Best Automatic Cat Feeders for 2023

A personal favourite of ours here at Petz, the SureFeed Microchip Feeder is possibly the simplest solution if you aren’t there to manually feed your pet.

Your cat’s microchip opens the lid of the feeder, so they can come and eat as they please. If you have issues with one cat eating the food of the other, this can solve the problem. Only the assigned microchip (cat) can open the dish, and it is nice and easy to connect the two.

So, you can spot any issues if one of your cats is not eating enough, as no other cat can get to the food.

It can hold both wet and dry food if you use two dishes, and there is a handle to make it easier to lift up. You can even label the handle so you know which is which.

If your cats are on specific diets, it helps keep their food for them only.

It is nice and quiet for shy cats and the bowls can be washed by hand (not in the dishwasher).

When they’re done eating, the food is completely sealed to stay fresh, so don’t worry about the lack of an ice pack.

Yes, it is pricy, but it is also the best for less hassle.

This automatic feeder will disperse a set amount of dry food into your cat’s dish at chosen times, so they always have food ready when they need it.

Up to three individually sized meals, from 10g upwards, can be scheduled daily from the 3kg storage container. So, you can give them a small meal in the morning, and a larger one at night once they’ve returned home from a busy day of birdwatching outside.

With an anti-clog feed mechanism, it won’t grind to a halt and become trapped with food, so if you are away overnight you don’t have to worry about them going hungry. Then there is an anti-tamper nozzle and secure fastening lid on the container, so even the craftiest of cats dip their paws in.

Your cat may learn at which times the food is dispensed and be ready for it, getting them into a regular meal schedule. This could be ideal for regulating dinnertimes or for ensuring your cat always returns home after a wander.

We found the “easy to use LCD display” hit the nail on the head and the 4 ‘C’ batteries should last between 6 and 9 months depending on usage.

Need an automatic feeder for wet food? With the C500, you are able to plan ahead for five different meals and set the electronic timer to revolve the lid and allow access at certain times.

It can house dry food too, in case they require alternate feeding. Inside are twin ice packs which help to keep the food as fresh as possible, and there is also a very tight seal between the lid and servings so no air gets in.

Once it is all set up, you can view the planned feeding schedule on the LCD screen. Each section will hold up to 300g of food, and everything is easy to clean and dishwasher safe so can be kept sanitised in between uses.

The three batteries should give over 12 months of use, so there will be no worry of it running out of steam when you aren’t there to intervene. The fact that it can be placed anywhere was a big plus, and we tested it both inside and out and it worked just fine.

It is the newer digital version of the Catmate C50, and much easier to use in our opinion.

This really clever feeder will allow you to schedule, monitor and adjust your pet’s feeding schedule remotely via the user-friendly smartphone app.

The app is free, so it is just a case of connecting the feeder to your home WiFi. Then, schedule the feeding from anywhere. So, if the trains are a nightmare getting home from work, schedule the feed remotely. It means you don’t have to think about planning ahead.

The feeder holds 24 cups (5,678 ml) of dry or semi-moist food. You will be alerted on the app when they are fed, when the bowl is empty and when the storage is empty. It will also stick to a programmed schedule if the Wi-Fi connection is lost.

You can schedule up to 12 meals at a time, and the Feed Now option can allow you to give them their dinner outside of the scheduled time. There is also a Slow Feed setting so the food can be dispensed in smaller portions over a 15-minute period, for cats who eat too fast.

Our favourite thing about this feeder was that the settings can be overridden – perfect if plans change. Ideal for shift workers, busy social butterflies or simply anyone who loves their tech.

Five sections in this dish will allow you to plan ahead for meals, or time medication and cat treat schedules.

The slots in the bowl hold up to 200g each of dry or semi-moist food and an LCD screen lets you see what is planned. The AM and PM settings are clearly separate so you won’t accidentally feed them at the wrong time.

When it is all done, the top dish is dishwasher safe so all traces of food and any germs can be cleaned away. It will only accept dry food so might not suit everyone, and you can only set the times for over a 24 hour period so you can’t use it over the space of a long weekend. We still think plenty of people out there will benefit though.

This feeder has six separate food dishes for various feeding times so you can control the amounts your cat is eating throughout the day.

But what makes it different to all the other automatic feeders on the market then? Well – you can record a personal message for your pet, which will help when you aren’t there and let your cat know when it’s time for food in a comforting, soothing manner. The built-in clock with an easy to read LCD screen ensures no human error in setting the timings, too.

A low battery indicator will give you peace of mind that it won’t suddenly run out unexpectedly, and the whole thing comes apart for easier cleaning. It’s appropriate for dry food only.

There’s also a choice of colours so you can match it to your kitchen decor!

An infamous brand when it comes to all things pet products, this Trixie bowl is two-sided so you can feed two cats.

There are two ice packs for keeping food fresh, and it works on a 48-hour timer. You can use wet or dry food, and the timer ensures that both sides open at the same time. Or, you can programme them to open separately if you are just feeding one cat but want to control their portions a bit more.

The non-slip rubber feet will keep it sturdy on slippery flooring, and the whole thing is easy to clean thanks to the plastic construction and large trays.

It would be ideal for anyone who has long, unpredictable days at work and can’t rely on somebody to feed their cat.

Able to open three times per day, and allowing you to portion meal sizes for individual feeds, this feeder is good if you’re going to be away for the night.

Each portion can be up to 240g, and six can be prepared. The solid lid will prevent cats from breaking in, and you can use wet and dry food.

There is also a button cover so your pet can’t adjust the controls unwittingly while pawing at it. The TX6 will warn you when the battery is running low, and it is all easy to clean.

For cats and small dogs, this feeder has an LCD screen which makes things easily programmable and easy to get correct.

Set the time, and measure out how much is needed, and you can rest easy knowing that your cat will eat. The two dishwasher-safe trays each hold up to 355ml of dry food, and they are BPA free.

You can set them 24 hours in advance, so it is a good bowl to have if you occasionally stop out for some after-work drinks or are on the late shift. Our only niggle is that the bowls are square, so it can be hard for the cats to get all the food out and to wash them.