This is beneficial if you work long hours away from home or if your pet likes to be fed late at night, as you don’t have to be present to feed them. Once your feeder is programmed, it will automatically dispense the correct amount of food into the bowl at the designated times. Most feeders allow you to set six to 10 meal times per day for your pet. Using the scheduling feature, you can select the time of day you want a meal dispensed, as well as how much food should be given. You’re able to create a pre-set schedule for the feeder, typically either using a digital control panel on the unit itself or through a Wi-Fi-connected app. Some cat feeders have dishwasher-safe bowls and hoppers for hands-off cleaning, while others need to be washed by hand.Īutomatic cat feeders are designed to be filled with your cat’s food-many models feature a large hopper for dry kibble, but select units have portioned bowls for wet food. Factors to think about in this regard include how the unit is programmed, how you fill its hopper, and how its components are cleaned. It’s important to select an automatic cat feeder that’s easy for both you and your pet to use-otherwise, it may end up being more of a headache than it’s worth. Just keep in mind that special features typically drive up the price of the feeder, so it’s only worthwhile to select features you’ll actually use. The most common feature is the ability to schedule several automated meals throughout the day, but some feeders offer additional functionality, as well: “Some dry dispensers have a built-in camera and speaker to let you see and talk to your cat, and even dispense a treat with a tap on the feeder's app on your smartphone,” explains Stephen Quandt, a cat behavior consultant. FeaturesĪutomatic models offers a variety of features for you and your pet. If your cat is going to be alone for a longer period, you may need a feeder that has more compartments. Automatic cat feeders for wet food, on the other hand, typically have one or more compartments where you can portion out meals. If you opt for a model with a smaller hopper, you’ll end up needing to refill the container more frequently. Dry food feeders typically have a hopper that can store several days worth of food, but some are larger than others.

SizeĪnother factor to consider as you shop is how much food the feeder can hold. And remember, if your cat eats wet food, it’s important to select a feeder that can keep the food cold: “Cats thrive on wet food, so look for feeders with reliable cold packs that will keep the product fresh for a few hours,” recommends DeVoss. There are both gravity-fed and automatic feeders that you can use with dry cat food, but it’s always important to double-check that the feeder can accommodate the kibble size-otherwise, you may find yourself dealing with regular jams. You can even record a custom message that will play at mealtime, calling your pet to eat.Ĭontributor What to Look For In An Automatic Cat Feeder Food TypeĪutomatic cat feeders are generally designed to be used with either dry or wet food, so you’ll need to choose a model based on your cat’s current diet. It has a slot for a desiccant bag insides its hopper, which absorbs moisture to prevent food from going stale, and it has an airtight seal, as well. One of the unique aspects of this cat feeder is that it’s designed to keep food fresh. The feeder can hold up to 5 liters of dry cat food and accommodate different size kibble, and you can adjust how much food it dispenses at each meal by increasing the number of “portions.” (This can be a little confusing at first-you may need to use trial and error to figure out the best portion size for your pet.) The Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder lets you schedule up to six meals a day for your pet, and its sleek design, which comes in black or white finishes, is easy to tuck into a corner of your home.

Max capacity: 5 liters | Dimensions: 11 x 7 x 7 inches | Weight: 4.19 pounds | Food type: Dry

Microchip dog feeder