiderDumb feeders allow you to program the frequency and size of meals on a control panel embedded in the machine.
Smart feeders are relatively new to the automatic feeder game. They are WiFi-enabled devices that pair with a mobile app that allows you to remotely set mealtime, portion size, and feeding frequency. In some cases, like the Surefeed Connect Microchip Feeder, smart auto-feeders also measure how often and how much a pet consumes per day.
All of the dumb feeders we tested for this guide were either 100% battery operated or had an option to operate the machine with either batteries or a power cord. The three smart feeders we tested also had both battery and power cord options. However, smart feeders don’t just need electricity; they also need WiFi, which presents a problem when one or both go out.
We found the smart feeders we tested got back online quickly after power outages of different lengths. During outages, tracking data in the app was disrupted, but it resumed without a hitch when the connection returned. In most cases, a power and/or WiFi outage is not likely to cause any major problems.
Your cat may be miffed if they miss a meal, but no matter how much they claim otherwise, they’ll be just fine. However, if you happen to be out of town for a few days, a long power outage or a machine that fails to come back online following a shorter outage could have serious consequences. The battery on the Feeder-Robot lasted only 21.
5 hours before the machine shut down. Worse yet, depending on the smart feeder, even if you’ve turned on notifications you may not know something is wrong unless you enter the app. The Feeder-Robot failed to notify me when the WiFi or power went out.
In light of these issues, if you plan to use your automatic feeder frequently during short overnight trips, you may be better off choosing one that operates solely on batteries to avoid the potential snafu power outages may present. Otherwise, be sure to have a trusted human ready to take over feeding if duty calls. Our sourcesMegan Wilson, a veterinarian at Pennsylvania SPCA in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAna Hodgson, a veterinarian at Maryland SPCA in Baltimore, MarylandCheck out our other cat buying guidesdeimagine/Getty ImagesThe best cat toysThe best interactive cat toysThe best cat brushesThe best cat dewormersThe best hairball remedies for catsThe best flea treatments for catsThe best cat toothpaste, toothbrush, dental treats, and water additiveThe best cat food for kittens, adult cats, and seniorsThe best cat litter boxesThe best cat litterThe best online veterinary services for your petsThe best cat carriersThe best airline cat carriersThe best cat harnessesThe best cat collarsThe best products to stop your cat from scratching your furnitureRead the original article on Insider.
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