There is a host of benefits that come from using an automatic pet feeder. It becomes your companion to ensuring that your pet is fed on time while you attend to your other important tasks whether at home or outside. It is a great investment for pet owners who are busy yet cannot live without their furry home buddies.
Never miss a feeding schedule
In essence, you can program an automatic feeder to dispense food during your dog or cat’s appropriate meal times. You can set a schedule daily or during the days when you are out of your house the whole day or for a quick errand.
Just make sure that your pet is familiar with how the automatic pet feeder works. If you are anticipating a trip, give him enough time to get acquainted with the pet feeder by using it instead of his food bowl. Observe his reactions and try to adjust food schedules that will satisfy his hunger while not indulging him too much.
Implement a diet
An automatic pet feeder is also a great way to get your pet into a proper diet regimen. For example, a slow feeder dog bowl will only dispense a precise amount of wet or dry food and only during scheduled meal times. Some models are made to dispense only small kibbles to refrain from overfeeding your pets.
A timed cat feeder ensures that mealtimes are properly implemented and that portions are also controlled.
Less spoilage, less mess
Since it only dispenses the right amount of wet or dry food that your pets can or need to consume per meal, most of the time, the bowl is wiped clean. This means the food has fewer risks of spoiling and there might be little mess, too, during meal times. Compact automatic pet feeder models have smaller food storage spaces so you will frequently have to refill them, therefore, food is always fresh.
A cat feeder or dog feeder is a good investment for pet owners. To help you decide, we reviewed some of the most rated and popular automatic pet feeder models on Amazon. And here are our top 3 picks.
Best Automatic Pet Feeder for Your Furry Home Buddies – (Comparison)
| Name | Key Feature | |
| Sure Petcare -SureFlap – SureFeed – Microchip Pet Feeder – (Editor’s Choice) | With Training Mode to help pets ease up first | Check Price |
| SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect – Requires Hub (Sold Separately) | With integrated scale for precise food portioning – accessible and can be controlled via the hub and your smartphone | Check Price |
| Whisker Feeder-Robot – WiFi-Enabled, Automatic Pet Feeder | Comes with Wi-Fi connectivity so you can control its settings remotely via a mobile app | Check Price |
Sure Petcare -SureFlap – SureFeed – Microchip Pet Feeder – Editor’s Choice
This automatic pet feeder only opens the bowl lid for the pet the food is assigned to. This is great for pets on a strict dietary regimen to avoid overfeeding or when taking medicines along with food. The technology uses microchips and sensors so that the pet can be detected automatically, triggering the sensor and then opening the food bin so your pet can help himself with less intervention on your end.
This automatic cat feeder can also be beneficial for households having multiple pets. It helps defer the larger or more dominant pets from eating food that isn’t theirs. You can also designate their own feeding schedule for each pet. Designate a microchip for each pet that the automatic pet feeder will recognize when it’s already their feeding schedule.
The Sure Petcare –SureFlap – SureFeed – Microchip Pet Feeder, just like other automatic pet feeders, should be introduced to your pet gradually so he can maximize its purpose, especially when you will not be around. With that, this automatic pet feeder comes with a Training Mode. In this setting, it will help your pet can get acquainted with the lid closing by letting him familiarize himself with it in stages. This is helpful so your pet will not be intimidated by the noise and avoid the feeder. When you feel that your pet is already used to it, you can proceed to use the Normal mode.
This microchip cat feeder and dog feeder already comes with one lightweight RFID tag for your pet, which can fit any collar. You can also purchase more tags as needed, say you want two or more pets to use the feeder and turn it into a dog and cat feeding station. But then ideally, each pet should have its own automatic pet feeder so they can all use them at the same time and eat together.
The Sure Petcare -SureFlap – SureFeed – Microchip Pet Feeder is also made to keep food fresh by retaining moisture with its neoprene lid. The lid also keeps the food odor from lingering in the air, keeping your home fresh as well. With this, you can pre-load it with food ahead, at you’re your convenient time, even before handing it down to your pet.
This automatic pet feeder comes with a set of bowls – one single and one partitioned bowl. It also comes with a mat to contain spills. You can also purchase more bowls, which other users do so they can already prepare another set ahead for the next pet to eat. It works on 4 C batteries.
Pros
- With Training Mode to help pets ease up first
- Already comes with one RFID tag
- With neoprene lid that seals food moisture to keep it fresh longer and to keep the odor out
- Comes with a set of bowls – partitioned and single
- Can hold both wet and dry food – up to about 10 ounces
Cons
- Other pets can still steal the food from the back or on the side while the “legit” pet eats
Conclusion
The most notable feature of the Sure Petcare -SureFlap – SureFeed – Microchip Pet Feeder for me is the Training Mode. The stages are well-designed to help your pet ease up with this automatic pet feeder.
SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect – Requires Hub (Sold Separately)
This automatic pet feeder will only work with the hub, which you need to buy separately. I am reviewing the complete automatic pet feeder system and not just this feeder connected alone.
The advantage of plated automatic pet feeders like the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect – Requires Hub (Sold Separately) over pet feeder dispensers is that you have complete control of the portion sizes. It avoids mishaps of dispensing more than it does, or your pet figuring out how it will dispense more. This automatic pet feeder is also the best choice for pets that need to take meals with medication or in precise portions.
This microchip pet feeder comes with an integrated scale to help you portion the food more accurately. All you have to do is sync it to the hub, and then to your smartphone. Download the Sure Petcare app, set the portion size, and then fill the bowl up to the correct portion size.
The automatic pet feeder‘s integrated scale comes with LED lights that let you know when the correct portion size is already reached. It can hold up to a maximum of 13.5 ounces of wet or dry food at a time.
The app also informs you of how many times your pet visited the bowl. It can also remind you when is the last time your pet ate so you do not overfeed or double feed him just in case. It also lets you know how much your pet ate, or if there’s anything left on the bowl and how much. These insights can help you understand your pet’s feeding routine and habits, or observe his progress in a new diet or from medication.
The portion control is helpful for pet owners who are following a strict meal regimen for their pets with conditions or are currently on medication. Also, pets tend to be overfed, with a few more kibbles a day than they should eat can lead to weight gain in a few months or a year.
Aside from the precise portioning feature, this SureFeed microchip pet feeder also utilizes microchips that help prevent other pets to eat the special food inside. An RFID on your pet’s collar communicates with the microchip on the auto cat feeder, and only opens the lid when it approaches, and automatically closes it when the pet goes away. This also helps prevent bigger and other pets from stealing your pet’s food.
This automatic pet feeder runs on 4 pieces of C batteries that usually last up to 6 months. Again, remember to buy the hub to complete the system and make it work.
Pros
- With integrated scale for precise food portioning – accessible and can be controlled via the hub and your smartphone
- Runs on microchip technology – lid only opens when the pet that wears the right RFID tag comes near; closes when it goes away
- Sure PetCare app sends insights about your pet’s feeding habits
- Can hold up to a maximum of 13.5 ounces of wet or dry food at a time
- Comes with 1 single bowl and 2 half bowls
- Multiple SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connects can run on a single hub
Cons
- Dishes are positioned too low for some pets
Conclusion
The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect and Hub system provide you with useful insights about your pet’s eating habits, as well as helps you keep on track with a strict diet regimen or medication. I also like that multiple Connects can use the same hub, centralizing the control.
Whisker Feeder-Robot – WiFi-Enabled, Automatic Pet Feeder
If you want something that requires minimal intervention and control on your end, then a pet food dispenser is what you need. This automatic pet feeder can dispense precise amounts of food on your assigned schedule, which can be helpful for pet owners going on trips or are mostly away from home.
The Whisker Feeder-Robot – WiFi-Enabled, Automatic Pet Feeder is not just your normal automatic pet feeder as it comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows you to control it and monitor pet habits remotely. With the Whisker app on your mobile phone or tablet, you can designate feeding schedules and assign portions per feeding. You can also monitor the food level, track feeding times and frequency, or reward your pet with a small snack. You can do all of these even when you are not at home with your furry best friend.
This cat and dog food dispenser comes with a food storage container that can hold up to 32 cups of dry or semi-wet food at a time. You can also choose from its multiple feeding modes that suit your pet’s dietary requirements. It also comes with two dispenser options for precise feeding portions.
Since this dog and cat food dispenser is automatic, you tend to leave it by itself every day. The good thing is it is equipped with anti-jam technology that prevents missed meals. It also has backup detection, and you can also monitor the food level via the app so you’ll know when to refill it.
The Whisker Feeder-Robot – WiFi-Enabled, Automatic Pet Feeder also comes with a backup battery so your automatic dog feeder stays on schedule. This automatic pet feeder also comes with a removable plastic bowl for easy cleaning and maintenance. The overall build looks durable and well-made; pet-friendly even. The cord is chew-resistant, the lid is tamper-proof, and it is not easily knocked down. It is made of BPA-free plastic.
You can also avail of its 90-day trial. A purchase comes with an 18-month warranty.
Pros
- Comes with Wi-Fi connectivity so you can control its settings remotely via a mobile app
- The Whisker app allows you to monitor pet habits, check food levels, set a feeding schedule, assign food portions, check feeding history, give a snack, etc.
- Comes with multiple feeding modes
- equipped with anti-jam technology
- With two dispenser options
- with a removable plastic bowl
- With backup battery
- Chew-resistant cord, tamper-proof lid, made of BPA-free plastic
- With a 90-day trial and 18 months warranty
Cons
- Cannot dispense wet food
Conclusion
If you want more convenience when it comes to keeping up with your pet’s feeding schedule, you can take advantage of Whisker Feeder-Robot – WiFi-Enabled, Automatic Pet Feeder’s features.
Final Verdict
An automatic cat food dispenser is a valuable companion to keep your pet’s dietary schedules on track. It is a useful investment for pet owners.
I admit I was torn between the 3 products on this list as they all have their own advantages. But for me, the best automatic cat feeder is the Sure Petcare -SureFlap – SureFeed – Microchip Pet Feeder.
The Sure Petcare -SureFlap – SureFeed – Microchip Pet Feeder has a Training Mode that helps your pet ease up on the automatic pet feeder. Sometimes, users complain about not being able to maximize their investment because their pets are too afraid of the feeder. With the Training Mode, you can give ample time and assistance to your pet as he eases up to his new feeding buddy.