Best Automatic Cat Feeders
Automatic feeders keep portions honest, take the 5am wake-up out of cat ownership, and matter medically for cats that need small frequent meals. Here's how to choose one.
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1. Best overall: programmable dry-food feeder
Look for at least 4 meals a day, 1-teaspoon portion increments, and a locking hopper lid — determined cats defeat cheap lids in a weekend.
2. Best for wet food: refrigerated or ice-pack feeder
Wet food can't sit out all day. Ice-pack compartment feeders bridge a working day; check the seal quality, as a bad seal means spoiled food.
3. Best for multi-cat homes: microchip feeder
Reads your cat's microchip and only opens for them — the only reliable fix when one cat steals the other's food or needs a prescription diet.
4. Best budget: gravity feeder with portion control
No electronics to fail, but only suitable for cats that self-regulate. If your cat is food-obsessed, spend more on a programmable feeder.
5. Backup power matters
Whatever you buy, check for battery backup — a feeder that dies during a power cut while you're away defeats the purpose.
Last reviewed: · By the Cat Ate It editorial team