It seems that there’s an automated way of doing everything these days. Sometimes, this strips the pleasure from menial chores that can actually be therapeutic. Don’t get me wrong; I am not complaining. With my busy schedule being a vet, I appreciate not having to do everything manually. Feeding my cat is one of those tasks, not because I don’t enjoy it but because she would probably starve waiting for me from work. That’s why I use the best automatic feeder for cats and recommend you to try one this year.
As we all know, well-fed cats are happy and delightful. If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, I have a solution for you. I know what feeder for cats works, and I have recommendations from friends and clients. Today, I am going to share my experience and research with you and provide my recommended list of self feeders for cats to make things easier for you.
7 Best Automatic Feeders for Cats of My Choice:
Best Self Feeders for Cats to Consider Reviewed
Automatic cat feeders make any busy cat owner’s life a little easier. Here are the top automatic feeders that will make life better for both you and your cat.
1. One of the Best Time Feeders for Cats: Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder
Though different, the Surefeed Microchip feeder is excellent if you have a couple of cats. It is also great if the cats tend to tip their feeders and spill their treats all over.
This feeder senses a chip on the feline’s collar and only opens up when there’s a cat with the right collar nearby. It then closes once the cat moves away hence preventing other pets from consuming or spilling the food. I would recommend it for cats that have a prescribed diet since only they can access the meal.
Each feeder comes with a single microchip-installed collar that goes on the cat’s neck. Since the feeder is unique to a particular tag or microchip, it always keeps the food safe until that cat is ready to eat again.
The bowl holds of about two cups of food (enough for a couple of meals). One downside is that your cat can get a bit greedy once it figures out how it works. So make sure to put just enough food until you’re back home.
- Useful if you want each cat to keep to its own food
- Hard to tip over
- Serves both wet or dry food
- Battery operated
- Сat might overfeed
2.Stylish and Multifunctional Feeder: WOPET Automatic Pet Feeder Food Dispenser for Cats and Dogs
This feeder is large enough to hold about 20 portions of food. Moreover, it is relatively lightweight. The food is distributed evenly over the bowl, and if you have several pets, they can eat at the same time.
The design provides for locking the feed with the upper lock, which means that the food will not roll on the floor. Pets will not be able to overturn the feeder, which certainly benefits the owner. An outlet powers the Wopet Feeder, but you can also use D-type batteries. They will be needed in case of a power outage.
You can program the pan for four feeds per day at the essential time. The user-friendly touch interface with backlight will help you with this. It can be done with a few taps. Furthermore, you can record your voice to call your pet to food.
- User-friendly
- Large storage
- Food scatter protection
- Low voice record volume
3. Fully Programmable Slow Feeders for Cats: PetSafe 5 Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
If you are not a fan of feeding portions to your cat and would prefer he has a complete meal at once, then this PetSafe is an excellent feeder for you. It has five separate bowls, and each holds a cup of dry cat food. It has a straightforward setup that I found quite lovable.
The controls are under the lid, which I think is an excellent sign your cat won’t accidentally press a button and change the controls. It has an elementary AM/PM control and display that lets you define food release intervals. Since it is fully programmable, it is an excellent way of ensuring that your cat doesn’t overfeed. You can do this by having smaller portions of food in the tray against more frequent dispensing. You only need to program the device once.
The design is excellent since it has a flat base, so there is no chance that it will roll over or fall. However, you can stick it on the wall, so it dispenses food straight to your cat’s bowl. The dispenser will only work right if your cat continually likes playing around with the feeder. It runs on a battery, and unfortunately, it doesn’t have a cable power option, so you have to keep checking that the dry cells don’t run out. However, it has low power consumption since it is pretty simple.
- Affordable
- It is effortless to use for a cat of any size
- Choose how much cat eats
- Removable dish washable tray
- Works with batteries only
4. Van Ness Medium Auto Feeder: Nice Gravity Feeder for Cats
This medium-size auto feeder is a bit larger than the AF3 but is made in a similar design. Fortunately, this is an excellent thing for those who dislike having to keep refilling the container. With this model, you don’t need to fill it up daily, although it dispenses a lot of food.
It has a six-pound capacity, which is enough to hold a food amount for at least a week. If you don’t like having food remaining in the bowl for long hours, then this is probably not the best option for you. Because of this factor, it would be more suitable for a home with several cats since it does release a lot of food at once. The chute for the feeder is quite large, which is a plus if your cat’s feed is oddly shaped.
- Large capacity suitable for several cats
- The lid is very secure, so your cat won’t open it
- It is large so that it won’t tip over
- It dispenses a lot of food, so it is not the best option for only one cat
5. Best Self Feeder for Cat According to My Friends: Petmate Pet Café Feeder
Unlike the other feeders on this list, the Petmate Pet Café one is not operated by batteries and neither can it be plugged into an outlet. It uses gravity technology, which allows the primary storage to refill the bowl when it runs out of food. One beautiful thing I love about it is that you have various sizes to choose from three to twelve pounds.
The fact that there is no programming needed for it to feed your cats is excellent for those who have had some troubles with programmable ones. A lot of my friends who are cat owners really liked the technology. It works quite well merely by you filling up the storage unit; it automatically releases the food into the attached bowl. The storage doesn’t need to be full for the gravity tech to work. It will still dispense up to the last bit of food so don’t feel pressured to fill it up.
It is made using quality plastic, so it won’t break easily, especially since the storage is transparent, so it is normal for your cat to try and get the food. The one big downside to this is that you cannot measure the portions since it releases more food if the bowl is almost empty. This means that it is probably not the best option if you will be away for a long time.
- Doesn’t need any programming or batteries
- Good option if you are only gone for a workday only
- Has a snap lid that your pet can’t open
- Comes in various sizes and colors
- You have little control over the portions
6. Best Self Feeder for Multiple Cats: Iseebiz Automatic Cat Feeder
One of the things that are most outstanding about the Iseebiz cat feeder is its design. It looks like a mini robot or space suit so that would be an exciting thing to have in your home. Other than the excellent design, it lives up to expectations since it works precisely and has some of the premium features that we have seen in other feeders on this list.
It has a 3L capacity, which is not only enough to fit your cat’s meals for the day but also more in case you will be away longer. The dispenser allows you to subdivide the feeds up to 39 portions, which is an excellent way of ensuring that your cat doesn’t eat all food too fast. It can also be used to promote weight loss by not giving large meals at once. Installing the settings for how often it should release food is easy and fast. The screen has different buttons that are clearly labeled for you.
You can also record 10-second audio for meal call, especially if your cat gets food-anxious to help him eat better. It has one of the best storage units that allow the food to stay longer without going bad. There is also an infrared feature that prevents the device from releasing more food when there is still plenty left. This prevents wastage and overfeeding if your cat is not hungry.
- It uses both batteries and direct power from an outlet
- Holds enough food for a few days
- You can control how much food your cat gets
- Cat can’t get into the storage compartment
- The instructions for use may be a bit confusing
7. Large Slow Feeder Bowl for Cats: WESTLINK 6L Automatic Pet Feeder
This feeder is an excellent option for people who spend the whole day at work. This is because it has a substantial 6L capacity that can hold in food for several days, so you don’t have to replenish it daily. It has excellent construction with the storage and dispenser being separate from the control unit and bowl holder. All of these are detachable for easy cleaning.
I like its wide base that means your cat won’t tip it over, but even then it is a good idea to place it against a wall. Given its enormous capacity, it can dispense 39 portions of which you have maximum control. You can calibrate how many grams you would like it to dispense each time.
This model also records up to 10 seconds long meal time calls. It has a unique infrared feature that prevents it from adding more food when it’s still in plenty. This helps avoid overfeeding and wastage that may occur with these types of feeders.
The dispenser works using size D-size dry cells or the USB port. The removable dishwasher-safe bowl is also easy to maintain. Don’t worry about your cat opening the lid to the feeder since it has a spring latch so unless he is talented, that lid won’t budge.
- The large size fits any food
- The infrared feature prevents wastage
- It is affordable
- Gives control over portions per meal
- The lid is not very sturdy
7. Another Great Slow Feeder for Cats: PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed
This is yet another quality feeder from PetSafe who are the leading producers for all your pet needs. The company provides some of the best products for all pets, so it is no surprise that this feeder is another great hit. This feeder works differently and a lot like a coffee machine, which means that it has a lot of good options as you will see below.
First of all, let me say that if you hate having to fill up the feeder daily, all your troubles are solved by this dispenser. It has a considerable capacity and can easily hold an impressive 24 cups of food for the cat making it easier to fill the feeder and forget about it for days. This makes it a good option if you may not be around for a few days, and you don’t have someone to come in to feed your pet regularly. They would only have to get some freshwater, and your little friend will be all sorted out.
Again, just like the 5-meal feeder, it has a central control system. It is straightforward to set the timer and how much food you would like it to dispense for each portion. This can be anything from a quarter cup up to five cups, so it can also work for dogs. You can customize it to dispense the food up to 12 times, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have a way of knowing when there is still food in the bowl.
It comes attached with a bowl and holder. The holder guarantees that your cat won’t drag the container away hence creating a mess when more food is released. All of these parts are detachable for easy cleaning so you shouldn’t expect any issues with that. It is battery-operated, but you can also plug it in although the adapter doesn’t come with the package.
- Has anti-jam prevention in the dispenser
- Quite large, so it won’t easily be tipped over
- You don’t need to reset it daily
- Has a slow-feed option
- It will not release food the first 3 to 4 times as the conveyor belt loads up
- No adapter to plug it in
8. A Nice Slow Feeder for Cats to Buy: Arf Pets Automatic Pet Feeder
This Arf feeder is a huge dispenser that holds up to 1.1 gallons. It gives you the freedom to set feeding times according to your pet’s meal schedule. It dispenses 24mls each time. This is sufficient for one mealtime. You can configure it to release food more often thanks to the customizable timer (up to four times a day).
The device runs on 3 D-size batteries or mains power. However, if there are frequent power outages in your area, you should install the batteries as a power backup plan. The holder’s lid stays shut thanks to a strong magnetic lock. The lid also has the control panel with a beautiful blue light illuminating the readings.
One of my favorite features is its ability to make a mealtime audio recording. This is a great way to notify your cat when it’s mealtime. It can be anything from a common phrase or just a mere call. It’s simple to understand the way it works. You might not even need tutorials to get it going.
- Clear instructions on how to use
- Removable and dish washable bowl
- Strong and durable
- Customizable meal times
- A bit loud
Additional Options: Alternative Self-Feeders for Cats that Are Worth Taking a Look At
If you would like to try out some automatic feeders, but you are on a budget, or you don’t know whether your cat will adapt to it or not, then these are the feeders to get. However, some of them are so nice that you might even settle on them for the long term.
9. Vanness AF3 3-Pound Auto Feeder: Best Automatic Cat Feeder for Multiple Cats
The Vanness AF3 is an excellent cheap way to try out an auto cat feeder. It is not programmable, so it uses gravity technology to dispense the food. It works well whether or not the storage is full and is sturdy enough so you shouldn’t expect any issues with it falling over.
It has a 3-pound capacity, which is enough to provide adequate food for at least a couple of days. It is probably not the best feeder if you expect to leave your cat for a few days since that may lead to overfeeding. The bowl gets refilled every time the food reduces, so if your pet is left unattended, it may overfeed due to the availability of food.
This feeder is made of high-quality plastic, so it is safe for your cat. While the lid is not the strongest and is easily opened, it is unlikely that your pet will manage to open it fast.
- Cheap
- The parts are detachable for quick cleaning
- Has a large capacity
- No stopper so the food may spill over
10 Precision 3D Prints Two-Way Splitter Adapter: For PetSafe Slow Feeder Bowls for Cats
If you have two cats and you would like to use just one PetSafe automatic feeder, I have a solution for you with this Precision 3D Prints splitter. It attaches very well to the PetSafe programmable feeder to release equal amounts of food to each bowl. It is made with excellent materials that are safe for your cats and will last you a lifetime.
- Made using pet-safe plastic
- It fits tightly onto the feeder
- Dispenses equal amounts of food
- It can only be used with the PetSafe Wi-Fi Feeder
11. PortionProRx Automatic Pet Feeder: Amazing Microchip Feeder for Cats
Although the PortionProRx is not a very popular option, it surpasses many of the feeders on this list due to its excellent construction and great technology. It is an automatic programmable feeder that uses either your cat’s chip on the collar or the tag that it comes with. It upholds the highest standards of hygiene since it locks up immediately once your cat is done eating and only opens when he wants to eat.
The bin is large enough to hold up to 32 cups of food which is sufficient for a couple of meals. The lid on the container uses a unique unlocking system that is entirely pet-proof, so your cat won’t get access to the food other than the right way.
You can easily set it to dispense the food in portions, and it can do this up to six times a day. One of the best things about this feeder is that you can schedule it to feed more than one pet. This is a great option when the cats have different dietary requirements that they have to stick to.
One of the things I love more than the construction of this feeder is the fact that it doesn’t use batteries. It plugs into the outlet, and in case of a power outage, it has an internal battery that allows it to continue functioning.
- It is made using pet-safe plastic
- Keeps your cat’s food clean and hygienic
- Rubberized footing keeps it stable
- It is a bit noisy
12. Precision 3D Prints Two-Bowl Attachment: For Your Self Feeders for Cats
The Precision 3D two bowl attachment is great if you have two cats that don’t share the same bowl. It allows almost equal portions of the food into the bowl and let you feed your cats individually. It is a 3D-print item, and it is a high-quality one so that this model can become a good solution for your cats. It fits perfectly to a number of automatic feeders such as ICOCO, Pyrus, Homdox, Isyoung, Fitigier, OUTAD, and many others.
- It attaches perfectly to many feeders
- Guarantees almost equal servings of food
- It is durable and easy to wash
- It is not dishwasher safe, so you need to wash it by hand
13. TDYNASTY DESIGN Automatic Pet Feeder: Best Automatic Cat Feeder for Wet Food
The TDYNASTY DESIGN feeder is a tray-style model with five slots each carrying up to 240ml. It is a fully programmed device that lets you select up to five meals for your feline. While you cannot control the amount of food released, it is still possible to take care of it during refilling the slots to provide your cat with smaller meals, enough for its diet.
The design is easy-to-use and pretty. The device has a flat surface, so in case you had some issues with your pet tipping on the tool, this model can work greatly. There is also an option to set a mealtime call of about 10 seconds, and luckily this time, the tone isn’t that loud. I still don’t recommend to set the timer for early morning when you want to catch some sleep, but that’s just me.
You can power it using an adapter or batteries, per your preferences. Your cat won’t be able to open the slot because it has a secure latch so that should end any worries. It is a nice compact size that you can even take in trip with you, so take a look at this model if you plan to take your pet with you somewhere.
- Works for cats that are fed not early in the morning
- The slot has a secure button push latch
- The food tray is detachable for easy removal
- It loses its settings with time
14. Automatic Pet Feeder Food Dispenser: Indoor Hunting Feeder for Cats
This is yet one more affordable food dispenser by PetCul. It has an amazing futuristic design, so you don’t have to deal with poor-looking cat feeders around. It has a relatively large capacity of three pounds, so you can be sure that your cat will be well-fed the whole day. You can program up to 39 portions for your cat, which usually are equal to four meals. Even if you have two cats, the amount of food stored in the feeder will be just right for both pets to eat during the day.
The navigation is elementary, so it is easy to find out what you need to do to master the device correctly. Moreover, it is possible to record meal time audio to alert the cat or cats about the right time for eating. The volume is loud a bit, understandably, but still, you won’t be happy to hear the notification early in the morning you are trying to sleep in.
There is an inbuilt infrared detector that lets it sense when there is still plenty of food in the bowl. This way, it will not dispense more food until the one in the bowl is finished. The feeder chute is quite big, allowing food of any sizes to pass through it. The device can operate on batteries, but it can work from an adapter as well which you can get additionally.
- It is quite precise in timing
- The infrared sensor prevents wastage
- You can control portions
- Once switched between power and batteries, it needs to be reset
15. Precision 3D Prints Two-Way Splitter: For PetSafe Healthy Pet Neat Feeders for Cats
If you have the PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply feeder for your cat and you have two pets, then you probably need this attachment. It saves you the cost of having to get an automatic feeder for each of the cats. Instead, you can use the one you already have. It has a snug-fitting to the feeder so you shouldn’t expect any spills, and it delivers the food in equal portions.
- Durable attachment
- Releases equal food portions for your cats
- Has a perfect fit, so no wastage
- Can only be used on the Healthy Pet Simply feeder
16. Automatic Cat Feeder and Waterer: If You Are Looking for Automatic Cat Feeders for Wet Food
We’ve been discussing a lot about automatic feeders, but what about water supply? Well, if you were wondering, here is an excellent solution to ensure that your feline has both food and water.
This is a programmable feeder, so you get to limit how much food your cat gets. It uses a rotating tray with different quantities of food, and each of them can hold up to 0.1 pounds. It can accommodate up to four portions, which is enough for the whole day. The same goes for water: the waterer is easy to use since all you need is a bottle of water that fills the bowl whenever it is empty.
Programming is easy with the comprehensive options for time and day, and it comes with easy to understand instructions. It also has a provision for you to record a message for your pet to alert him of mealtime. Unfortunately, it is quite loud, but I guess that won’t be a problem if you are not around.
- Provides enough water and food for your pet
- It is easy to program once, so it only needs refills
- You can use wet food as well
- Sometimes the water may spill over when the bottle is full
17. Currens Automatic Cat Feeder: Timed Cat Feeder for Two Cats
The Currens automatic feeder is a nice model for those who want all premium features being tight on a budget. It is a fully programmable feeder that has various settings to let you the amounts of food released. There are two sizes of 3.5 and 6 liters so that you can choose a smaller or bigger one depending on your preferences and your cats’ appetite.
There are all the buttons labeled, so you know what option to push when needed. The timer works accurately, so there is no need to keep return to the feeder often to reset it. However, if your cat has a rigorous feeding schedule, you can keep resetting every so often without a problem. The feeder can proceed with up to 4 meals daily, and you can set the amount of food that should be released per portion.
To avoid wastage and the food overflowing, there is an infrared feature that senses when there is still food in the bowl, so the device doesn’t release more. It is a pretty stable device since it has rubber padding at the bottom, making it easier not to topple it over. There is a possibility to record a message for your cat to alert it about the mealtime.
- It uses both batteries and USB charging
- Disassembling, thus, easy to clean
- The lid is tight and secure, so cats can’t open it
- Disassembly can be a bit difficult to do
18. HoneyGuaridan A26 Automatic Pet Feeder: Interactive Feeder for Cats
It may be among alternative options, but it is a top feeder that anyone would love to have. It has a futuristic design which would be an excellent accessory to your home, unlike many of the basic feeders in this list. It has a large capacity of up to 3.3 pounds, so if you are planning to take a trip out of town, you would know that your pet is well taken care of.
The feeder is programmable with easy-to-use settings that are clearly labeled, so you don’t have to struggle with it. It has two detachable parts, which is the storage container and the programming unit, that also holds the bowl. It can release up to four cups for each meal; hence, it is also suitable if you have several cats. However, you can customize how much food is released in the settings.
It has infrared lights that prevent the device from releasing more food if there is plenty left in the bowl, so you are sure that there will be no wastage. The infrared lights also prevent locking, which can be a disaster since it won’t dispense any food.
- Allows you to do a meal time call recording
- Can release up to six meals every day
- Uses both battery and direct power
- The clock may lose sync after a while, so you have to reset it
Are Automatic Feeders Suitable for Cats?
The answer is simple, yes. Automatic feeders are not only great for you as a cat owner since they are convenient but also for your pet. One of the main reasons for it is that your cat doesn’t have to wait for you to get food. A hungry cat can be very cranky, just like a starving baby. Therefore, the fact that it gets food, whether or not you are at home is the most obvious reason why I am pro automatic feeders.
Another reason why an automatic self-feeder for cats is an excellent option for your pet is that it allows it to be fed on a schedule. Many cats developed their feeding schedules, which is why they will come to wake you up at five in the morning. With the feeder, they can quickly get their food, and you can sleep without having to be bothered about it.
The other reason is that you can control how much food your pet feeds on and how frequently it happens. This prevents overfeeding, which leads to your cat being overweight and causes other health complications. With the automatic feeder, you are sure that your pet is fed healthily, and the fact that you are not there to add more food is a great thing.
Many cat owners are usually worried that an automatic feeder can make their pets feel abandoned. This is not true; the fact that they are getting food when they are supposed to be the most exceptional level of care you could give. It allows you to do your best without worries, and your pet is undoubtedly going to be healthy and happy.
Owning a cat is not hard. You shouldn’t be worried every time you go to work or hire a pet sitter whenever you are out of town. A couple of strategic decisions is all it takes to make your cat or cats happy in your absence. Buying an automated feeder for both food and water and also purchasing some toys is one of the easiest and fastest ways to accomplish this.
Smart Self Feeder for Cats in a Nutshell
Automatic cat feeders are a must-have not only for cat owners that are away most of the day. This option can work for you perfectly if you would like your cats to have a regular feeding schedule. It is perfectly fine if they don’t adapt to using the feeder immediately. If you don’t give up right away, it will happen. So whether you are planning to take a trip or you want to have a well-fed pet while at work, this is one of the most convenient solutions.
If you were having trouble choosing an automatic cat feeder for your feline, I believe that the guide above has given you a couple of useful pointers. Do you still need some specific advice on what will best suit your scenario? Ask your question in the comment section below. I will compile custom recommendations for you or help you sort it out quickly!
Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
