These 12 Automatic Cat Feeders Were The Best We Tested In…
Featured in this article
Best AI-Enabled Dual Feeder With Camera
Petkit YumDual-Hopper 2 Automatic Feeder With Camera
Amazon
Best Automatic Wet-Food Feeder
Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder
Amazon
Best Connected App
Petlibro Granary 2 Vision
Amazon
Best Feeder for Freeze-Dried Food
Neakasa Riko Automatic Cat Feeder
Amazon
An automatic cat feeder may just change your life. No more begging at 4 am. Plus, it can give you peace of mind while you’re away from your fur baby. As seen with the rise of automatic litter boxes and pet tracking, technology has made it so we can closely monitor our pets without doing a lot of the manual labor normally involved.
Gravity-fed automatic dry-food dispensers were invented nearly a century ago, but today most automatic cat feeders use Wi-Fi and connect to a phone app that lets you set a schedule or feed on demand from afar, all while monitoring your pet’s eating habits. Newer models have taken this tech further, the Petkit YumDual-Hopper 2 Automatic Feeder With Camera ($170), which has a built-in, AI-enabled camera that analyzes the remaining food in the bowl and stops dispensing to prevent overfeeding. Automatic wet-food dispensers—our top pick in this category is the Petlibro Polar Smart Wet Feeder ($170)—are relatively new, often using ice packs or mini-refrigeration cooling systems to keep the food as fresh as possible.
Automatic feeders are also helpful for pet parents who want to monitor their pets’ health, maintain specialized schedules, or foster healthier eating habits. (A customizable automatic cat feeder can help with the endless gorging-vomiting cycle many cats struggle with.) Nearly all of the automatic cat feeders on this list are marketed toward cats, but some can be used with smaller dogs, and I’ve noted these below.
Check out our related guides, the Best Automatic Litter Boxes, Best Cat Water Fountains, Best Smart Cat Collars, and Best Pet Cameras.
Updated October 2026: I’ve added the Neakasa Riko Automatic Cat Feeder and Petlibro Granary 2 Vision and removed the out-of-stock Cheerble Match G1. I’ve also updated prices and links throughout.
Jump to Section
- Compare Our Picks
- Others Tested
- Do Not Recommend
- Why Use an Automatic Feeder?
- How I Tested
- How Long Can I Leave My Cat Alone?
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Best AI-Enabled Dual Feeder With Camera
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Petkit
YumDual-Hopper 2 Automatic Feeder With Camera
Amazon
Petkit
Chewy
This model is an upgrade of one of my favorite models below, the Petkit YumDual-Hopper Automatic Feeder With Camera, with added AI features. It offers a crystal-clear video feed, night vision, customizable meal calls, and a dual-hopper for two types of food. Through the connected app, you can set feeding schedules or feed on demand from both tanks, use two-way audio, and monitor the feeder from your phone. Unmost other brands, the AI-enabled camera doesn’t require a subscription and can identify up to 20 pets and log when each has eaten. The camera also uses AI to analyze the remaining food in the bowl and will stop dispensing to prevent overfeeding.
This feeder performed very well throughout testing, and I appreciate that you don’t need to opt into the subscription plan for AI to recognize different pets. However, I still think the connected Petkit app isn’t as reliable or as easy to use as Petlibro’s app.
It can be used with cats or small dogs.
Compatible food types Dry; freeze-dried App Yes Power source Power cord Capacity 2 and 3 liters (5 total) Warranty 1 year limited Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 and 5 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Built-in AI-enabled camera
- Can store two types of food (including freeze dried)
TIRED
- Need membership plan to access some features
- App isn’t as user-friendly as some others
-
Best Automatic Wet-Food Feeder
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Petlibro
Polar Wet Food Feeder
Amazon
Petlibro
Chewy
This updated Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder solves nearly every gripe I had with other automatic feeders for storing wet food—it’s essentially a mini-fridge that keeps food fresh, and it’s connected to an app where you can schedule and customize feedings and keep a feeding log. Food is dispensed into three wide, shallow stainless-steel bowls, which means less chance of whisker fatigue with wide bowls or feline acne from bacteria-harboring plastic. When it’s time to feed, the cover slides back from the hole, revealing the food beneath.
The refrigerator uses thermoelectric cooling and stays at 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Cooling is paused 30 minutes before scheduled feeding time to ensure it’s at the ideal temperature. The bowls are now numbered, so you can easily match feedings to specific bowls in the app. Through the app, you can adjust schedules, manually feed on demand, and control how long it’s open—there’s even a sensor to make sure it doesn’t close while your kitty is feeding. This is the best automatic wet feeder on the market, in my opinion—I even bought a second one for my other cat.
It can be used with cats or small dogs.
Note: For certain Amazon locations, this feeder is marked as a “Frequently Returned Item.” I haven’t experienced any issues with reliability or performance, and it’s worked well for the past six-plus months of testing.
Compatible food types Wet App Yes Power source Power cord, three backup AAA batteries Capacity 0.21 liters (7.4 ounces) Warranty 2 years Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Keeps wet food refrigerated
- Great connected app
TIRED
- None
-
Best Connected App
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Petlibro
Granary 2 Vision
Amazon
Petlibro
This model is the new-and-improved version of one of my long-standing favorite models below, the Petlibro Granary Smart Camera Feeder. As before, it still has an excellent connected app for scheduling and monitoring feedings, two-way audio, and a 1080p camera with night vision. But this new version also has a built-in bowl scale to track levels and prevent overfeeding, an AI-powered camera that differentiates pets and tracks eating habits, and “smart refill mode” that keeps the bowl filled automatically.
These improvements make this feeder one of the best on the market. I love that it now has a built-in scale (that measures food within one gram) to prevent overfeeding, which is especially helpful when you’re out of town and may not be monitoring your pets’ eating habits as closely. The multi-pet recognition is also helpful because, through the app, you can look back at the log and see exactly who is eating and how much they are eating. However, some of the cooler features, AI camera multi-pet recognition logged by each pet and enhanced eating insights, are only available with the paid subscription service ($96 to $160/year). During testing, the only issues I ran into were that the live camera footage was slow to load and sometimes gave me a “timed out” error message, a bright light automatically turned on when the cat approached at night, and there is no window to visually see how much kibble is left in the tank.
It can be used with cats or small dogs.
Compatible food types Dry kibble, small freeze-dried bits App Yes Power source Power cord, rechargeable battery backup Capacity 5 liters Warranty 2 years Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Good connected app, built-in camera, and two-way audio
- Measures remaining kibble and adjusts to prevent overfeeding
TIRED
- Camera could be laggy and not load
- Many of the cooler features can only be unlocked with a paid subscription
- No windows to visually check the food tank levels
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Best Feeder for Freeze-Dried Food
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Neakasa
Riko Automatic Cat Feeder
Amazon
Neakasa
I’ve never tested an automatic feeder this. If you’ve read my cat water fountains guide, you know how crucial it is to keep your cat hydrated to avoid potentially lethal UTIs and blockages (especially in males, my cat Basil). The Riko has a brand-new design that turns freeze-dried food into wet, soup-meals at feeding time. Through the connected app, Riko uses the information you provide about your cat(s) to personalize a feeding plan of up to 20 meals a day, with portions ranging from 0.04 to 0.7 ounces—this is also ideal, since experts generally agree that cats prefer smaller, frequent meals. You can also customize the water-to-food ratio, adjustable from 1:1 to 5:1, with a traditional “mix” that grinds freeze-dried and adds water; water-only mode; and food-only mode, which just grinds the freeze-dried pieces. The Riko is only compatible with freeze-dried food and treats measuring less than 0.6 x 1 inch in length/width (more info can be found in the product specifications section). I used Smalls freeze-dried food ($24) during testing.
During testing, I primarily ed Riko’s suggestions for how often and how much to feed, which ended up being about once an hour. I d that if you didn’t want to plan it yourself, you could put it on autopilot this, and that there are also options for whether you want it to be a wet mix or not. It’s a great concept in theory, and fresh, hydrating meals are preferable to kibble. However, my cats didn’t the rehydrated food and refused to eat it, so I’d make sure your cats this style before buying. (My cats had eaten the Smalls brand in its freeze-dried form previously and d it.)The whole grinding and rehydrating process takes about five minutes and produces a noticeable grinding noise. Then, a little jingle, and the bowl automatically pops out with the chunky soup. I love this fully automated system and appreciate that Riko is attempting to address cats’ dehydration problems. It’s just a bummer my (very spoiled) cats didn’t take to it.
Designed especially for cats, but small dogs could use.
Compatible food types Freeze-dried App Yes Power source Power cord, battery backup Capacity 3 liters Warranty 1 year Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- First feeder of its kind on the market
- It comes up with a personal feeding plan for your cat
- Helps keep cats hydrated
- Adjustable food-to-water ratios
TIRED
- Only works with freeze-dried food
- The process takes about five minutes
- The grinding process is loud
- If your cats are picky mine, they may not
-
Another Great Camera Feeder
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Petlibro
Granary Smart Camera Feeder
Amazon
Chewy
Petlibro
Although this isn’t the most expensive automatic feeder on this list, it’s reliable, tech-savvy, and highly customizable. It’s controlled via an app and dispenses food from its 5-liter capacity based on the feeding schedule you create. It has a 1080p HD camera with night vision so you can watch and hear your pet eat even when far away, and you can communicate with them via the speaker. Through the Petlibro app (for Android and iOS), you set up a feeding schedule (up to six meals a day) or feed snacks in your desired amount, from one-twelfth of a cup to four cups. The app is easy to use, with extremely customizable feeding plans and meals you can label individually. Our runner-up pick below, the Petkit YumDual-Hopper Automatic Feeder with Camera, is similar in many ways, but the app is a little more intuitive, reliable, and user-friendly on this one (plus we love the built-in camera to spy while afar).
It can be used with cats or small dogs.
Compatible food types Dry only App Yes Power source Power cord, three D backup batteries Capacity 5 liters Warranty 2 years Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Connected camera
- Great, user-friendly connected app
TIRED
- Doesn’t measure food left in bowl to prevent overeating
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A Dual Automatic Feeder With a Camera
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Petkit
YumDual-Hopper Automatic Feeder With Camera
Amazon
Walmart
Best Buy
This model is being phased out in favor of the newer Petkit model above, but you can still find it on third-party sites, and it’s still one of my favorite models I’ve ever tested.
This automatic feeder is essentially the same model as above, but it doesn’t include an AI-enabled camera. It does have an HD camera with a 140-degree viewing angle, infrared night vision, two-way audio with customizable meal calls, and a dual hopper that lets you store and dispense two different types of food. Through the connected app, you can customize and set feeding schedules for the two separate tanks, give snacks, and monitor the feeder from your phone. Plus, the camera will analyze the remaining food in the bowl and stop dispensing (to prevent overfeeding).
I love that the dual hopper can store different types of dry kibble and freeze-dried food and dispense them separately. I recommend saving your moolah and just going with this model—unless you need AI to identify your cats, you can spot the difference between cats through the camera yourself for $70-ish less.
It can be used with cats or small dogs.
Compatible food types Dry; freeze-dried App Yes Power source Power cord Capacity 2 and 3 liters (5 total) Warranty 1-year limited Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Built-in camera
- Can store two types of food (including freeze dried)
TIRED
- App could be better
-
Best Cheap Single Automatic Feeder With Connected App
Photograph: Molly Higgins
to wishlist Petlibro
Air Smart Feeder
Chewy
PetSmart
Target
This is a sleek, more pared-down pet feeder from Petlibro. Although it has a simpler design and smaller capacity (2 liters) than others tested, this auto feeder features a hygienic stainless-steel bowl, a rotor design, a tight seal, and a button that opens the top to keep kibble fresh (and is kitty-tamper-proof). It connects to Petlibro’s easy-to-use app, where you can schedule up to 10 meals a day in one to 16 portions, or feed on demand. Plus, unthe other Petlibro feeders I’ve tested, this goes down to a super small 1/24-cup dispense amount, which makes it easy if you just want to dispense a small snack.
It also has a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 30 days, so you have freedom in movement or placement. Unmany others on the list, it doesn’t offer two-way audio or monitoring of when each pet is fed, and it only works on 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi. But if you’re looking for a cheaper, more basic auto-feeder (and don’t need a camera or audio), I’d recommend this model.
It can be used with cats or very small dogs.
Compatible food types Dry App Yes Power source Rechargeable battery and power cord Capacity 2 liters Warranty 2 years Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Has rechargeable battery for cordless use
- Connected app to dispense food from afar
- Simple design
TIRED
- Small storage container and basic design
- Only works with 2.4 GHz networks
-
Best Cheap Dual Automatic Feeder
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Oneisall
Dual Automatic Feeder
Amazon
Walmart
Chewy
Oneisall
This automatic feeder doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but it’s a solid, inexpensive dual feeder. There’s an app where you can customize feeding plans for up to six meals a day, each meal being 1/12 of a cup. It also has a front knob to plan meals if you don’t want to use the app. (I found the app could be very buggy, and I often relied on manually programming.) You can also record a 10-second meal message to play before mealtimes. It can be plugged in or run on four AA batteries in case of a power outage, for extra peace of mind. I love that the bowls are almost a foot apart to give more space for my greedy cats, and the hygienic stainless-steel inserts can be removed for easier cleaning. The app is very bare-bones and could use work, but this dual feeder worked reliably, and I consider it a great deal at this price point.
Can be used with cats or small dogs.
Compatible food types Dry App Yes Power source Power cord, 4 AA backup batteries Capacity 5 liters Warranty 2 years Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Stainless steel bowls nearly a foot apart for two pets
TIRED
- Connected app is lacking
-
An Upgraded AI-Enabled Automatic Feeder
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Pifi
All-in-One Smart Pet Feeder
Macy’s
Chewy
Amazon
This automatic feeder features dual storage, a built-in camera, two-way audio, and a connected app for scheduling and on-demand feeding. It’s AI-enabled to differentiate between pets and identify their behavior. Setup is super easy and takes only a few minutes; then you’ll need to upload pictures of your cats for their profiles and set up customized feeding plans for up to three pets, in increments of ⅛ of a cup. In theory, you can create customizable feeding plans for each pet, but there’s no way to ensure each cat gets their own portions and doesn’t steal the others’. Plus, you can’t just set up a general daily plan; you have to set a schedule for each individual pet.
The AI didn’t distinguish or label my cats in the video feed, which I found odd, but it did identify and log behaviors it recorded, such as feeding, napping, and walking. Through the app, you can watch highlights and activity logs, communicate via the speaker, and feed on demand. It was cool to watch past video feeds and see the labels the AI creates based on observed behaviors, but the promised custom, individualized feeding plans underdeliver.
Can be used with cats or small dogs.
Compatible food types Dry; freeze-dried App Yes Power source Power cord Capacity 6 liters Warranty 1 year Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Customizable meal plans for individual pets
- Connected camera with AI
TIRED
- No way to have general feeding plan, must be tailored to each pet
- AI falls a little flat
-
An Affordable Automatic Feeder to Measure Food Intake
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Pawsync
Smart Pet Feeder
Amazon
Pawsync
I was pleasantly surprised by this relatively affordable automatic feeder. It has a scale at the bottom of the stainless-steel bowl, which ensures your pet gets the exact right amount of food. It’ll even adjust how much it dispenses based on how much is left in the bowl, helping prevent overeating. The feeder includes anti-jam technology, low-food-detection sensors, and a backup battery in case of a power failure.
From the app, you can schedule and adjust feedings with an optional meal call recording, and it logs when and how much your pet has eaten. This is super helpful for tracking and understanding your cats’ eating habits. But because I have two cats, the tracking feature isn’t as reliable, as the feeder doesn’t know which cat was eating when it logs. For that reason, some of the cooler aspects of monitoring feedings with this feeder work best for single-pet homes.
It can be used with cats or small dogs.
Compatible food types Dry; freeze-dried App Yes Power source Plug-in and backup battery Capacity 3.5 liters Warranty 1 year limited without registering, 2 years if registered Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Built-in scale to prevent overfeeding
TIRED
- Features don’t work as well in multi-pet homes
-
An Automatic Feeder to Separate Several Pets’ Food Using a Collar Tag
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Petlibro
One RFID Smart Feeder
Amazon
Petlibro
For this feeder, the pet wears a collar with a tag that allows the feeder’s lid to open only when that tag is present. When the sensor in the pad in front is activated, the stainless-steel food bowl (which is removable for washing and dishwasher-safe) is uncovered, and the cover retracts over the kibble when the cat leaves, ensuring that only the chosen pet with the collar can access the food. Through the app, you can create up to 10 feeding schedules, and the amounts can be modified anytime, including on-demand feeding. The automatic lid is customizable too. In the app, you can leave the lid in “open mode” or adjust how long it stays open after your pet walks away from it.
Overall, I think this is a nearly perfect device for a particular kind of pet owner. It works best for a cat in a dog home where the owner doesn’t want the dog getting into the cat’s food; if each pet in the home has an RFID feeder; if one particular cat has special dietary needs; or if you have a multi-cat home with an aggressive eater. In these cases, I truly think this product would be a life-changer. (If you get a One RFID for each pet, it’s recommended that you space them at least 10 inches apart to avoid any interference.)
It can be used with cats or very small dogs.
Compatible food types Dry App Yes Power source Power cord, three backup D batteries Capacity 3 liters Warranty 2 years Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Correlating tag ensures that only the desired pet can eat
TIRED
- Cover makes some of the food hard to reach even when open
-
An Easy-to-Use Automatic Dry Feeder
Chevron Chevron to wishlist Whisker
Feeder-Robot
Amazon
Litter-Robot
Chewy
This expensive, techy automatic feeder has buttons and an app that let you control feeding schedules and portion sizes, including monitoring levels to make sure there is enough (when the food level is low, it alerts you via the app and via a light on top of the feeder). I love how customizable meals are: You can set multiple schedules for different days of the week, and it dispenses anywhere from one-eighth of a cup to half a cup of food. It also has gravity mode, where the feeder checks levels every six hours and dispenses food automatically if the bowl is empty.
The app is intuitive and easy to use, with customizable settings, and it tracks every time a cat is fed. Although the plastic food bowl is food-safe and BPA-free, plastic is still prone to harboring bacteria, and I’d prefer stainless steel. (Whisker has a stainless-steel insert for $20 or a glass bowl insert for $30.) I can’t really find any other faults in this feeder—it has worked perfectly and just feels sleek and elevated.
It can be used with cats or small dogs.
Compatible food types Dry App Yes Power source Power cord Capacity 3 liters Warranty 1 year Wi-Fi Compatibility 2.4GHz WIRED/TIRED
LargeChevron WIRED
- Sleek design and intuitive app
TIRED
- Plastic bowl
Compare Our Picks
| Compatible Food Types | App | Power Source | Capacity | Warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petkit YumDual-Hopper 2 Automatic Feeder with Camera | Dry; freeze-dried | Yes | Power cord | 2 and 3 liters (5 total) | 1 year limited |
| Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder | Wet | Yes | Power cord, three backup AAA batteries | 0.21 liters (7.4 ounces) | 2 years |
| Petlibro Granary 2 Vision | Dry kibble, small freeze-dried bits | Yes | Power cord, rechargeable battery backup | 5 liters | 2 years |
| Neakasa Riko Automatic Cat Feeder | Freeze-dried | Yes | Power cord, battery backup | 3 liters | 1 year |
| Petlibro Granary Smart Camera Feeder | Dry | Yes | Power cord, three D backup batteries | 5 liters | 2 years |
| Petkit YumDual-Hopper Automatic Feeder With Camera | Dry; freeze-dried | Yes | Power cord | 2 and 3 liters (5 total) | 1 year limited |
| Petlibro Air Smart Feeder | Dry | Yes | Rechargeable battery and power cord | 2 liters | 2 years |
| Oneisall Dual Automatic Feeder | Dry | Yes | Power cord, four AA backup batteries | 5 liters (or 20 cups) | 2 years |
| Pifi All-in-One Smart Pet Feeder | Dry; freeze-dried | Yes | Power cord | 6 liters | 1 year |
| Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder | Dry; freeze-dried | Yes | Plug-in and backup battery | 3.5 liters | 1 year limited. Register your product for a 2-year extension |
| Petlibro One RFID Smart Feeder | Dry | Yes | Power cord, three backup D batteries | 3 liters | 2 years |
| Whisker Feeder-Robot | Dry | Yes | Power cord | 3 liters | 1 year |
Others Tested
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Oneisall 2-in-1 Automatic Cat Feeder and Water Dispenser for $60: Generally, I’m a fan of all the Oneisall pet products I’ve tested. While they aren’t the most technologically advanced, they are always reliable and affordable. This model is relatively simple. To set up, you’ll need to attach the bowl supports and dishwasher-safe stainless-steel bowls, fill the water and kibble compartments, and plug in. This model runs on corded power but also has an optional 4 AA batteries in case of a power outage. There is no connected app. You’ll just set the clock and adjust meal settings, and you can schedule one to six meals per day with adjustable portions, from one to 10 portion sizes. I don’t love having food and water so close, since cats prefer them separate to prevent cross-contamination in the wild. I always recommend automatic pet fountains instead for a fresh source of water, but if you don’t have a lot of space, are on a budget, and need a temporary solution for getting fresh water to your kitty while you’re out of town, the gravity-fed water system helps keep water relatively fresh (plus, the translucent tank makes it easier to check water levels). I’d recommend this basic option if you’re on a budget and need a temporary solution for when you’re out of the house (and don’t mind not having a connected app).
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Closer Pets C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder for $50: This automatic feeder is super simple, which is both its weakness and its strength. It’s essentially two shallow plastic containers with stainless-steel inserts (both dishwasher-safe) and tamper-resistant lids that lock and automatically open using an old-school egg-style timer that runs on an AA battery rather than electricity. Although the container has an ice pack to keep the wet food cool, after one night it lost virtually all of its coolness. There’s a lid-link clip attachment, a small piece of plastic that links the lids to ensure they open at the same time, which is super helpful for owners of two cats me. I wish the timer were electric so I could program it to the exact time I want it to open, rather than guesstimating the timing on the little marks. However, this is a simple solution to help make sure both my cats are given wet food without me having to wake up at the crack of dawn.
Photograph: Molly Higgins
Oneisall Cordless WiFi Automatic Cat Feeder for $53: I had high hopes for this cordless feeder, which boasts a rechargeable battery with a 100-day life and an integrated app, but it’s just too unreliable. Through the app, you can program up to 10 daily meals (in 1-12 portions each), monitor pets’ eating habits, and customize meal calls. Unother apps, you can’t choose portion size; instead, you have to multiply the number of servings. The app gave me constant problems and would often disconnect from the feeder and be unable to reconnect to WiFi. Luckily, I was able to program meals via the screen and buttons, but it would’ve been much nicer if the app had worked reliably.
Do Not Recommend
Courtesy of Amazon
Catit Pixi Smart 6-Meal Feeder for $86: others on this list, the Catit Pixi wet and dry feeder uses ice packs to keep wet food fresh and rotates meals among six compartments on a set schedule. The schedule can be programmed via the app or adjusted on the feeder itself. At this price point, the app shouldn’t be this limited and glitchy. The schedule is available in military time only, and the app is extremely limited—you can only set the meal schedule for the same day. When I wanted to do only two to three meals a day spread over two days, I had to reschedule the meals for every new day. The feeder didn’t keep it cold enough to spread the meals out, and the wet food was not at a safe eating temperature. At this price point, just get the Petlibro Polar wet feeder.
Catit Pixi Smart Cat Feeder for $112: Kibble is stored in the feeder’s body, but it lacks a window to visually check food levels. The meal-planning calendar shows only a week at a time, and although it should repeat daily based on the schedule, I found that some days had no schedule despite setting one up. The Pixi also doesn’t tell you how much food was dispensed; it just refers to it as a “portion”—I manually measured and found the portion was less than a tablespoon of kibble. After using it continuously for more than a month, I found it was extremely glitchy and almost never reliably stuck to the programmed schedule, sometimes skipping meals altogether. This feeder is potentially dangerous, and I’d caution pet parents against relying on it.
Closer Pets C500 for $77: This automatic wet and dry feeder can schedule up to four pre-portioned meals (and one meal given manually) and opens them on a timer using three AA batteries (sold separately). The user sets the four times they want the bowls, which have ice packs underneath, to rotate. The bowls are quite deep and narrow, and they aren’t super easy for cats to reach, which could cause whisker fatigue. Although there are two relatively large ice packs, when I checked on the feeder after a night’s sleep, the packs weren’t very cold. This may be OK for kibble, but wet food was kept at unsafe temperatures, and my cats couldn’t reach all of the food.
Why Use an Automatic Feeder?
Automatic feeders are great for pet owners who want to help manage their pets’ weight and monitor eating patterns. Plus, they allow for a lot more control and precision, so owners can learn exactly how much their cat is eating and when. Because cats are naturally more nocturnal, many have the annoying habit of waking you up in the early hours, demanding food. These feeders allow you to set up a schedule that fits their schedule better without inconveniencing yours.
Of course, it’s never recommended to leave pets alone for long periods, but these automatic feeders give more peace of mind and are much healthier for your pet than leaving a huge amount of food out for free-feeding while you’re away for the night. Simply put, it’s an easier way to feed and monitor your cat’s health with less work for you, the human.
How I Tested
I have two rescue cats, ages 4 and 5, and they eat two wet-food meals a day, along with small amounts of dry kibble throughout the day. Vets (and TikTokkers) have successfully persuaded me to move toward a primarily wet-food diet, which has a higher water content. This provides more moisture in their diet, which helps with potentially life-threatening problems UTIs, which are especially prevalent in male cats. I still to give smaller dry-food meals throughout the day to satisfy their need for crunch.
For dry food, I use Hill’s Science Diet, and for wet food, I use Friskies Shreds. (Yes, only Shreds. Fellow cat owners will understand.)
I set up the feeders, noting ease of setup, potential problems, and app navigation. I also tested various schedules and manual feedings in the app, documenting any issues. I used each feeder for at least a week, if not longer.
How Long Can I Leave My Cat Alone?
Although cats are generally considered less high-maintenance than dogs, it’s still not advisable to leave your cat alone for extended periods. In dire circumstances, you can leave a cat alone for 24 to 48 hours with scheduled feedings and a clean water source, but it’s not ideal—especially for cats with health issues, kittens younger than a year, or very elderly cats. Although these feeders are automatic and meals can be scheduled in advance for multiple days, our pets still need their human pals around for enrichment, care, and, well, love.
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Molly Higgins is WIRED’s Commerce Production and Operations Coordinator. She tests mattresses, pet hair and handheld vacuums, pet tech automatic feeders, fountains, litter boxes, pet cameras, and smart collars, and oversees our coupon program. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from UCLA and an MFA in creative … Read More
Commerce Production and Operations Coordinator
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