We all know that cats are independent creatures. Having a cat does give the cat owner a bit more freedom than the average dog owner due to this, but they do still need our assistance with some things!Though they may believe they can handle the world on their own, they do need our help when it comes to filling up their food bowls. The best way to ensure that your cat is eating while you are at work, has plenty of food on your weekend away, or attempting to track their food intake is through the addition of an automatic cat feeder.
In this article we’ll dive into the the benefits of an automatic cat feeder, factors to consider during your purchase, and the best brands that are delivering quality automatic feeders !
Quick Review: Top-3 Automatic Cat Feeder
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Bestseller #1
The Pet Safe Healthy Pet Gravity Feeder
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Bestseller #2
Fairy Tale Automatic Feeder
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Bestseller #3
WOPET Pet Feeder
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What is an automatic cat feeder?
An automatic cat feeder is a food bowl that does a lot of the work for you! Based on which type of automatic cat feeder you choose your cat feeder can release more cat food as their bowl begins to dwindle, can release food based on a set timer, and can even speak to your cat or watch them as they eat when you are away.
There is an array of automatic cat feeders available for dedicated cat owners, all of which help to stay on top of what’s going into your cat’s food bowl. An automatic cat feeder helps to take care and keep track of your furry friend’s meals, so you can focus on the TLC that they deserve.
Gravity Feeders vs. Timed Feeders
When it comes to automatic cat feeders, there are two different options to choose from. Depending on your life and your cat’s eating habits, you can choose between gravity feeders and timed feeders. We’ll explain the differences for you.
Gravity feeders: Gravity feeders work by using gravity to fill up your cat’s bowl as it empties. These feeders pull kibble from a reserve that is stored above the bowl, and allows the kibbles to fall down to be eaten as their bowl empties. While this is a wonderful way to make sure your cat is fed for up to 2 weeks without adding more kibble, this can be less than ideal for cats that are overweight or are known to eat too much. Since it is not electronically powered or controlled, this bowl will allow your cat to eat as much as they want, whenever they want. This can be a wonderful option for younger cats that do not struggle with their weight, but can be risky for others.
Timed feeders: Timed feeders are meant for the cat owners that would like to keep their cats on a feeding routine. These feeders can be set to release their food at certain times, and can even control the amount of food they release. This is a wonderful option for cats that overeat, cats that are on a diet, or cats that need to eat at certain times throughout the day for medical reasons.
How is an automatic cat feeder beneficial?
Like we mentioned before, cats are independent creatures. Though we limit their hunting abilities when they are confined to our home, they are well suited to take care of themselves when needed. We do of course need to offer a well balanced diet for our cats to thrive in our homes, but we don’t have to be available to offer them their meals twice a day every day.
Automatic feeders are a way for your cat to keep a bit of their independence, while letting you have a bit more freedom as well. When you use an automatic feeder to feed your feline friend you are automatically giving yourself more freedom within your day. Your mind can be eased with the fact that you know your cat will have plenty of food available to them at all times as long as you set up your automatic feeder accordingly.
And even if you are home and available to feed your cat at all times, an automatic feeder still takes the daily task of feeding your cat off your plate. No matter your life or your schedule, an automatic cat feeder can offer you and your cat more freedom within your home.
Factors To Consider In An Automatic Cat Feeder
Since there are multiple options when it comes to automatic cat feeders, you’ll need to be aware of what factors matter most to you. Each feeder has its own set of tools to offer you and your furry friend, so you can find something that works perfectly for your situation!
Some factors to consider in your purchase include:
Timer: If your cat is used to eating at a certain time each day, then you should focus on an automatic cat feeder that has a timer option. Most feeders allow you to set at least 2 meal times each day, but some can offer up to 6 meals a day. If you weren’t already impressed, many of these automatic cat feeders allow you to choose their portion size per meal as well.
Gravity vs Timed: Gravity feeders will release food each time your cat’s bowl begins to empty, while timed feeders will release a set amount of food at certain times each day. Gravity feeders do not give you as much control over the amount of food that your cat consumes, while timed feeders give you complete control.
Batteries vs. cord: Gravity feeders do not require any batteries or electrical power since it releases food using gravity, but timed feeders will need some sort of power source. These feeders are either powered using an electrical cord that is plugged into an outlet, or by using battery power. Each option is entirely up to you based on your life and routine.
Voice recording: Some automatic feeders allow you to interact with your furry friend. Since many cat owners go out of town or go away to work during the day, these types of feeders allow you to call your pet over when it’s time to eat, tell your cat you love them throughout the day, and even watch them on camera to make sure they’re eating.
Wifi features: If you do choose to purchase a feeder that allows you to check in on your cat throughout the day, it will likely have to be hooked up to wifi. If you do choose to go with one of these specialized feeder options you will need to make sure you have a dependable internet connection.
Now that you know which features you need to look for in an automatic cat feeder, let’s dive into the details of the products we trust!
Brands With The Best Automatic Cat Feeder
With a task as important as feeding your feline friend, you’ll need to choose a cat feeder that you can trust. We know this can be daunting, so we’ve put together a list of the brands that we trust to feed your cat while you’re away! The brands with the best automatic cat feeders are:
- WOPET
- Pet Kit
- HICTOP
- Feeder
- Fairy Tale
- Zento
- Pet Safe
- XIAPIA
- Bergan
Now let’s dive into the product breakdown on the 10 best automatic cat feeders for your furry friend.
Best Cat Feeder Product Breakdown
- WOPET Pet Feeder
Pros
- Can schedule up to 6 meals a day
- Can hold up to 4 lbs of food
- Allows you to choose your desired portions
- Has a cord for electric power, but also uses battery back up if there’s a power outage
- Simple LCD screen for set up
Cons
- This feeder is designed for dry kibble only, so it won;t work for cats that eat strictly wet food.
- Pet Kit Automatic Feeder
Pros
- Can schedule up to 10 meals per day
- Can control your cat’s meal portions
- Hooks up to your WiFi and allows you to interact with this feeder through an app on your phone
- Has an app that connects you to other pet owners that use this device
- Continues to release meals even if the WiFi fails in your home
Cons
- This feeder will only work if you have WiFi in your home
- HICTOP Automatic Feeder
Pros
- Allows you to record a short message to call your cat over for their meal
- Offers up to 4 meals each day
- Let’s you control the portion of food that’s offered
- Runs on plug in power, but can use backup battery power if needed
Cons
- We could not find a single bad review for this impressive automatic cat feeder!
- WOPET Pet Feeder
Pros
- Lets you schedule up tp 4 meals per day
- Allows you to control the portion of food offered at each meal
- Lets you record a custom voice message to call your cat over for their meal
- Runs on wall power or battery power
- Can hold up to 20 cups of food
Cons
- This feeder only supports dry kibble, not wet food.
- Dr. Feeder Camera Feeder
Pros
- Allows you to interact with your cat with the HD camera and microphone, letting you speak to them through the feeder and watch them through the camera
- Let’s you capture adorable moments through the camera and save them to your phone
- Can schedule up to 4 meals per day
- Allows you to control portion size of each meal
- Plug and battery powered
Cons
- You must have WiFi in your home for this feeder to work
- Fairy Tale Automatic Feeder
Pros
- Does not rely on electricity since it is a gravity feeder
- Dispenses food as your cats bowl begins to dwindle
- Can hold up to 5-7 days worth of food before refill
- Non skid rubber base to prevent sliding
Cons
- Since it is gravity controlled, you cannot control meal portions
- Zento Automatic Pet Feeder
Pros
- Uses gravity to fill their bowl, so you don’t need electricity
- Dispenses food as your cat eats from the bowl
- Can hold up to 3.8L of food in the top storage
- Easy to clean
- Rubber bottom to prevent sliding
Cons
- Since it is gravity controlled, you cannot control meal portions
- The Pet Safe Healthy Pet Gravity Feeder
Pros
- Uses gravity to fill their bowl, so you don’t need electricity
- Dispenses food as your cat eats from the bowl
- Can hold up to 4 lbs of food in the top storage
- Air tight lid to keep food fresh
Cons
- Since it is gravity controlled, you cannot control meal portions
- XIAPIA Automatic Feeder
Pros
- Uses gravity to fill their bowl, so you don’t need electricity
- Dispenses food as your cat eats from the bowl
- Can hold up to 1 gallon of food
- Easy to clean
- Designs prevents this feeder from sliding
Cons
- Since it is gravity controlled, you cannot control meal portions
- The Bergan Gourmet Feeder
Pros
- Uses gravity to fill your cat’s bowl, so no electicity is required
- Can store up to 6lbs of dry kibble
- Air tight seal keeps food fresh
- Easy cleaning since each part of the feeder breaks apart easily
Cons
- Since it is gravity controlled, you cannot control meal portions
FAQ
Can you use wet food with an automated feeder?
While most automated feeders are made for dry kibble, you technically can use wet food as long as the food will only be in the feeder for 6-8 hours tops, and if the feeder has an airtight seal. If wet food will be in the feeder for any longer than 8 hours it can result in bacteria growing within the food, causing your pet to become ill if it’s consumed. You will also need to be sure to clean these compartments in the feeder thoroughly after wet food has come in contact with the feeder, as wet food can leave grease and debri behind.
How many meals should you schedule for your cat each day on your feeder?
This answer will vary from cat to cat. Ideally, you should offer your cat at least 2 meals a day at a minimum. This will help to keep them full throughout the day and help them avoid gorging on their food when they are only offered one meal a day. You can offer them as many meals a day as you’d like as long as the total amount of food offered each day is within a recommended food amount for their weight range and age.
