The 10 Best Automatic Cat Feeders of 2018 That Won’t Break the Bank

We’re bringing out the big guns first on this list. These may be far more expensive than just buying a decorative feeding bowl, but they’ve been crafted carefully for a purpose and they can do things we only could have dreamed of a decade ago. The Smartfeeder is more than just a feeding bowl. A tweak here and there and this automatic feeder could qualify as a pet-sitter. This feeder is truly state-of-the-art and can be controlled via Android, iPhone or other smart devices. After speaking to a vet about what’s best for a particular cat, set the feeder to dispense adequate amounts of food at programmed times, then adjust those times easily and control feeding straight from almost any mobile device. Unfortunately, the feeder is only suitable for dry food and does need a standard wifi connection to work. But it doesn’t get much easier and practical than this!

PROS

• Wi-fi ready
• Remote controls and scheduling
• Works with all major OS

CONS

• On the pricey side
• Only works with wi-fi and power
• Only suitable for dry food

Just when we thought we had found the most contemporary feeding gadget out there, we discovered something even better. The Feed and Go Automatic Pet Feeder connects to wifi and works with Android, Windows, and iOS platforms. Aside from food, this feeder can also dispense medication and both wet and dry food, although it isn’t recommended to leave wet food for longer than 24 hours or in hot weather, as the feeder doesn’t have a cooling device.  Pet owners can set a one-time feed or a regular feeding schedule and stalk their pets from their smartphone via the built-in webcam to make sure they’ve eaten and are behaving.  This is definitely the highly useful gadget that every modern pet owner should have.

PROS

• Wi-fi ready
• Remote monitoring with webcam
• Also dispenses medication and wet food

CONS

• Only works with wi-fi and power
• On the pricey side
• No cooler

But there’s more! The Petnet automatic SmartFeeder is not only wifi-ready and comes with the handy Petnet app that can do everything from personalizing portions, automating meal schedules, getting notifications for meals served, when food is low, and even ordering more food via the app and Amazon Alexa. The manufacturers seem to have thought of everything and have included a built-in rechargeable battery and a chew-resistant cable. This is pretty much the smart automatic cat feeder that does it all – from dispensing food and issuing alerts to ordering more food. You may even forget you own a cat! But seriously, don’t forget about your cat. They need some quality time with their humans, not just food at regular intervals.

PROS

• Wi-fi ready
• Option to order food delivery
• Rechargeable battery

CONS

• Only works with wi-fi and power
• On the pricey side
• Requires multiple apps for full functions

Moving on to the low-end of the pet feeder scale. Although this isn’t exactly an automated cat feeder, it may be able to do the job in some cases or when traveling with cats. The Petmate feeder is just a simple food dispenser to make sure your cat is fed when you’re away for time. This is not a great long-term solution and definitely not recommended for making sure cats are not overfed. If your cat is on a special diet, this can be a handy travel solution for a few days, so that you don’t have to lug your state-of-the-art automated, wi-fi ready feeder with you. When using this feeder, make sure to only add a one-day quantity of food to the dispenser, to make sure your cat doesn’t eat more than a day’s worth of food. On the other hand, unlike most of the listed high-tech gadgets, this food dispenser is dishwasher safe – all of it.

PROS

• Dishwasher safe
• Lightweight and portable
• Easy to use

CONS

• No meal planning and scheduling
• No portioning
• No added features

The Cat Mate feeder is nothing fancy and is also on the lower end of the price spectrum, but is perfect for busy pet owners who are away for the day regularly. The feeder comes with two simple compartments that both feature an analogue timer. Each compartment can carry up to one pound of wet food or a little less dry food and features cooler to keep wet food fresh throughout the day. Simply fill the dishes and set the timer for two meals, making sure that your cat gets a diverse diet while you’re at work. Unfortunately, it’s only good for two meals, but will keep the food fresh and is easy to use and clean.

PROS

• Cooler to keep wet food fresh
• Dishwasher safe
• Easy to use and pack for trips

CONS

• Only two meals at a time
• No fancy add-ons
• Analogue timers

This is another WOpet product that we liked, although it’s nowhere close to as impressive as their wi-fi ready Smartfeeder. This feeder, however, is much more practical for travel and can store wet food as well, keeping it fresh for cats with an ice pack. The feeder is only for one meal, but more than one feeder can always be purchased and lined up for several meals. The ice pack is fresh and the timer is not set by the hour, but rather wound up to count down to meal time, allowing meal planning up to 48 hours. The feeder comes in different colors, so lining several up for various meals and different types of meals is easy to organize.

PROS

• Ice pack keeps wet food fresh
• Timer for up to 48 hours of planning
• Easy to pack for travel

CONS

• Only one meal per feeder
• No remote functions
• Must be cleaned/washed manually

With this very practical feeder, you can leave your home secure knowing that your cat will always have the right amount of food. Although not high-tech, the feeder does have a few nifty features, like the capability to record 10-second voice messages that can be played for each feeding. Say a cat is used to hearing voice calling it for meal time because it’s not too keen on food otherwise. Easily program a message to call your cat and make sure it is fed and on time. It also includes meal programming and portion control, all of which makes it great for cats who either don’t eat enough or tend to overeat.

PROS

• Meal planning and portion control
• Voice-recording feature
• Capacity for several days of meals

CONS

• Only appropriate for dry food
• Not portable of handy for travel
• Must be cleaned/washed manually

This pet feeder is the perfect in-between for an affordable automatic feeder that may not have high-tech, fancy features, but makes up for it in practicality. It houses up to five standard meals and can be programmed to dispense preset quantities at scheduled times, which is all an automatic cat feeder really needs to do. It also features both a DC adaptor and battery, solving the problem of most electronic feeders that won’t work when the power is out. If the electricity is out, this feeder switches to battery power and keeps working, with all of the meal settings intact. And, to boot, it is appropriate for both dry and wet food and also has the capacity to record 10-second meal call messages for your pet.

PROS

• Powered by electricity and battery
• LED display for programming
• Serves up to 5 wet or dry food meals per day

CONS

• Not portable or appropriate for travel
• Only works with small kibble
• May dispense different amounts of food

The PetSafe automatic feeder is a great mid-range priced solution for people on the go. It’s very portable, holds five average meals, and can be programmed to dispense meals at certain times. It’s the all-in-one automatic feeder for people who frequently travel with their cat or simply want something that doesn’t take up much room and isn’t complicated to use. It can also be used for dispensing medication instead of food. Cats tend to learn to recognize the sound of the motor dispensing the food quickly, so getting them used to it shouldn’t be a problem, while cats with obesity problems will have their food perfectly measured out for them but won’t go hungry. It only works with batteries, however. The good news is that it doesn’t depend on electricity, but the bad news is that owners will have to keep an eye on the batteries and change them regularly.

PROS

• 5 meal capacity
• 24-hour automatic meal scheduling
• Battery powered

CONS

• No cooler for wet food
• Analogue timer
• Some pets will figure out how to rotate the tray

This feeder is very similar to the TD Design Automatic Pet Feeder and is in the same price range. It’s gotten plenty of raving reviews from users though, so we’re including it as favorite pick. Unlike far too many automatic feeders on the market, it is extremely easy to set up, program, and maintain. Again, this feeder also doesn’t rely on electricity, but it fully battery powered so batteries need to be checked and changed regularly. Aside from that, it’s one of the best solutions for making sure a cat is fed appropriate amounts and on time. Meal portions are pretty flexible and the feeder can hold several pounds of dry food – but only dry food. The feeder features ultra low power consumption and comes with an 18-month warranty.

PROS

• Battery powered
• 6-meal daily scheduling
• Easy to use

CONS

• No remote features
• Larger kibble may get stuck
• No cooler for wet food