Best Automatic Cat Feeders (Updated 2025)
Shortlist for busy readers:
- Overall: PETLIBRO AIR (Wi-Fi) — compact, reliable, great battery.
- Upgrade: Whisker Feeder-Robot — powerful app, big hopper.
- Wet food: Cat Mate C200/C500 (ice packs) or PETLIBRO Polar (active cooling).
- Multi-pet & diet control: SureFeed Microchip.
- Camera: PETLIBRO Granary Camera / WOPET Vision — pick by app UX & privacy.
- Travel/lightweight: PETLIBRO AIR (Wi-Fi or non-Wi-Fi) / PetSafe Six-Meal.
- Large or odd kibble: Feeder-Robot (with insert) / PetSafe Simply Feed (conveyor).
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Top picks by use-case
For wet food (with ice-pack / cooling)
| Model | Type | Cold keeping | Bowls | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat Mate C200 | 2-meal | Ice packs | 2×1.5 c | Travel-friendly |
| Cat Mate C500 | 5-meal | Ice packs | 5×0.4 c | Daily scheduling |
| PETLIBRO Polar | Active cooling | 50 °F target | 1 | App scheduling |
Tip: pre-chill bowls/ice packs; use pâté or saucy chunks to avoid drying.
For multiple cats (stop food stealing)
| Model | Gate method | Capacity | Power | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SureFeed Microchip | ISO chip / RFID | Bowl-level | 4×C | Prescription diets |
| SureFeed Connect | Chip + app | Bowl-level | 4×C | Intake logging |
| Feeder-Robot | App profiles | 25–32 c | Mains + backup | Shared feeder, logs |
With camera (alerts & clips)
| Model | Video | Local privacy | App UX | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PETLIBRO Granary Camera | 1080p | Physical mute/cover | Solid | Check eating |
| WOPET Vision/SmartFeeder | 1080p | Toggle in app | Simple | Budget cam |
| Whisker Feeder-Robot | Activity log | No cam | Excellent | Data over video |
Privacy hygiene: use strong passwords, 2FA, and disable mic/cam when not needed.
With battery backup / off-grid
| Model | Primary power | Backup | Est. life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PETLIBRO AIR Wi-Fi | Li-ion | — | ~30+ days | USB-C charge |
| PETLIBRO AIR (non-Wi-Fi) | Mains | 3×D | Weeks | Offline schedules |
| PetSafe Six-Meal | 4×D | — | ~9 months | Tray style |
For travel
| Model | Weight | Meals/day | Setup | Why pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PETLIBRO AIR Wi-Fi | ~1.3 kg | Up to 10 | App | Compact + battery |
| PetSafe Six-Meal | ~1.3 kg | Up to 6 | On-device | No cords |
| Cat Mate C200 | <1 kg | 2 | Dial | Overnights |
For large/prescription kibble
| Model | Mechanism | Max size | Jam help | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feeder-Robot | Auger + insert | Works w/ insert | Hopper insert | Big hopper |
| PetSafe Simply Feed | Conveyor | Larger pieces | Slow feed | Budget workhorse |
Brand head-to-heads
PETLIBRO Granary vs WOPET (noise, jam rate, bowl hygiene)
| Criterion | PETLIBRO Granary | WOPET (SmartFeeder/ Vision) |
|---|---|---|
| Noise | Low hum | Low–mid |
| Jam resistance | Good w/ round kibble | OK; watch flake shapes |
| Bowl | Stainless option | Plastic/stainless variants |
| App | Mature, clear logs | Simple, basic logs |
| Power | Mains + backup | Mains + backup |
| Choose if | You want quiet + logs | You want budget + cam |
PetSafe Simply Feed vs Cat Mate C500 (wet vs dry)
| Criterion | PetSafe Simply Feed | Cat Mate C500 |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Dry/semi-moist | Wet/dry |
| Portion control | Fine (conveyor) | Pre-portioned trays |
| Ice/cooling | No | Dual ice packs |
| Cleaning | More parts | Simple trays |
| Use-case | Daily dry diets | Wet feeding schedules |
Feeder-Robot vs “SmartFeeder” (app-first trays)
| Criterion | Feeder-Robot | PetSafe Smart Feed (baseline “smart feeder”) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 25–32 cups | ~6L |
| App depth | Advanced logs & CSV | Solid scheduling |
| Backup | Built-in | Add batteries |
| Footprint | Large | Medium |
| Choose if | You want granular control | You want simple smart |
Buyer’s Guide (2025)
What actually matters
- Portion accuracy: ±1–2 tbsp repeatability beats marketing specs.
- Jam resistance: round/medium kibble (≈ 6–10 mm) flows best.
- Bowl hygiene: stainless or glass > plastic; dishwasher-safe parts help.
- Power: mains and backup (AA/D-cell or large Li-ion).
- Notifications: low-food, clog, offline. Local schedule storage preferred.
- Desiccant + seal: slows kibble staling in humid climates.
- Noise & stability: rubber feet, weight, anti-tip geometry.
- Support & spares: bowls, lids, seals available to buy.
Feeding baseline: aim for ~25–35 kcal/lb/day (11–22 kcal/kg), adjust with vet advice.
See our Portion Calculator and Schedules by age.
How-to
Setup checklist (new feeder)
- Wash all food-contact parts; dry fully.
- Update firmware / app; enable 2FA.
- Calibrate portions: run 10 portions into a cup; weigh; set unit size.
- Set 3–4 smaller meals vs one big dump (stomach comfort).
- Add desiccant; fill ⅔ hopper; label bag date.
- Test jam recovery: run a “snack” while gently rocking unit.
- Introduce slowly: feeder next to bowl for 2–3 days; then swap.
Calibrate portions (quick method)
- Dispense 10 portions → weigh grams → divide by 10 = g/portion.
- Convert grams to cups with your kibble density (≈ 90–110 g per cup typical).
Cleaning (weekly)
- Unplug; remove bowl/chute; wash stainless/plastic parts in warm soapy water.
- Wipe hopper interior with diluted vinegar; dry; replace desiccant monthly.
- For wet-food trays: hand-wash, then air-dry; refreeze ice packs overnight.
Fix a jam (dry food)
- Empty hopper top; tap sides; run manual feed; check auger door.
- Remove crumbs at outlet; avoid kibble >10–12 mm or oily treats.
- If frequent: switch to round kibble; reduce portion size; add hopper insert (if available).
Best kibble size
- Round, 6–10 mm flows best. Avoid flat flakes, long cylinders, sticky/oily bits.
Stop food stealing (multi-pet)
- Use SureFeed Microchip (chip/RFID).
- For dogs: rear cover or raised placement.
- Separate zones: cat tree shelf or behind baby gate.
Troubleshooting
- App offline: check 2.4 GHz SSID, disable AP isolation, move feeder within 5 m of router; schedules should run locally.
- Over-dispensing: recalibrate; check for double-tap schedules; inspect chute flap.
- Ants/moisture: add silicone feet tray, use desiccant, wipe spills promptly.
- Noise spike: grain stuck in auger—purge, then vacuum crumbs.
FAQs
What’s the most reliable schedule style?
Multiple small meals (3–6/day) with local storage + battery backup.
Can I feed wet food automatically?
Yes—tray feeders with ice packs (C200/C500) or active cooling (Polar).
Do camera feeders help?
Useful for checking intake; prioritize app stability over video quality.
How big a hopper do I need?
For one cat eating ~½ cup/day, 5 L lasts ~3–4 weeks depending on kibble density.
Will large kibble jam?
Often. Use Feeder-Robot with insert or Simply Feed conveyor, and stay within maker size ranges.