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As much as we’d love to spend every waking moment with our cats, sometimes life keeps us from making it home for their regular dinnertime. For the cat parent who works irregular hours (or who’d just like a reprieve from 5 a.m. food-begging), an automatic cat feeder can be a smart investment.
Automatic feeders are safe and practical tools for ensuring our cats (or dogs) are fed on busy days or short periods away—ideally under 24 hours. (For longer trips or vacations, it’s important to get a proper cat sitter.)
Since cats can experience health complications if they don’t eat for over 24-hours—and because we can’t stand the thought of them going hungry—picking the right feeder is essential. Here are some things to consider:
- What does your cat like to eat? Many feeders only work with dry food, so fans of wet food will need to make sure they’re looking at compatible models.
- How many pets do you have? If you’re trying to curb food-stealing, then a feeder that pairs with your cat’s microchip or one that uses RFID technology will work best. These sophisticated feeders only open for designated pets—especially useful for cats on special diets.
- What does cleanup look like? If your goal is to make things easier on yourself (which hey, is kinda the point), a feeder that’s easy to clean is preferable. Look for removable parts that are dishwasher safe.
- And lastly, are you interested in features beyond food-dispensing? Some of these models are pretty advanced. There are WiFi-enabled feeders that allow users to control settings through an app, some can record personal voice messages, and some are equipped with cameras.
Since every cat parent will have a their own wishlist, this lineup features a range of feeders to suit different lifestyles and feline preferences. Here are seven automatic cat feeders worth checking out.
- Best For Dry Food: Petlibro Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
- Best For Wet Food: Cat Mate C500 Feeder With Ice Packs
- Best For Preventing Food-Stealing: PortionPro Rx Automated RFID Feeder
- Best App-Controlled Feeder: WOPET Wi-Fi Enabled Pet Feeder
- Best Luxury Feeder: Whisker Feeder-Robot for Cats and Dogs
- Best Budget Feeder: PetSafe Programmable 5-Meal Feeder
Best For Dry Food: Petlibro Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder (Verified Review)
The Petlibro’s generously-sized hopper can hold up to 25 cups of your cat’s favorite dry kibble. The unit keeps food fresh with an included desiccant bag that absorbs moisture. For ongoing freshness, you can purchase replacement bags (they need to be replaced every month).
Mealtimes and sizes are entered directly onto the feeder’s LCD screen. You can schedule up to four meals per day, in nine customizable portions. If you’re worried about your food-driven cat attempting a kibble heist, you’ll appreciate the Petlibro’s locking mechanism. To open the hopper, you’ll need to press two (human) hands against both sides of the device.
Our reviewers were impressed by the similar Petlibro Granary, which has a few extra bells and whistles but functions largely the same.
What we like:
- Available in 17- or 25-cup food capacity
- Stainless-steel bowl is angled for better neck posture
- Equipped with backup battery in case of power failure
- Users can record 10-second message to announce meals (a comfort for cats with separation anxiety)
What we don’t like:
- Some pet parents found it challenging to program
- Operates on military time (won’t be a problem for most folks, but could be nuisance for others)
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Best For Wet Food: Cat Mate C500 Feeder With Ice Packs
Wet food presents more of a challenge. You want a feeder that keeps things as fresh as possible, and easy cleaning is always preferable. Equipped with dual ice packs, the Cat Mate C500 is ideal for serving canned food safely. Plus the bowls and lid are conveniently dishwasher-safe.
Unlike an upright model that does the measuring for you, this carousel-style feeder requires cat parents to dole out portioned meals ahead of time. While it’s more effort upfront, this approach allows for better precision—an important consideration if you’re trying to encourage a healthy weight.
This feeder runs on 3 AA batteries, which Cat Mate reports will last 12 months. Stainless steel inserts are available if you’d like to upgrade.
What we like:
- Also works with dry food
- BPA-free
- Comes with a 3-year warranty
- Easy, intuitive setup with LCD display
What we don’t like:
- Because it’s lightweight, the feeder tends to move around (using a non-slip mat can help)
- No plug-in power source
- The moving unit might startle nervous cats
- Food in upcoming compartments can be smelled
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Best For Preventing Food-Stealing: PortionPro Rx Automated RFID Feeder
If food-stealing is a problem in your multi-pet home, an RFID feeder might be a good option. According to the folks at PortionPro, an RFID feeder can detect pets at a greater range than the typical microchip-reading feeder. This means it will close to unwanted dinner guests before they have a chance to sneak a bite. Eventually, the guilty party will learn to stop hanging around the feeder and let your cat eat in peace.
Using the provided RFID collar tag, you can sync the PortionPro to a particular cat. The food bowl will only open for assigned pets, and it closes for unassigned pets. However, if you want to use the unit with multiple pets, you’ll need to purchase additional RFID tags.
If only one cat is causing problems, you can probably get away with just a single unit (good news since they aren’t cheap!). But if you’re feeding two known thieves, you may have to shell out for a second model. For cats on expensive prescription diets, this might be a reasonable investment.
What we like:
- Tags are recognized at a distance of approximately two feet
- Large storage capacity (holds two to three weeks of cat food)
- Transparent hopper allows you to see food levels
- Ceramic-coated steel bowl prevents bacteria
- Tags can keep out dogs too
What we don’t like:
- RFID tags are on the larger size (not ideal for very small cats)
- Only works with dry kibble
- Not dishwasher-safe (hopper and food bowl must be hand-washed)
- Only comes with one RFID tag
Best App-Controlled Feeder: WOPET Wi-Fi Enabled Pet Feeder
If you prefer the convenience of operating a feeder from your smart phone, or you want the ability to access settings remotely, a WiFi-enabled feeder is the way to go. For the most part, reviewers consider the WOPET app easy to set up and use. It lets you track your cat’s eating habits and alerts you when food in the hopper is running low.
We like how customizable the Wopet feeder is: users can schedule up to 15 meals per day, in up to 50 portions. So your kitty will get the perfect amount of food to stay healthy.
What we like:
- The app lets you feed your cat any time, any place
- Users can record a personal message
- Dual power supply in case of power outage
- Transparent hopper
What we don’t like:
- Dry food only
- Feeding bowl is plastic
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Best Luxury Feeder: Whisker Feeder-Robot for Cats and Dogs (Verified Review)
Regarded as the Cadillac of automatic cat feeders, the Whisker Feeder-Robot was created by the same folks who brought you the Litter-Robot 3. It costs a pretty penny, but you’ll be getting some neat perks in return. This WiFi-enabled dry-food feeder (capacity 32 cups) lets you control how much food is served, and when, using either manual controls on the unit or an app on your phone.
If you use the app (which we recommend, based on our own testing), you have access to your cat’s eating habits and can receive alerts when it’s time for a refill. You can also treat your cat to a snack with the touch of a button any time you want.
The unit comes with one plastic bowl; you can buy additional stainless-steel or glass bowls that fit the device. Components can be hand-washed or with special cleaning wipes (usable for both the Feeder-Robot and Litter-Robot). Additionally, if you already have the Litter-Robot, you can use the app to operate both devices, streamlining your cat-care routine.
One final note: If spending that much on a feeder gives you pause, the company’s ninety-day money-back guarantee gives you the chance to see if it’s really worth the price ($299 at the time that we wrote this article).
What we like:
- Anti-jam technology
- Plastic is BPA-free
- Holds up to 32 cups of food
- Responsive and helpful customer service
What we don’t like:
- Backup battery will cost you an extra $40 (and will only work for 24 hours)
- Parts needs to be hand-washed
- Dry food only
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Best Budget Feeder: PetSafe Programmable 5-Meal Feeder
Not everyone’s budget can handle a triple-digit pet feeder. This no-frills PetSafe food dispenser is an affordable unit that delivers up to five meals per day by rotating a carousel of pre-proportioned trays on a schedule you set. We like that the tray is dishwasher safe, though reviewers report that a few clever cats have found it easy to manipulate—they figured out how to advance the rotation with their paws.
Note: Though this feeder can house wet food, you’ll want to make sure it’s not sitting out for longer than an hour or so, since the device doesn’t have any capacity for refrigeration.
What we like:
- Suitable for wet and dry food
- Food carousel is dishwasher safe
- Built-in digital clock and LCD display makes it easy to set the timer for meals
What we don’t like:
- Only runs on 4 D-cell batteries
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How We Chose
The feeders featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a deep dive into customer reviews across several retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts. We prioritized feeders with intuitive programming, practical features like ice packs and locking lids, and consistent reliability.
In addition, we considered the various needs of different pet parents, taking into account a range of budgets, goals, and lifestyles. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated cats, who are never stingy with their feedback.
