As we embrace the summer outside we're heading off on day trips more than ever, so an automatic pet feeder could be your saviour especially 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 at the beach or somewhere that isn't pet-friendly. You simply set meal timers to feed your pet promptly, this can be done even when they want to be fed early in the morning before you've even got 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, they can just about do it all nowadays. These features can help a lot with calming your pet when you are away and help ensure they are sticking to specialised diets.
We’ve got some great tips to help you choose the perfect automatic pet feeder for your furry friend, no matter how big or small they may be. Plus, our hand-picked selection of the best automatic pet feeders you can purchase right now. Not to mention you can pair it with a handy pet water fountain so that all bases are covered.
What to look for to find the best automatic feeder for your pet
To find the very 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 for. A two-meal feeder will work best for just a day at a time. If you plan on being ‘away’ for longer and have someone coming in to check on your pet to make it easier on them look for a larger capacity and a number of portions so they know they just need to top it up.
Size
The capacity you decide on will also have to feed into the size of the automatic feeder itself too. 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 dog, 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 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.
Best automatic pet feeders
Automatic pet feeders are suited to both cats and dogs, we've separated the list into two sections for each animal as well as some options for your fish, guinea pigs and rabbits. 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 once in that time period or enlist a family friend or dog sitter to supervise your beloved furry best friend.
Best automatic pet feeders for cats
1. SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
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This automatic pet feeder isn't only great for providing food while away, but it's also great 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 programme 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.
Specifications
Capacity: 400ml
Portions: 1-2
Food type: Wet or dry
Power: Battery powered 4 x C cell
Suitable for: Small, medium and large-sized cats & small dogs
Pros: Microchip sensor, great for multiple cat households
Cons: Need to spend time training cats to adapt
Review: "Thank goodness we found this selective entry cat feeder. It's the only thing that has stopped our greedy kitten from eating our other cats' food at every opportunity. It is very simple to use and does exactly what it claims to do."
2. PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder
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The PETLIBRO cat feeder has 6 programmable meals a day with up to 50 portion settings per meal to customise the diet to your pet. The programmes are easy to set with the inbuilt LCD screen and the feeder is easy to clean with a removable tank and tray. The dual power supply 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. Help comfort them, call them, and bond when you're not there.
Specifications
Capacity: 3L
Portions: 50 portion settings (20ml per portion), 1-6 meals a day.
Food type: Dry
Power: 5V DC adapter and battery-powered 3 x alkaline D-cell
Suitable for: Small and medium-sized pets
Pros: Durable, sturdy, simple set up, voice recording
Cons: Portion sizing tricky, dispensing is slow
Review: "It's a great product exactly as described, easy to use and does the job! Would like more meals but for what it is it's definitely worth the money!"
3. Cat Mate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder
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Never feel guilty again about missing your beloved pet's mealtime when you're out of the house. The Cat Mate C500 has a four-meal carousel with a timer to allow for rotation and access to meals at set times. Schedule the meal times with the digital timer and keep hungry paws at bay with the tamper-resistant lid. With an inbuilt twin icepack, food stays fresh.
Specifications Capacity: 330g per portion
Portions: 4
Food type: Wet or dry
Power: Battery powered 3 x AA
Suitable for: Cats, kittens, small dogs, puppies
Pros: Carousel dispenser, freezer blocks to keep food fresh, easy to clean
Cons: Very lightweight needs a non-slip mat, needs more ice packs
Review: "This is a fantastic product. We've only had it for about a week but already our cat doesn't moan for food at night, and we've gone from four meal preps to one (except he now gets five meals which is healthier for him) so everyone's happy."
4. Cat Mate C3000 Automatic Pet Feeder
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This Cat Mate model carries the same perks as the other Cat Mates on this list, but with the added capacity of a large 3kg dry food hopper and an easy-to-use LCD screen. The snap-lock lid is anti-tamper and the specially designed nozzle closes at the end of each feed cycle to prevent any prying paws. The food stays sealed and fresh within the hopper and every component is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
Specifications
Capacity: 3kg
Portions: 3 portions a day.
Food type: Dry
Power: Battery powered 4 x C cell
Pros: Durable
Cons: Batteries are expensive, loud dispenser
Suitable for: Cats, small dogs and puppies
Review: "This is an excellent feeder, we were going on holiday for 2 weeks and didn't want to put our cat in a cattery, so it was an ideal solution - obviously we had someone pop in and check on him every couple, of days as you never want to leave them solely on their own! We used Purina biscuits and the device worked perfectly, we are still using it now!"
Best automatic pet feeders for dog
1. PAWISE Automatic Pet Feeder
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Schedule meals up to 48 hours in advance for convenience and peace of mind in this BPA-free plastic feeder. Simply fill the feeder trays with food, set the timer and you're good to go! The provided ice packs can also sit under the trays to keep your pet's food fresh for longer.
Specifications
Capacity: 1.5 cups per portion
Portions: 2
Food type: Dry or wet
Power: Battery power 1 x AA
Suitable for: Cats and dogs
Pros: Ice packs included, simple to use
Cons: No low battery indicator, timing isn't 100% accurate, basic
Review: "I bought 2 single feeders as my cats don't like eating right next to one another. They both worked fine and let the cats be fed early in the morning (and let me stay asleep a little longer!). Easy to wash the bowls."
2. PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
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With smartphone programming, you can control your pet's mealtimes from anywhere! With the free smart app, you can set up to 12 meals to feed on your pet's schedule, set flexible portion sizes, 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. This pet feeder is great for giving you peace of mind.
Specifications
Capacity: 5.6L
Portions: 1-12 portions a day with variable settings
Food type: Dry
Power: AC power adapter and battery power 4 x D-cell
Suitable for: Cats and dogs
Pros: Sturdy, accurate timer
Cons: Expensive, wifi connection sometimes drops, food dust may cause build-up, portion size in ml not grams
Review: "We've had this for about a week now, and it's been an absolute saviour. Both myself and my other half sleep really badly and take a long time to get back to sleep when woken up and so having the cat automatically fed a little bit before he would usually try to wake up and bother us is amazing."The timer is spot on, and although the measurements are in 1/8 cup increments, if you can work out what you'd usually feed a cat through the day, weigh that, and then weigh a 1/8 cup portion from the machine, the calculations are simple if your cat eats all the things in sight as ours does."
3. PetSafe 2 Meal Automatic Feeder
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Help prevent overeating and portion control with this 2 meal pet feeder. Schedule meals up to 24 hours in advance and set them to 30-minute intervals with the simple-to-use dial. The removable tray is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and the tamper-resistant lid will stop any hungry puppy-dog eyes.
Specifications
Capacity: 330g per portion
Portions: 1-2
Food type: Dry or wet
Power: Battery powered 1 x alkaline AA
Suitable for: Cats and dogs
Pros: Affordable, quiet, easy to clean
Cons: Schedule timer fiddly
Review: "This is the second one of these I've owned, and I couldn't be without it. It means my fur baby gets fed regularly (she knows the times and sits and waits for the whirr of the containers turning!) It is secure (she can't get into it) and stable. It is simple to use, super easy to clean and means she gets fed in time even if I'm late home from work."
4. Trixie TX2 Automatic Food Dispenser
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In a similar design, this stylish automatic food dispenser comes with a 49-hour timer to set mealtimes and 2 ice packs which make this a great option for wet and dry food. If you're away for a long day, this gadget will ensure your pet is well-fed and at the right times whilst avoiding overfeeding.
Specifications
Capacity: 300ml per portion
Portions: 1-2
Food type: Dry or wet
Power: Battery powered 2 x AA
Suitable for: Cats and dogs
Pros: Sturdy, timer setting up to 48h, ice packs
Cons: Timer constantly on, doesn't a large amount of food
Review: "Bought one of these after browsing through loads of different options and reading a lot of mixed reviews. Our cat is always ravenous, and we were concerned he'd be able to break in early, but he had no such success."This is sturdy, simple to use and has never let us down. This is actually the second one we bought after great success with the first so that we could leave our cat with 4 meals for when we have 2 nights away, as the timer allows you to set it up to 48h."
5. Lacyie Automatic Cat Feeder
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Your pup can enjoy all the delicious foods with this automatic pet feeder. With six trays for dry and wet food (and ice pack space for freshness) you can provide your furry companion with regular quantitative meals and a non-slip mat to keep the feeder firmly in place. To ensure safety, the food tray will stop rotating when your pet's paws are sensed in the tray and settings can be easily configured with the LCD display.
Specifications
Capacity: 6 equal meal sizes
Portions: 1-6 a day
Food type: Dry or wet
Power: Power adapter and battery power 3 x C cell
Suitable for: Cats and dogs
Pros: Sturdy, sensor to stop feeding
Cons: Batteries don't last long, only interval timer not specific times
Review: "I can leave for a couple of days without worrying about who is going to feed my always-hungry cat as this guy does the job super well. Even if I leave for longer and get a cat sitter, it is much easier also for her as she does not have to come in at specific times to feed the beast!! :) Amazing job and I'd say it's a very good value!"
Best automatic pet feeders for other smaller pets
1. Podazz Automatic Aquarium Fish Feeder
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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 this automatic fish feeder. With a top-opening design, you can easily add 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 to 4 times a day.
2. Youyijia Automatic Pet Feeder
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This automatic feeder hasn't just been recommended for cats and dogs but smaller furry friends too including guinea pigs and rabbits. This automatic pet feeder is divided into six independent compartments, which will remain open until the next set feeding time. At the next set mealtime, the dishes will cycle to the next tray full of food. After completing six meals, simply remove the food tray, clean it, and refill the equipment.