The best automatic cat feeders for your furry friend
If you have a busy lifestyle, a cat can be a great pet. Because cats are independent enough to do their own thing when you're not around. The one thing you do need to be around for though, is feeding time. So, if you plan on being away for a couple days or if you've settled your cat into a meal routine, an automatic feeder is a smart investment.
An automatic feeder will ensure your cat eats on time — and to your schedule — with the right portions to ensure kitty is fit and healthy. Which is reassuring when you're not at home. We can't guarantee that an automatic feeder will mean your cat is chill about you leaving them home alone, but they certainly won't go hungry.
If you're new to the world of automatic cat feeders, here's some information that will help you decide what kind of machine will work best for you and your faithful feline, plus a round-up of the very best automatic feeders available right now.
What is an automatic cat feeder?Let's get the basics under our belt (or collar, perhaps). An automatic cat feeder stores cat food and releases the food at set times, usually controlled by a timer or some kind of smart function. Some feeders can be set to provide once square meal per day, others — as you'll see below — can schedule 10 or more.
Do cat feeders use wet food or dry food?It's a question worth asking before you commit to buying anything. And which type of food does your cat usually eat? Most automatic feeders dispense dry food, which is easier to drop through the automatic mechanisms. Plus, it's easier to clean up after with dry food than wet food. Wet food dispensers do exist but they require regular cleaning and a little more attention overall than dry food feeders.
How long can you leave a cat with an automatic feeder?Ultimately it depends on the capacity on the feeder. Some will hold weeks' worth of food. But automatic feeders should never be a replacement for human interaction. Your feline friend could develop separation anxiety so pick one that suits their needs, such as one that allows you to leave voice recordings — yes, really, they exist — which is great for cats who are not used to being alone for long stretches of time.
Are cat feeders dishwasher safe?Some of them are. If you'll be using the feeder often and have a dishwasher, look for dishwasher-safe containers or bowls so you aren't stuck hand-washing all the bits and pieces. If you're someone who often muddles up feeding times, pick a programmable feeder that will remember for you. If your cat will continue to snack all day long, choose a feeder that dispenses a specific amount of food.
What is the best automatic cat feeder?To help you figure out which cat feeder is right for you, we've researched the best models and made a selection based on the kinds of features that cat owners care about. Whether you’re looking for a basic gravity feeder or a full-fledged product to program perfectly-timed meals, we’ve got the best automatic cat feeder options to fit your needs — and your kitty’s, of course. Just choose the, ahem, purr-fect one.
These are the best automatic cat feeders in 2025.
- Multiple choice programs
- Adjustable portion sizes
- Slow feed mode
- Pet-proof dispensing
- Plug or batteries sold separately
Perfect for all kinds of cat homes, the PetSafe Automatic Food Dispenser allows you to program up to 12 different daily meals, ranging in size from 29ml to 946ml. The large capacity hopper holds up to 5.7 litres of food at a time, which should last your cats a good long while before it needs to be refilled.
It can be used with both dry and semi-wet foods of varying shapes and sizes. One standout feature that cat owners will love is the slow-feed option. This mode dispenses your cat’s food over a period of 15 minutes, which helps prevent your kitty from binge eating. There’s also an immediate feed button that allows you to give your cat a little snack between mealtimes.
It comes with a bowl and stand, but you can also use it with your kitty’s favourite dish. The pet-proof dispenser keeps prying paws out, and keeps the food fresh. The majority of the parts are dishwasher-safe on the top rack for added convenience when it comes time to wash the unit.
- Capacity: 5.7 litres
- Food Type: Dry and semi-wet
- Power Source: Battery/adapter
- Scheduled Meals : Up to 12
- App controlled
- Multi-meal scheduling
- Adjustable portion sizes
- Big capacity
- App can be tricky
- No empty alert
If you like the idea of being able to remotely monitor and dispense your feline companion’s meals, look no further. The PetSafe Smart Feed can be programmed to dispense up to 12 meals daily, while a generous capacity of 5.7 litres means you don’t have to refill it too frequently.
The feeder is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, and allows pet parents to monitor their kitty's feeding from anywhere through its WiFi connection. In the event of a power failure or the feeder somehow going offline, the battery backup will continue to dispense food for your kitty. Many of the components are dishwasher safe, which makes things easier all round.
The locking lid and child lock feature also help to keep tricky cats from sneaking extra food. A Slow Feed option is perfect for cat who scoff their food too fast, while Feed Now gives an extra bite as a treat.
- Capacity: 5.7 litres
- Food Type: Dry and semi-wet
- Power Source: Battery/adapter
- Scheduled Meals: Up to 12
- For two cat homes
- 48 timer
- Ice pack for wet food
- Tamper proof
- Steel bowls sold separately
- No additional features
For a relatively low price, the Cat Mate Feeder is a clever little gadget that will keep your cat(s) both happy and fed at a schedule of your choosing. It has a 48-hour timer that you can set to open the feeder whenever you want.
This isn't a high-tech model, but the Cat Mate has an edge over more expensive options: It comes with a little ice pack, so you can keep wet food fresh.
If you’re a one cat home, you can alternate between the bowls — one bowl for wet food, one bowl for dry food. Technically, it’s made for a two-cat household, with a feeding bowl for each. Whether or not your cats will each stick to their own bowl, of course, is usually an unsolvable problem with this kind of feeder. But the Cat Mate comes with a bonus lid link that ensures both sections open simultaneously, allowing both cats to feed at the same time.
One bowl and three bowl versions are also available, as well as stainless steel inserts — but these are sold separately.
- Capacity: 0.8 litres
- Food Type: Dry and wet
- Power Source: N/A
- Scheduled Meals : 2 per day
- Digital display & timer
- Sealed compartments
- Twin ice packs included
- Tamper proof design
- Regular refilling required
- Not much else
Pet parents can enjoy all the convenience of a multi-meal cat feeder — and at a reasonable price tag — thanks to the Cat Mate 5 Meal Feeder.
It features five chambers which can hold up to one cup of food each. Because of its covered, spinning design, it can be used with both wet and dry foods. And it comes with twin ice packs to keep wet food nice and fresh.
All you need to do is fill up the chambers and set the meal schedule in the digital timer. The lid then spins around automatically, giving your cat access to their food portions at the correct times. There’s also a three-meal version available if your pet doesn’t require as many meals. The only issue is that the chambers are smallish (330g of food each) so it will need fairly regular filling.
Because of its compact, lightweight design, this feeder is great for when you have to travel with your pet and want to keep their regular schedule. The feeder is also built to be tamper-resistant, preventing mischievous cats from pawing out extra food. And a dishwasher-safe food tray makes for easier cleanup.
- Capacity: 0.4 litres
- Food Type: Dry and wet
- Power Source: Battery
- Scheduled Meals: Up to 5
- RFID-controlled
- Collar tag included
- Sealed lid stops tampering
- Wet and dry food
- Can’t feed multiple meals
- Small capacity
If you have more than one cat that requires a prescribed diet — or perhaps you have a problem with other people's cats wandering in and eating your kitty's dinner — the SureFeed Microchip Feeder could be the one for you. It makes sure the correct kitty is fed the correct food.
It’s super high-tech, and uses a RFID collar system to only dispense food to the correct kitty (especially important when you have more than one). It is also compatible with any implanted microchip for added convenience. This way, they get their special food, while any other pets are access-denied.
It’s also an excellent choice if your cat requires medications to be dispensed during the day. The lid is sealed at all times other than when they're feeding, so it keeps flies, ants, and other yuckies off your cat’s food. It's also ideal for serving up wet cat food without it drying out.
If you want to spruce up your cat’s mealtime further, there are optional accessories available including coloured bowls and mats. The batteries should last for up to four months of daily use, and the low battery indicator will let you know when it’s time to change them.
- Capacity: 5.9 litres
- Food Type: Dry and Wet
- Power Source: Battery
- Scheduled Meals: N/A
- Easy to set up
- Food levels can be seen
- Rubber feet keep it secure
- No timer features
- Feels cheap
If you left an entire box of chocolate chip cookies around your friends, odds are that there wouldn't be any left by the time you came back. If your friends were cats, they'd love this for all the wrong reasons: There's always food on offer.
However, if your cat has a little self-control and doesn't over-eat — and you're looking to save cash — this AmazonBasics Pet Feeder is ideal.
This product is not technically automatic. Instead, it's self-dispensing, which will still make sure that your cute cat-friend doesn't go unfed. Plus, the design makes it easy to set up and clean. It's also purr-fectly priced.
- Capacity: 2.7 litres
- Food Type: Dry
- Power source: N/A
- Scheduled Meals: N/A
- Smart app control
- Set schedules & portions
- HD night vision camera
- Two-way speaker
- Large capacity
- A bit pricey
- Portions are quite big
- No wet food
If you want a cat feeder with more bells and whistles than the entire pet store, check out the PETLIBRO Granary Smart Cam Feed. This smart feeder can do all sorts, from app control to live video.
Equipped with a 1080p HD camera, this feeder is great for keeping an eye on kitty via the app. Not just because you miss their whiskery face but so you can monitor their eating habits. It uses motion detection technology, which begins recording when your cat starts to eat. Watch in real time or save the recording. It even has night vision and AI capabilities, which recognises your cat activities.
You can set meal times and portions via the app (up to 10 meals a day and a range of portions sizes) and even call your pet via a two-way speaker. Or you can set a 10-second feeding sound, so they know it's dinnertime.
- Capacity: 5 litre
- Food Type: Dry
- Power Source: Battery/adapter
- Scheduled Meals: Up to 10
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