How to choose an automatic cat feeder

An automatic cat feeder serves food at the times you choose, in the amounts you choose, whether you are at work, asleep or out for the evening. It can stop a cat waking you at five in the morning for breakfast, keep meal times regular on long working days and help you stick to measured portions. This guide explains what to look at before you buy one and how to get the first week right.

The main types of cat feeder

Not everything sold as an automatic feeder works the same way:

• Gravity feeders have a tank that tops up the bowl as your cat eats. They need no power, but they do not control how much your cat eats, so they suit only cats that do not overeat.
• Tray feeders have a ring of compartments with lids that open one by one on a timer. Some are made for wet food. Capacity is small, usually a few meals.
• Hopper feeders have a large tank of dry food above a motorised dispenser. At each meal time the dispenser turns and drops a measured number of portions into the bowl. This is the type we sell.
• App feeders are hopper feeders that you set up and control from your phone over Wi-Fi. Some add a camera so you can watch meal times.

For a cat on dry food that needs regular, measured meals, a hopper feeder with an app is the most flexible choice.

Capacity

A bigger tank means fewer refills. Our feeders hold 6 litres of dry food. How long that lasts depends on the size and weight of your kibble and on how much your cat eats, so there is no single answer. A large tank is handy for busy weeks, but do not fill it far beyond what your cat eats in a few weeks: kibble keeps best when it is fresh and dry.

Look for a lid that closes well and a place for desiccant packs, which absorb moisture inside the tank. Our feeders come with three packs.

Portion control

This is where a feeder earns its place. In the app you choose how many meals your cat gets each day, at what times, and how many portions go into each meal.

One portion is a set amount of kibble from the dispenser, but its weight depends on your food. Before you plan meals:

1. Run a few portions into a bowl on kitchen scales.
2. Work out the weight of one portion of your kibble.
3. Check the feeding guide on the food packaging for your cat's daily amount.
4. Divide that amount over the number of meals you want.

If your cat needs to lose or gain weight, or has a medical condition, agree the daily amount with your vet rather than guessing. A feeder makes it easy to serve several small meals a day; whether that suits your cat is a question for your vet too.

Kibble shape matters. Very large, flat or unusually shaped pieces can jam any rotating dispenser. Normal sized round or oval kibble works best. Watch the first few meals while you are at home.

Power and power cuts

A feeder you rely on while you are out needs a plan for power cuts and loose plugs. Our feeders run from a UK plug adapter and also have a battery compartment, and the supplier lists both mains and battery use. Batteries are not in the box.

Fit batteries before you depend on the feeder, then test it: pull the plug and wait for a meal. The supplier does not describe exactly how the schedule behaves during a power cut, so a test at home is the only way to be sure. Change the batteries before a long trip.

Wi-Fi and the app

An app feeder needs your home Wi-Fi for setup and remote control. Our feeders connect to a 2.4 GHz network, and the supplier names the Smart Life app. Most home routers broadcast 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under one name. If your phone cannot find the feeder during setup, check that the 2.4 GHz band is switched on in your router settings.

In the app you can change meal times, add an extra meal with the Feed button when you are running late and record a short voice message that calls your cat at meal times. Place the feeder where the Wi-Fi signal is good, not in a far corner of the utility room.

Smart device security

Any device that connects to your home network should be set up with care. Since 29 April 2024, UK law under the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure regime has set three basic security requirements for consumer connectable products: no universal default passwords, a published way to report security problems, and a published minimum period for security updates.

At home, you can help by setting a strong, unique password for the app account, keeping the app and your phone up to date and removing old devices from the app when you stop using them.

Cleaning

Food oils build up on the bowl and inside the tank. Wash the stainless steel bowl often and the tank whenever you refill it from empty, in warm soapy water. Rinse and dry both completely before you add food, because damp kibble clumps and can block the dispenser. The base holds the motor and electronics: wipe it with a dry or slightly damp cloth and never put it in water.

More than one cat

A feeder serves food into one bowl at set times. It cannot tell your cats apart. If they share happily and eat at a similar pace, one feeder can work. If one cat eats fast and then finishes the other's food, two feeders in separate places usually work better. Some feeders open only for a registered microchip; we do not sell this type.

The first week

Cats can be wary of a new machine that makes a noise. Introduce the feeder gently:

• Put it where your cat already eats, with the old bowl nearby for the first day or two.
• Run a few meals while you are at home, so you can see that the portions come out and your cat is happy to eat from it.
• Record your voice as the meal call, so the sound of the feeder becomes a good sign.
• Only once all of that works, rely on it while you are out.

A feeder is not a cat sitter

An automatic feeder takes care of meal times. It does not refill the water, clean the litter tray or notice if your cat is unwell. If you are away overnight or longer, someone should still check on your cat. How long a cat can safely be left depends on the cat, so ask your vet if you are unsure. Fresh water matters as much as food; our guide Do cats need a water fountain? covers that side.

Which of our feeders?

Both of our feeders have a 6 litre tank, a stainless steel bowl, app control, a voice call and a UK plug adapter with a battery compartment:

• The Wi-Fi automatic cat feeder covers meal times, portions and extra meals from your phone.
• The automatic cat feeder with camera adds live video with night vision, so you can see your cat at the bowl. Our guide Pet cameras explained explains what a camera adds.

You can compare them side by side on our automatic cat feeders page.