The best automatic pet feeders for regular mealtimes in 2024

Keeping your furry friend well-fed has never been easier.

best automatic pet feeders

by Rosie Floyd |
Updated on

As we embrace time away from home and head off on more day trips, the best automatic pet feeders could be your saviour, even if you're running late and haven't got a pet sitter booked in. An automatic pet feeder is perfect if your furry friend has to be fed at regular intervals and you're out somewhere that isn't pet-friendly. You simply set meal timers to feed your pet promptly with their favourite cat food or dog food. This can be done even when your pet wants to be fed early in the morning before you've even gotten out of bed.

Some of the best automatic pet feeders are now super smart. From installed cameras (so you can check they're ok by themselves) to app control so you can schedule the times your pet gets their dog food or cat food. Automated pet feeders can just about do it all nowadays. These features can help a lot with calming your pet when you're not at home. Plus, they can help ensure they are sticking to specialised diets, especially if they are a more senior pet.

Best automatic pet feeder at a glance:

• Best automatic pet feeder overall: PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder – View on Amazon UK
Best automatic pet feeder for microchipped pets: SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder – View on Amazon UK
• Best automatic pet feeder with camera: PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder with Camera – View on Amazon UK

We’ve got some great tips in our FAQs section to help you choose the perfect automatic pet feeder for your furry friend, no matter how big or small they may be. However, the main features to look out for in an automatic pet feeder are the capacity and portion size, the overall size of the feeder, what type of food it can be used with and how easy it is to use. Are you looking to feed more than one pet with your feeder? Can your feeder work with wet food or just dry food for your dog or cat? These are all important things to consider. It's also worth bearing in mind that most require batteries that aren't included, so don't forget to add those to your shopping list too.

We've put together a hand-picked selection of the best automatic pet feeders you can purchase right now. Most are suited to cats and small dogs, though we've included some larger options (and a fish option!) too.

Best automatic pet feeders

Best overall

PETLIBRO Automatic Cat FeederPetlibro
Price: £75.99

The PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder has six programmable meals a day with up to 50 portion settings per meal to customise the diet for your pet. While it's a little tricky to set up initially, the programmes are easy to set going forward with the inbuilt LCD screen, and it'll remember your settings, even when you unplug it. The dual power supply - USB and batteries - means you're not at risk of the feeder not working if there's a power outage. This nifty gadget also comes with a voice recorder so you can call your pet to mealtimes with a 10-second voice recording, though some reviewers thought this was a bit of a gimmick and not all that useful.

Overall we love the sleek design of this pet feeder which we'd happily station in our homes - and customers agree. They found it to be a sturdy, reliable solution to keep their furry friend fed while away. Their main concern was the ease of cleaning - unfortunately, the PETLIBRO doesn't come with cleaning instructions, and some found cleaning the base of the main cylinder not the easiest task.

Pros

  • Durable and sturdy design with a weighty base - no risk of being knocked over
  • Simple to programme
  • Fail-safe power system so it won't stop working if there's a power cut while you're away

Cons

  • Cleaning the tank can be tricky
  • Some found the voice recording to be a bit gimmicky as the noise of the food dispensing was enough to call their pets
Dimensions19 x 29 x 20 cm
Capacity3 litres
Portions50 settings, 20ml at 1-6 times a day
Food TypeDry
Power5V DC adapter and battery-powered 3 x alkaline D-cell
Suitable forSmall and medium-sized pets

Best automatic pet feeder for microchipped pets

SureFeed Microchip Pet FeederSureFeed

Rrp: £199.00

Price: £164.09
Alternative retailers
Walmart$16.00View offer
Petco$192.99View offer
Tractor Supply$199.99View offer

This SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is not only great for providing food while away, but it's a fab option for households with multiple pets. The feeder reads a pet's microchip as it approaches and if the correct pet is detected the lid opens before closing again when they move away. Great for preventing other pets from stealing food or for targeting pets on special diets, this device is easy to program with the push of a button. Food stays fresh in the sealed bowl and this pet feeder comes with a single and split bowl for separating wet and dry food.

Customers found pets were quick to understand how to use the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder, even without the training mode, and it proved to work extremely well at ensuring only the right pets got access to the food. As it's battery-operated, it can be sited anywhere in the home but reviewers have found this is best suited to smaller cats. Large cats or cats with spinal issues may be uncomfortable eating through the microchip reader.

Pros

  • Prevents food stealing with a microchip sensor
  • Great for multiple cat households - can store up to 32 pet IDs
  • Suitable for wet and dry food - the lid keeps the food fresh

Cons

  • May be uncomfortable to use for larger pets
Dimensions21 x 23 x 21 cm
Capacity400ml
Portions1-2
Food TypeWet or Dry
PowerBattery-powered 4 x C cell
Suitable forSmall, medium and large-sized cats and small dogs

Best automatic pet feeder with camera

PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder with CameraPETLIBRO

Keep an eye on your furry friend as they chow down with the PETLIBRO Automatic Feeder with Camera. It’s equipped with a 1080P HD camera with a 145-degree wide-angle lens that connects to Wi-Fi, so whether it’s dinner time or not, you can check in on your beloved furry bestie wherever you are via an app on your Smartphone. It also has a built-in microphone and speaker so you can also talk to them, so you can encourage them to eat, tell them you won’t be too long or anything else to bring them some comfort when you’re away from home. As a pet feeder, it has a five-litre capacity and you can easily set up 10 meals per day via the app to keep your pet’s feeding schedule consistent.

Customers appreciate the addition of the camera on this pet feeder as they could check up on their pet whenever they’re out of the house and talk to them too although some experienced connectivity issues of the device to their Wi-Fi router so they couldn’t then see their pet while out and about. As a feeder, hundreds of customer reviews mention how fantastic it is, they found it easy to set up and they like that they can control and set up feeding schedules straight from the app.

Pros

  • Equipped with a 1080P HD camera so you can see your furry friend during mealtimes and beyond
  • Mealtimes can be scheduled via the app
  • Built-in microphone and speaker so you can talk to your pet wherever you are

Cons

  • Some customers experienced connectivity issues with the camera to their Wi-Fi
Dimensions‎19.6 x 19.6 x 35.8 cm
CapacityFive litres
Portions50 settings, up to 10 times a day
Food TypeDry
PowerMains powered, 1.5m USB-C power cable
Suitable forSmall and medium-sized pets

Best automatic pet feeder for keeping food fresh

Cat Mate C500 Automatic Pet FeederCat Mate
Price: £59.99
Alternative retailers
Walmart$11.00View offer
Petco$59.99View offer

We mentioned that the SureFeed pet feeder was good at keeping food fresh, but the Cat Mate C500 goes to the next level. Not only does the five-meal carousel keep food sealed, but it also has an in-built twin ice pack for extra freshness. You simply need to set the digital timer to allow for rotation and access to meals at set times to keep hungry paws at bay. Another stand-out feature for reviewers was the tamper-resistant lid. Not all pet feeders are successful in keeping pets away from the grub, but many customers have found pets haven't been able to hack the other sections - without a lack of trying.

With over 12,000 reviews on Amazon giving this an average of 4.4 stars, this feeder is a favourite with cat owners who found it wasn't only good for their pet, but good for them too. It's easy to clean (you can put sections in the dishwasher), easy to refill and reliable. That being said, some thought it was a little loud when dispensing (though this shouldn't be an issue if you're using it for when you're out).

Pros

  • Freezer blocks to keep food fresh
  • Easy to set up and refill
  • Easy to clean - components can go in the dishwasher

Cons

  • Can be a little loud
Dimensions31 x 30 x 9 cm
Capacity330g
PortionsFour
Food TypeWet or Dry
PowerBattery-powered 3 x A
Suitable forCats, kittens, small dogs, puppies

Best for food tank capacity

Cat Mate C3000 Automatic Pet FeederCat Mate
Price: £59.99
Alternative retailers
Walmart$11.00View offer
Petco$59.99View offer
PetSmart$59.99View offer

From the same makers for the C500 comes the C3000 Automatic Pet Feeder that is more akin to the PETLIBRO in design, if less stylish. With a huge 3kg capacity dry food hopper, customers found they could feed their pet for up to a month before running out of kibble, making it specifically helpful for jet-setters or anyone wanting to make sure their pet is consistently fed. They also thought this pet feeder was robust and sturdy so there was no fear of it being knocked over by larger cats.

Much like the Cat Mate C500, every component (except the base) is dishwasher-safe, making it much easier to clean when the time comes around. And you can keep prying paws at bay thanks to the anti-tamper snap-lock lid - ideal for keeping a greedy puss from eating all the goods. While it's easy to assemble, some found the initial setup a bit complicated on the LCD due to the weak instructions.

Pros

  • Sturdy, robust design - no risk of being knocked over
  • Large capacity, suited to those wanting to set up and leave
  • LCD control with digital timer

Cons

  • Some found the setup complicated due to the not-so-great instructions
Dimensions21 x 21 x 37 cm
Capacity3kg
PortionsThree - Daily
Food TypeDry
PowerBattery-powered 4 x C cell
Suitable forCats, small dogs and puppies

Best single-meal automatic pet feeder

PAWISE Automatic Pet FeederPawise
Price: £16.99

If you don't need anything fancy and just need to tie your pet over while you're away during the day, the Pawise Automatic Pet Feeder is an affordable option to have on standby. Allowing you to schedule meals up to 48 hours in advance for convenience and peace of mind, it's operated with a simple timer dial that reviewers found really easy to operate - no complicated instructions over here! It can hold up to 1.5 cups of food and thanks to the ice pack provided that sits under the tray, it can be dry or fresh wet food.

Customers found this particularly helpful for midday treats or scheduling for hungry pets while out at work. They loved how easy it was to use and clean - thanks to the dishwasher-safe bowl - however a lot of reviewers have advised taking the batteries out when not in use. It saves battery power and, as there's no way to turn it off, stops the timer from continually ticking.

Pros

  • Can use with wet and dry food
  • Easy to operate - just a simple timer dial - and easy to clean thanks to dishwasher-safe parts
  • Can schedule meals up to 48 hours in advance for your convenience

Cons

  • Timing isn't 100 per cent accurate as it's done by hours
  • You'll need to remove the batteries to turn this off
Dimensions24 x 13 x 7 cm
Capacity1.5 cups per portion
PortionsTwo
Food TypeDry or Wet
PowerBattery power 1 x AA
Suitable forCats and dogs

Best automatic pet feeder for smart features

PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat FeederPetSafe

Everything has an app these days, so why not get a pet feeder with one too? It's more pricey compared to others on our list but comes with a bunch of benefits. With smartphone programming, you can control your pet's mealtimes from anywhere with the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder. With the free smart app, you can easily set up to 12 meals to feed on your pet's schedule, set flexible portion sizes, and receive alerts when the food level is low and when your pet has been fed. There's even a Slow Feed setting to dispense meals in small amounts over 15 minutes for pets who tend to eat too quickly.

Described as a 'game-changer' by some pet owners, they've found this has solved the issue of needing to recruit a neighbour to feed your pets while away from home. The bowl is a good size for a dog or multiple cats (you can add your own bowl if you like too), and the feeder itself is sturdy, preventing any curious pets from getting into the feeding tank or knocking it over. The only issue some customers flagged was the portion sizes; they found it took a bit of trial and error to perfect while others felt it wasn't as accurate as hoped.

Pros

  • Intuitive app for programming home and away
  • Excellent for dogs or households with multiple cats
  • Customise scheduled meals, portion sizes, and get updates from the machine - great for ensuring your pet has food and has eaten

Cons

  • Some issues with portion sizing - it may take some time to perfect
Dimensions34 x 26 x 40 cm
Capacity5.6 litres
Portions1-12 portions a day with variable settings
Food TypeDry
PowerAC power adapter and battery power 4 x D-cell
Suitable forCats and dogs

Best budget automatic pet feeder

PetSafe 2 Meal Automatic FeederPetSafe
Price: £22.99

With a design very similar to that of the Pawise Automatic Pet Feeder, the PetSafe instead serves two meals for nearly the same price. You can schedule meals up to 24 hours in advance with the simple-to-use dials, so you can schedule one compartment to open at a different time than the other. Much like the Pawise, each of the removable trays is dishwasher-proof and can be filled with dry food or semi-wet food. However, unlike its counterpart, the PetSafe doesn't have a cool pack section, so that's something you may want to bear in mind.

Reviewers have raved about its value for money and how simple and reliable it has been for them and their pets so far. They've found it useful for meals, treats, medication, and even feeding bunnies. The only thing they'd change, aside from the lack of a cool pack, is for there to be an 'off' switch. Again, like the Pawise, you'll need to remove the batteries to close the compartments when not in use.

Pros

  • Good value for money
  • Easy to operate - just a simple timer dial
  • Easy to clean - parts are dishwasher safe

Cons

  • You'll need to remove the batteries if you want to close the compartments when not in use
Dimensions26 x 7 x 22 cm
Capacity330g per portion
Portions1-2
Food TypeDry or Wet
PowerBattery powered 1 x alkaline AA
Suitable forCats and dogs

Best two-meal automatic pet feeder

Trixie TX2 Automatic Food DispenserTrixie
Price: £23.99
Alternative retailers
Walmart$20.07View offer
Lowe's$28.14View offer
Wayfair$29.20View offer

If you like the sound of a two-meal automatic feeder like the PetSafe option above, but want the ice pack that comes with the Pawise, you've found it in this food dispenser. The Trixie TX2 comes with a 49-hour timer to set mealtimes with space beneath both compartments for ice packs to keep dry and wet food fresh as can be. Again, you get a simple timer dial to schedule your fluffy friend's meals and it's easy to clean too with the dishwasher-proof trays.

Due to the rotary timers, the Trixie is a little loud (especially with the two-compartment timers running simultaneously) which may not be ideal for sensitive pets. And, like its counterparts, it suffers the same issue of needing the batteries to be removed when no longer in use to stop the ticker from continuing. That being said, reviewers found it was particularly good for cats, with two pouches fitting easily in one tray, and it was surprisingly sturdy for the price.

Pros

  • Sturdy build, good for preventing pet break-ins!
  • Can use with wet and dry food - ice packs maintain freshness
  • Easy to operate - just a simple timer dial - and easy to clean thanks to dishwasher-safe trays

Cons

  • You'll need to remove the batteries to turn this off
  • Most described the ticking as quite loud
Dimensions27 x 24 x 1 cm
Capacity300ml per portions
Portions1-2
Food TypeDry or Wet
PowerBattery-powered 2 x AA
Suitable forCats and dogs

Best for fish

It's not just our furry friends that need feeding. If you have fish in an aquarium or tank, you can keep them fed with the Podazz Automatic Aquarium Fish Feeder. With a top-opening design, you can easily add the feed to the device with a large 200ml capacity. Fill with fish food including flake feed, pellets and powder and use the display to set your feeding times up to four times a day.

Reviewers felt it was easy to install, and there are in fact two ways you can do so to suit your fish's habitat best. They found it was reasonably easy to programme though it took a little trial and error to work out how much to dispense at once. This is best suited if you have lots of fish - even on the smallest setting, some found it had the potential to pour too much, especially with granular fish food.

Pros

  • Easy to install
  • Ultra-large capacity to contain all variations of fish food

Cons

  • Some reviewers had difficulty setting up the portion sizes - it would be best suited to tanks with a number of fish
Dimensions16 x 12 x 9 cm
Capacity200ml
PortionsUnspecified.
Food TypeFlakes, crisps, pellets etc.
PowerBattery-powered with 2 x AA
Suitable forAll life stages of pet fish

How we chose the best automatic pet feeders

All of these automatic pet feeders have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered the ease of use and set-up, scheduling options and quality in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching automatic pet feeders to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.

With pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval. And, with help from veterinary experts, we share their knowledge to ensure everything we choose is paw-fect for your pet.

Our verdict: What is the best automatic pet feeder?

In our opinion, one of the best automatic pet feeders is the PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder. It is a little tricky to set up to begin with but once you’ve got the initial work done, it’s super easy to use with settings to schedule up to six meals a day and 50 choices of portion sizes so you can make sure your furry friend is eating the right amount at the right time. It’s also equipped with a voice recorder so you can use a 10-second clip of your voice to call your pet to mealtimes.

Best automatic pet feeder FAQs

What to look for to find the best automatic feeder for your pet

To find the best automatic feeder for your pet and their needs, we’ve highlighted some key features to look out for:
Capacity and portion size
Capacity will be an important feature to look out for before buying. You’ll need to consider how long you anticipate being 'away' from the device and how long you'll need to keep your pet fed. A two-meal feeder will work best for just a day at a time. If you plan on being ‘away’ for longer have someone coming in to check on your pet to make it easier on them. Look for a larger capacity and several portions, so they know they just need to top it up.
If you've got a pooch that requires dog weight-loss food or a cat that needs to watch what they eat, you'll want to look for an automatic feeder that can be set to serve them their exact portion size to avoid them piling on the pounds.
Size
The capacity you decide on will also have to feed into the size of the automatic feeder itself. You will need to ensure the device is suitable for your pet as well as your home/living area in general. Depending on the size of your pet, you will need to take into account the size of the bowl, height and portion hold. For larger breeds of dogs, you will look for a taller height and deeper bowl. And for a smaller dog or cat, the more compact models will work just fine.
Food type
Some automatic pet feeders have been designed for use with dry dog or dry cat food only. If your pet’s diet consists of wet food or a mixture of both dry and wet, you’ll be looking out for an automatic pet feeder that'll allow this without risking the feeder's performance.
Ease of use
On top of being easy for your pet to feed from, the automatic feeder should be easy for you to use, too. You'll need to be able to easily configure the settings for the necessary timings, the number of meals and portion sizes for your pet and have an interface that is easy to understand when it comes to low-food or power alerts.

When should you use an automatic pet feeder?

Automated pet feeders aren't a replacement for you or a pet sitter. You should only really use one when being away from your pet at their routine mealtime is completely unavoidable.

How long can I feed my pet with an automatic feeder?

We don't recommend leaving any animal alone for more than a day with an automatic pet feeder.
Cats must be checked on if you are going to be away longer than 24 hours, and dogs at least twice in that period of time or enlist a family friend or dog sitter to supervise your beloved furry best friend.

Are automatic pet feeders worth it?

If you’re looking for convenience and consistency in your furry friends' feeding schedule while also working around your busy lifestyle or irregular working hours, an automatic pet feeder will definitely be worth it. You can make sure your beloved pet is fed at regular intervals while also making sure you’re feeding them the same amount every meal time, which is ideal if you need to be strict with portion control.
That being said, there is a lot of maintenance and monitoring that goes into using an automatic pet feeder to make sure it’s all working how it should, so you’ll need to keep checking in with it to make sure your pet never misses a meal. Ultimately, whether an automatic pet feeder is worth it will all depend on you and your pet’s circumstances but for those times where we can’t help but not be around for our pet’s dinner time, they certainly come in handy.

How long do automatic feeders last?

How long your automatic pet feeder will last will all depend on the feeder you choose. Most will hold enough for around a week. However, keep in mind that the amount and frequency you feed your pet and how many pets are using it will mean you’re using the food inside a lot quicker.

Can I put wet food in an automatic feeder?

Not all automatic feeders are designed to be used with wet food but there are some that are so make sure to double-check the specs before you buy to make sure. Wet food won’t stay as fresh as dry food in an automatic feeder, so you’ll only really be able to use it for one meal’s worth to ensure your furry friend doesn’t get sick from spoiled food.

How often should I clean my automatic pet feeder?

How often you should clean your automatic pet feeder will depend on the type of food you’re using in it. If you’re using it with wet food, you’ll probably want to clean it out after every use to stop harmful bacteria from growing. For automatic pet feeders that are exclusively for dispensing dry food, you’ll want to give them a clean-out every week or two to clean out any stale food dust and keep it nice and fresh inside.

Rosie Floyd is a Senior Home & Pets Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us