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Reviewed
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This WiFi-enabled model allows you to set and schedule mealtimes, sharing when your pet has been fed. You can also see, listen to, or talk with Fido. Read More
This feeder is specially designed to suit cats (or very small dogs), with three chilled compartments that hold up to 11.5-ounces of wet or dry food. Read More
It's nice this feeder doesn't rely on electricity - which isn't a given when you're away. Users can schedule up to five feedings, but dry food only. Read More
Holding 1.14 gallons of food at a time, this uncommonly chic feeder has a locking lid, that prevents pets from breaking in. Read More
This highly customizable feeder dispenses up to 24 cups of kibble in 1/8th to four cup increments, Its conveyor belt is designed to prevent food from getting jammed in the hopper. Read More
From the best dog leashes to the best poop bags, here at Reviewed, we're committed to testing our favorite pet products. Here: The best way to feed your pet. While we all recognize the importance of eating dinner together as a family, work commitments, last-minute obligations, and extended vacations often throw a wrench in our schedules. But where does that leave your pup (or kitty)? If you’re running late for supper, he can’t exactly stick a square of last night’s lasagna in the microwave.
That’s where automatic and smart pet feeders come in. By digitally configuring mealtimes (or, when it comes to smart models, using a dedicated app), Fido will receive perfectly portioned amounts of his favorite wet food or kibble at the exact days and times you choose, whether or not you’re around to manually open a can or scoop from a bag.
Has a built-in digital clock with LCD display
Removeable carousel tray is dishwasher safe
Runs on batteries
No option for keeping wet food cold
Not an attractive design
Schedules up to four meals a day
Customizable portion sizes
Pre-recorded messages play during mealtimes
Doesn’t work with wet food
Features can be confusing to use
Customizable portion sizes
“Slow Feed” Option to preventing gobbling and bloat
Locking lid keeps pets from breaking In
Unintuitive settings
Regularly dispenses incorrect amount of food
Six compartment capacity
Plays recorded message during feeding time
Light and portable
Locking Top Difficult to use
Can't keep wet food fresh
Being able to feed your pet whenever you need — whether or not you’re there to do it — is the main reason to get an automatic cat feeder or dog feeder. Look for a model that lets you set the feeding times and portion sizes your pets need. Avoid feeders with pre-set modes that you can't tweak, or that don’t work well with wet food. If your cat or dog eats multiple times a day for medical or other reasons, then look for a model that allows multiple meals to be programmed per day. For pets that gobble their food, look for a design that includes slow dispensing options where the food is released steadily but slowly to keep your cat or dog from gobbling their food.
Some feeders allow for control via app or remote control, letting you make adjustments to your pet’s schedule, food quantity, or meal time on the fly and from a distance — helpful if you’re away from home. Some apps even allow you to get status updates on your pet’s eating and real-time notifications of potential issues.
If your pets are depending on automatic feeders for their meals, you need to know that they’ll work, no matter what. Power outages and emergencies happen, but backup options are the solution: the best automatic cat and dog feeders will have more than one power source, like an AC adapter plus batteries for backup.
If you have more than one cat or dog at home (or more than one of each), look for feeders with dual-bowl or multi-pet solutions. RFID tag integration, available on some models, can even help households with food stealing issues or pets with differing dietary requirements.
If you have a determined and resourceful dog or cat – or just a really hungry one – then you’ll want to make sure the automatic cat feeder or dog feeder pet feeder you choose is made of chew-proof, paw-proof materials (ideally BPA free for the health of your pet) with strong seals.
Keeping the pet feeder clean is critical for the health of your pet, so make sure the model you pick makes it easy. Look for removable, dishwasher-safe components that can be washed and returned to use before the next meal.
Blockages and jams happen, so features that help identify problems like internal blockage or overflow sensors and take action like stopping the flow of food can help avoid waste. And they can also help make sure susceptible dogs and cats don’t get an unexpected all-you-can-eat buffet.
Sarah Zorn
Contributor
Sarah Zorn is a food writer, cookbook author, and product tester for Reviewed, Wirecutter and the Food Network. She regularly contributes to outlets such as Saveur, Esquire, and Civil Eats, and has very much passed her food obsessions down, as her beloved rescue hound, Rowdy, regularly deglazes his kibble bowl.
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