The best automatic pet feeders, with tips on how to choose the best feeder for your pet

The way to your pet's heart is through its stomach. Any pet owner will know the power of a treat, the excitement that feeding time brings, and how managing your pet’s eating schedule is vital for their health and wellbeing. Investing in an automatic pet feeder is the perfect way to manage a busy schedule while always prioritising the needs of your furry friend.

Pet feeders come in all shapes and sizes, from simplistic designs to high-tech gadgets. Whether you're a dog person or a cat person (or any other kind of pet person), you’re sure to find a pet feeder to suit your needs, and we are here to help.

The Recommended has scoured the internet to find the best feeders to suit every need. From automatic designs to smart feeders, we've covered all bases and have pulled together our top picks to help you shop smarter (you’re welcome).

The best pet feeders at a glance:

• Best multiple-meal pet feeder: PetSafe 5 Meal Pet Feeder
• Best smart feeder: PetSafe Smart Feed Pet Feeder
• Best for multiple pets: Cat Mate C200 2 Meal Automatic Pet Feeder
• Best for cats: Cat Mate C3000 Automatic Pet Feeder
• Best with water dispenser: Hipidog Automatic Pet Feeder
• Best affordable dispenser: Ferplast Azimut 1500 dispenser
• Best large pet feeder: HoneyGuaridan Automatic Pet Feeder
• Best feeder with a camera: PETLIBRO Automatic Pet Feeder
• Best microchip pet feeder: SureFeed Automatic Pet Feeder

The best pet feeders

Best multiple-meal pet feeder: PetSafe 5 Meal Pet Feeder

Meal prep for pets

This pet feeder can hold up to 5 meals worth of food at one time and can store both wet and dry food. It allows pet owners to manage food portions to best suit their furry friend and is equipped with a timer function, helping pet parents maintain a feeding schedule when life gets busy.

It has a large capacity and spins around to allow one meal to be served at a time. It is made for use by both dogs and cats, with four D batteries providing the automatic functions. It weighs just 1.8kg, so is easy to store and transport.

Best smart feeder: PetSafe Smart Feed Pet Feeder

Tailored meal plans

This smart pet feeder can be controlled via a mobile app and allows you to adjust timing, portions and feeding modes to suit your pet’s needs. It allows for a reliable, hands-off user experience and will send alerts to your phone when food levels are low, and the feeder is empty.

It comes equipped with an anti-jam mechanism for ease of use, and you can get notified when your pet has been fed. The meals can be set up to follow a schedule so pets are still fed when the Wi-Fi connection is lost, or the feeder is offline.

Best for multiple pets: Cat Mate C200 2 Meal Automatic Pet Feeder

Easy to clean

This battery-powered pet feeder features a simplistic design and can hold up to 2 meals for convenient, daily use. The pet feeder is equipped with removable dishwasher-proof feeding trays for easy maintenance and is tamper and fly-proof for enduring quality.

It also has an optional lid-link clip, perfect for feeding two pets at once. It needs one AA battery which will power the feeder for around a year. An ice pack can even be inserted into the feeder to keep the food fresh for your pet.

Best for cats: Cat Mate C3000 Automatic Pet Feeder

Tailored feeling

This automatic pet feeder can hold up to 3kg of food and features a programmable LCD control with a digital timer. It is best suited to cats and small dogs and features a unique internal mechanism that ensures accurate and consistent meal sizes.

It is equipped with a dishwasher-proof bowl for easy maintenance. Its big capacity means it can hold up to a month of food for the average cat and can portion servings from two teaspoons upwards. It requires four C batteries.

Best with water dispenser: Hipidog Automatic Pet Feeder

Fed and watered

This set of automatic pet feeders features both a food and water dispenser to meet all your pet’s needs. it uses a gravity-feeder design to automatically and consistently replenish food and water for your pet, so no batteries or power is needed.

These products are made with anti-jam and anti-leakage designs using springs to let the water and food out in the right portions. They are also made of durable wipe-clean materials for easy maintenance.

Best affordable dispenser: Ferplast Azimut 1500 dispenser

Simple design

This affordable pet feeder features a simplistic, intuitive design and is made with durable materials for long-lasting quality. It works using gravity and has a clear plastic food tank which is removable and easy to clean for convenient maintenance.

The removable tank is also equipped with a graduated scale, designed to control portions in line with your pet’s needs. The bottom of the dispenser is made with feet and non-slip rubber that makes it more stable while your pet uses it.

Best large pet feeder: HoneyGuaridan Automatic Pet Feeder

Personalised voice recording

This large automatic pet feeder is equipped with a built-in voice recorder, allowing you to record a 10-second message letting your pet know its feeding time. The pet feeder holds up to 6.5L of food and is equipped with a 2-way feeder allowing you to feed 2 pets at once.

It has stainless steel bowls which are removable and easy to clean for convenient maintenance, and the anti-block sensor works to ensure seamless, reliable use. It is plugged in, and you can also add in four D batteries that will work as backups if the power stops for any reason.

Best feeder with a camera: PETLIBRO Automatic Pet Feeder

Keep an eye on them

This wifi-enabled smart pet feeder features a 1080P HD Camera, helping you keep an eye on your pets when you’re out and about. Built-in motion detectors and smart notifications alert your phone to low food or battery levels, and the anti-block infrared sensor ensures seamless, reliable use.

This pet feeder features 2-way audio and a personalised meal call function and can be controlled via an app on multiple devices. It is powered by cable and has 5 litres of capacity to store your pet’s food which is sealed in a tank which is sealed to keep freshness.

Best microchip pet feeder: SureFeed Automatic Pet Feeder

For multi-pet homes

This pet feeder is designed to stop your pets from stealing each other's food and corresponds to your pet's existing microchip. It can also work using one of the provided collars, which the machine recognises and can use to differentiate between your pets.

When the machine recognises each pet, it opens up a flap to let it eat. It features a sealed bowl design for long-lasting freshness and offers up to 6 months of battery life using four C batteries. It is made with durable plastic and wipes clean for easy maintenance.

Pet feeder buyer’s guide

Automatic pet feeders seem like a futuristic invention, but now they are becoming more popular than ever. Despite rising in popularity, automatic pet feeders are still quite a new idea, so it’s no surprise they can cause some confusion and raise questions.

That’s why we’ve created this helpful buyer’s guide to help explain what automatic pet feeders are, their benefits, how to choose the right one for you, and other frequently asked questions. By the end of the buyer’s guide, you should have all the information you need to assist you in your next purchase.

What is an automatic pet feeder?

An automatic pet feeder is an electronic device which is designed to give your animal food at pre-arranged times. They are generally equipped with timers to ensure consistent feeding times, even when you're not at home. Typically, food is stored in the feeder using a hopper or container that holds the pet food and releases it into a feeding dish/bowl.

There are some differences in the way automatic pet feeders work, depending on the specific model that you choose. You can see what different types of automatic pet feeder models are on the market by looking at our section below.

What are the different types of automatic pet feeders?

There are some big differences between models when it comes to automatic pet feeders. Knowing these can help you match the right one to your preferences and budget. As you might expect, more advanced feeders are typically more expensive, but there are options for all budgets and owners. These are some of the most common automatic pet feeders on the market:

Gravity feeders

These are the most simple pet feeders and often require no battery or power. They work using a container that holds food over a bowl where it then dispenses this food. As your pet eats food, more food will fall down automatically, using gravity, so the bowl is constantly full.

Programmable portion control feeders

These feeders need power via batteries or plug-ins and allow you to program how much food is dispensed and at what time. You can choose when and how much food is released, with some models being as precise as giving teaspoons of food up to hundreds of grams.

Smart feeders

These are some of the most advanced feeders and can be connected to your networks to allow control using smartphones and tablets. They connect to apps and allow you to monitor your animals' feeding from out of the house. You can use the app to release food, keep an eye on your pet and make sure it is eating enough.

Timed feeders

These work simply using a timer which can be programmed to release food at regular intervals. For example, you could tell the feeder to release a certain amount of food every 6 hours to make sure your pet gets two meals a day. They are slightly more advanced than gravity feeders.

Wet food feeders

These are designed specifically for dispensing wet or canned pet food. They often have a refrigerated compartment to keep the food fresh until it's time to dispense it. Wet food feeders rarely rely on gravity, so are either plugged in or have a timer spring function.

Four benefits of using an automatic pet feeder

Using an automatic pet feeder can have a range of benefits for both you and your pet. Knowing some of these can help influence your decision to buy one. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Consistent feeding times: Having a regular feeding routine can be beneficial for your pet, as some animals thrive on routine and structure. It will also help you as an owner to incorporate feeding into your routine and build it as a habit so you never forget to feed your pet again.
2. Portions: Automatic pet feeders can help your pet get the right amount of food, depending on their needs. This is particularly helpful for pets who need to lose weight or have specific dietary needs. It can also be helpful for owners who are partial to indulging their pets.
3. Convenience: This is a big reason owners get an automatic feeder. As you can program feeding times in advance, people working long hours or an unpredictable schedule can have peace of mind that their pet will be fed, even when not at home.
4. Reduced stress: For pets that experience anxiety or stress around feeding times, an automatic pet feeder can help reduce that stress by providing a consistent and predictable feeding routine. Also, as owners, they can give you alerts when to top them up with food so you never have to stress about missing feeding again.

How do you choose the right automatic pet feeder for your pet?

When choosing an automatic pet feeder, there are several factors to consider. You need to make sure you match the feeder to your personal needs as well as your pets. So, how do you do this? Try considering some of these:

Type of feeder

Check out our section above and figure out what type of feeder you think will suit you and your pet the best. Before wondering about other variables, decide on this, as it will help narrow the hundreds of options on the market. Once this is decided, you can then move on to other features automatic pet feeders have.

Capacity

One of these other features you need to consider is capacity. Check how much food the feeder can hold and how often you’ll have to refill it. If you need it to feed your pet for a few days, then it needs to have the right capacity to suit this.

Feeding schedule

You need to consider the number of meals your pet needs each day and whether the feeder will be able to accommodate this schedule. For example, if your dog needs to be fed four times a day, make sure the feeder is programmable to four different feeding times.

Food amounts

This is similar to capacity, but check what food amounts/portions can be given by your machine. Not always if they can give enough food, but if they can give a little. If you have a small cat that only needs a certain amount of food, you don’t want a feeder which will give out too much food, or your cat might become overfed.

Special features

Some feeders have special features, such as built-in cameras or voice recorders. These can be helpful for monitoring your pet's feeding habits. Often, these can be a luxury, but if you think of these as a priority, then it’s important to make sure the feeder has them.

Want to read more expert-recommended pet product round-ups? Check out our Pets page for a full list of recommendations, including our list of the best dog beds, the best dog toys and the best dog treats,