10 Best Automatic Cat Feeder Designs

Whether you have an overweight cat or have a plan on being away, an automatic feeder is a smart investment to keep your cat fed and keep it healthy.

In this handy guide, we'll highlight everything you need to know before shopping our recommendations for the best automatic cat feeders on the market today.

What Is An Automatic Cat Feeder?

An automatic feeder will automatically dispense dry kibble, wet food, or semi-moist food on a set schedule. You can pre-program the unit and pre-load it with several meals at a time.

Unlike a gravity feeder, automatic feed dispenses a specific amount of food into the bowl, making them a perfect solution for weight management for overweight cats. 

Are Automatic Feeders Good For Cats?

While an automatic cat feeder can't replace a pet sitter and is no substitute for human interaction, it can help feed your cat food while you're away from home. Here are a few perks of automated feeders:

Convenience

Convenience is undoubtedly the biggest benefit of an automatic feeder. You'll be amazed at how much it'll free up your schedule! With an automatic pet feeder, you can feed your furry friend at any time. You won't have to get out of bed early on the weekend, swing home on your lunch break, or phone a friend when you need someone to fill in. They're great for busy cat owners and forgetful pet parents alike.

Personalization

Many smart feeders connect to a smartphone app for added convenience and control. You can adjust meal size, feeding times, and frequency. Some automatic food dispensers go a step further, using a microchip detection system to ensure the right pet gets the right meal. These innovative products are great for households with multiple pets or cats with special dietary needs.

Consistent Feeding Schedule

An automatic pet feeder ensures your cat or dog is fed on a consistent feeding schedule while you're away. Equipped with an adjustable timer that can be set to the schedule of your choosing, it'll dispense a specified portion of pet food incrementally throughout the day.

Accommodates Busy Pet Owners

An automatic cat feeder guarantees your pet won't miss a meal while you're away for a long workday or a long weekend getaway. Many smart feeders allow you to record a voice memo that plays as the food is dispensed, helping strengthen the bond between you and your pet. They're great for pet parents who work long shifts.

Establish Healthy Eating Habits

By dispensing your pet's food in small, evenly portioned meals, an automatic feeder helps prevent overeating and establish healthy feeding habits. It'll stop your cats from scarfing down their food and getting indigestion or vomiting after their meal.

Unlike a gravity feeder, an automatic cat feeder is the perfect weight management solution for pets who love to eat by only dispensing a specific amount of food at a time.

What Should I Look For In An Automatic Feeder?

Added Features

These days, many products go above and beyond a basic digital timer. Look for feeders equipped with smart features like wifi connectivity, touch screen controls, and a voice recorder for added convenience and customization.

Volume

Most automatic food dispensers can hold between 5 to 10 meals at a time. Consider factors like how much food you need it to hold and how many cats you need to feed. If you plan to be away for longer periods, you'll want a feeder that can hold larger quantities of food.

Dry vs. Wet Food

Not all feeders can handle wet food, so you'll want to double-check the product you're purchasing is compatible with the type of food your pet eats. In general, the more advanced the feeder, the more types of kitty kibble it can handle. Some lower-end products may struggle to dispense certain size kibble and oddly-shaped dry food pieces. When picking a feeder, make sure the feeder works with your kibble shapes and sizes.

BPA-Free, Dishwasher-Safe Materials

Stick to products made from durable, non-toxic materials that are safe for your pet to eat off of. You can't go wrong with stainless steel or BPA-free plastic.

For easy clean-up, select a product made with dishwasher-safe food bowls. Cats' mouths are notoriously germy, so you'll want to clean the food bowl frequently to prevent bacteria from building up. If you're feeding wet food, you'll want to wash the bowl at least once per day.

Dual Power

The best automatic pet feeders come equipped with dual power sources: a plug-in power cord and a backup battery. You'll have peace of mind knowing your pet can still enjoy a consistent feeding schedule in case of a power outage or unplugged cord.

Price

You can find a pet food dispenser at every price point these days. But like most pet products, you get what you paid for. Budget models typically feature a simplistic design with a pre-set digital timer. You'll need to spend a bit more to get a smart feeder with better customization features and wifi-enabled controls.

Pet Proof Design

If you got smartypants at home, she/ he most likely would try to figure out how to get extra kibbles to drop in between meals. Some cats can quickly discover it by gently moving the machine around and shaking a few kibbles out. If you have a curious cat at home, seek a feeder designed to keep prying paws from sneaking food before scheduled mealtimes.

10 Best Automatic Cat Feeders

This powerful technology and smart design, Vremi Automatic Pet Feeder is a great option for any pet owner. With always on infrared sensor, it prevents food from getting stuck. Using the LCD screen, you can set the feeder to dispense up to 4 meals per day and up to 39 portions per meal, making it easy to customize your cat's feeding schedule. Plus, you can add a 10-second voice recording clip to connect with your cat during mealtime. With the viewing window to large food compartment that store up to 6: of dry food, you can see the amount of food remaining and when its time to replenish. 

Most feeders aren't equipped to handle wet food, so you may need a specially-designed wet food dispenser to accommodate your pet's diet. This Cat Mate Automatic Cat Feeder comes equipped with an internal ice pack to keep wet food fresh between meals. With three large food compartments, it's got enough room for a full day of meals. Just program the digital timer using the LCD screen in the morning, and you're ready to head off to work. The fully-removable, dishwasher-safe bowls make clean-up easy when you get back home.

This PetSafe 2-Pet Automatic Cat Feeder was designed with multi-cat homes in mind. While most automatic cat feeders are best suited for a single pet, this dual-bowl design works perfectly for two pets. A meal splitter and optional privacy panel ensure each kitty enjoys their meal. Smartphone controls make it easy to adjust feeding times and portion sizes. You'll get a smartphone notification when a meal is dispensed when an error occurs, and when the feeder is running low or empty. The best part is it connects to your Alexa devices and uses Amazon Dash Replenishment to automatically reorder your pet's food when it's running low.

If there's one smart feeder worth splurging on, it's the Whisker Feeder-Robot Smoke Hopper Pet Feeder. The innovative automatic feeder can be set using the control panel or the AutoPets Connect app, which offers customizable programming. Auto-locking hoppers and a tamper-resistant lid keep food fresh inside while keeping nosy pets from getting in. Anti-jam technology, a chew-resistant cord, and a built-in backup battery provide added peace of mind when you're away. Thanks to removable parts for easy cleaning, it's suitable for use with any dry or semi-moist kibble.

Does one of your felines eat a special diet? Ensure your other pets don't steal their meal with this SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder. Using the Petcare hub (sold separately), it connects to your pet's ID microchip or an RFID cat collar tag from Sure Petcare. The innovative feeder connects to the Sure Petcare app, so you can also control portion size and feeding time. An integrated scale helps you monitor food intake and changes in eating habits. It's an excellent option for pets on a prescription diet, taking medication, or simply preventing weight gain.

If you're going to be away from home for more than a day or two, you'll need an automatic feeder with a larger food reservoir inside. But remember, an automatic feeder is not a sufficient replacement for a pet sitter. Faroro's 7L Automatic Cat Feeder comes equipped with a sizable 7-liter interior reservoir that, depending on your pet's diet, can hold days to weeks worth of food at once. You can program the timer to dispense portion sizes ranging from two teaspoons to 4.5 cups up to four times per day. At $70, it's an excellent option for any pet parent with a busy schedule.

Show your pet a little love between meals with the Petcube Bites Interactive Pet Monitoring Treat Dispenser. It's equipped with an HD video camera with a wide-angle view, night vision, motion and sound detectors, and two-way audio that connects to the free Petcube app. A 1.5-lb container inside holds dry treats instead of pet kibble, allowing you to reward your pet while you're away. It's great for pet parents to check up on their pets while they're away at work.

Looking for something a bit smaller? Try this Mini Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder from DOGNESS. The LCD screen allows you to easily set feeding times and adjust portion sizes without requiring a wifi connection or a fancy smartphone app. This is the perfect option for smaller cats who don't have too much food per meal. A two-liter food storage reservoir holds enough for a day's worth of meals while you're away from home. The stainless steel food tray can easily be removed and cleaned to keep the feeder sanitary between uses. There's something to coordinate with every pet parent's home decor with three stylish color options available.

This small automatic cat feeder is perfect for a kitten or small cat. The automatic feeder can feed up to 4 meals daily with 1-39 portion customization available. With 10s personalized voice recording, you can call your pets when food is dispensed and not feel lonely while you are away. This automatic feeder features an anti-clog design, a dual power supply, and is detachable and washable.

Automatic feeders don't have to be chunky or be an eyesore. Being something you have to look at almost daily, you want one that fits your home aesthetic. And this INSTACHEW Purebite Automatic Stainless Steel Smart Pet Feeder may just solve your problem. The large compartment is stored sealed, so it is always fresh. This automatic cat feeder can support a variety of kibble sizes, so you don't have to worry about it being stuck.