How To Choose The Best Cat Food Dispenser For Your Cat – CatTime
All pets have basic needs. They need food, shelter and cats need a place to nap. Lots of places to nap. As a pet owner, making sure your cat has the necessities can be stressful, especially if you have a cat with special requirements. A quality food dispenser helps take the stress out of making sure your cat gets all the nutrients it needs. If you are at work, or your cat needs a particular amount of food, an automated dispenser takes care of it all. We have compiled a list of the best cat food dispensers, so you know what will work well.
Best Choice
Automatic Dispensing with Voice Function
Pros:
WestLink 6L Automatic Pet Feeder is a hassle-free food dispenser that is easy to set up. Large 6L feed capacity. The voice function allows you to record a message that will play just before it dispenses the food, so your cat knows it’s feeding time. There is a built-in sensor that detects uneaten food, so the right amount is always available for your cat. It can be used for small to large-sized pets. You can vary the frequency of feeding and the amount of food per feed. The unit has a built-in infrared detector that prevents food from getting stuck in the chute. Battery or USB powered for great travel ability. Secure lid and feeder chute that cats cannot open. The control panel is easy to program and does not get disrupted by cat curiosity.
Cons:
This unit only accepts dry food smaller than 1×1 cm.
Ideal for More Meals
Six Meal Feeder For Worry-Free Feeding
Pros:
The see-through lid helps you know when it’s time to refill the feeder, so there is no risk of running out. The feeding dish is top-rack dishwasher safe. Each portion can be up to 1 cup in volume. The feeder encourages slower feeding and stops overfeeding. The unit is BPA free. You need four D cell batteries to run this feeder, which makes it great for traveling. The programming is easy to set the right time for meals. The lid is secure to stop your pet from sneaking out extra food. The feeder will take dry and semi-moist kibble.
Cons:
The unit can only hold a maximum of six meals. There is no power cord to run it from an electrical supply.
Best 2-in-1 Bundle
Gravity Fed Food and Water Dispenser
Pros:
This bundle contains a 1-gallon water feeder and a 6-pound dry food feeder. See through-plastic makes it easy to know when it needs filling. The bases are made of PP, and the hoppers are made of PET plastic so safe for your cat’s use. Both units have built-in handles for easy lifting. Solid rubber feet keep the feeders in place even with vigorous use. The chutes on both models are extra wide for easy cleaning. The waterer has an innovative stopper that stops the water from escaping until locked in position. The small size is perfect for cats and small dogs. Amazon’s one year guarantee backs the bundle.
Cons:
The gravity-fed system has no portion control. It keeps the bowl roughly 3/4 full at all times.
Best Smart Dispenser
Remote Feeding or Playtime With Your Cat
Pros:
This model allows you to program the unit to a preset schedule or feed on demand from your smartphone. There is a built-in HD camera and microphone for you to interact with your pet or to store recordings to play at feed times. All functions are available via the smartphone app. Two feed trays are supplied for feeding two different sizes of food. The portion sizes and frequency can be set to suit your cat. The feeder works from 3 D cell batteries or the included adaptor. Secure lock that cannot be moved by paws. You can pair multiple phones to one feeder via the app.
Cons:
Your home WiFi network needs to be a 2.4GHz frequency for this unit to run. The maximum kibble size is 1.5 cm.
Best for Small Cats
Flexible Feeding That is Hard to Break
Pros:
This feeder is easy to program to preset differing mealtimes and uses precise portion control. It comes with a built-in infrared sensor that stops the bowl from overflowing. There is a 10-second recording ability, so you can call your cat to mealtime without you being there. The unit comes with a power adaptor but can also run on batteries in the event of a power outage. The design is hard for the cats to open the feed hopper or use their paw to drop down loose food. It is very robust and sturdy.
Cons:
Cats seem to like to chew the cord, which can cause the machine to malfunction. You can purchase a chew-proof cord from the manufacturer’s website.
What Really Matters
Portions
It’s easy to think that an automatic feeder is only useful during vacations. Still, the one thing that makes an automatic cat food dispenser invaluable is the ability to create the perfect sized portion for your cat. If you have a cat that loves to eat and is in danger of the health problems that come with obesity, then an automatic dispenser will train the cat to expect the right amount of food at the right time. Mealtimes are not delayed as they can be preset, so the strict routine of time and size gives the cat security, and they settle down to a happy routine. Not only does it ensure that your cat gets the perfect amount of food, but it also means that you can have a lie-in every morning!
Timing
Automatic cat food dispensers are designed to feed your cat over a period of time. How often you need to feed the cat depends on your pet. Some owners prefer to feed their cats every 12 hours. Others feel a need to give them six small meals a day. You must get an automatic feeder that fits in with your routine. A gravity-fed feeder has no control over portion size. The bowl is continually half to three-quarters full. This may not work for your overly hungry cat. Some models can dispense up to four times a day, and others can deliver six meals. The smartphone-enabled feeders can dispense a meal on-demand or allow you to reprogram the feeding times remotely. With so much flexibility, you need to try a feeder that works with your cat’s routine so they can settle into a happy pattern.
Food
Most of the more flexible automatic dispensers only dispense dry food. Some will allow for semi-wet food, but they are rarer. This may seem like a flaw, but it means that wet food is not hanging around for hours and getting stale before it is consumed. Fresh food is always better for your cat. It also means that bacteria are not growing in and around the dispenser, which can be a hazard. Dry food is excellent for your cat’s teeth and has the advantage of staying fresh in the hopper for a long time, so you don’t have to fill it up too often. With the automatic dispenser taking over the chore of giving your cat regular, fresh food, you have plenty of time to enjoy each other’s company.
What’s in Right Now?
Pet feeders have always been important to owners who work long hours or have occasional overnight stays, but 2020 will see more feeders that are designed for daily living. As more pet owners educate themselves on proactively preventing age-related pet diseases, the ease of having pre-portioned food at set times becomes an integral part of a healthy diet. Cats feel more secure when there is an established daily routine, so it not only makes healthy cats but also contented cats.
2020 will see automatic food dispensers with more flexible controls for cat owners. Smartphone control will become more integral with different feeding options, ways to interact with your cat remotely, and recorded messages all taking center stage. Pet feeders will become about the continual bonding experience rather than simply providing a meal.
Price
Expensive
$100-$150 is the price you will pay to get a smartphone-enabled automatic cat feeder that you can personalize to your cat’s routine. It will allow you to speak to your cat, call them the eat, take photos and videos of them while you are away, and feed on demand.
Mid-Range
At the $50-$100 price point, you can get a sturdy automatic feeder that allows you to control portion sizes and feeding times. Some will be solely battery operated, and a few will have power cords or USB adapters. The hopper size and the number of meals delivered will vary, as will the ability to change the portion size.
Cheap
$25-$50 will buy you a gravity-fed automatic feeder that keeps the bowl or food or water continually full. There is no portion control ability. They require no power, so they will operate in a power outage, but also offer no control over dispensing.
FAQs
Will an automatic food dispenser let me go away on vacation and leave my cat?
No. Never leave an animal for a long time with only an automatic dispenser for food and water. Cats are naturally curious and may play with the food dispenser and tip it over, the chute may jam up with kibble, or you may have a power outage that stops it dispensing then your cat will starve. If you are late home from work or have an unexpected overnight stay, an automatic cat dispenser will cover the immediate need, but any longer and you risk harming your cat.
Do I need two units if I have two cats?
That depends on the cats. If they feed nicely out of the same bowl, then one will be sufficient. If all hell lets loose as soon as they hear the kibble rattle and there’s a battle for supremacy over the last tasty morsel, then training your cats to eat from separate units would be wise. You may also want to invest in a smartphone to enable dispenser as they can be coordinated to release food at the same time rather than having a fight for the first plate.
Can I use any size of kibble?
In general, no. The chutes are calibrated to small-sized kibble and have a precise sized aperture to stop your cat using their paws for fishing out more food than a regular portion. Some of the more pricey units come with two different sized bowls for smaller and larger kibble. All automated units are designed to be used with dry cat food.
How do I keep the unit clean?
It is imperative to have a regular cleaning routine for your automatic dispenser. It is easy to get into the ‘set and forget’ mentality, but bacteria can form where the food congregates, or your cat’s saliva collects. Most units have a detachable bowl for cleaning, which you can wash in warm, soapy water. Some are even top-rack dishwasher-safe. The rest of the dispenser will not be able to be submerged in water, so wiping over with a damp cloth and drying with a towel will keep it clean. If you are worried, use a bacteria neutralizing wipe over the whole unit for extra protection.
My cat will try and break it open to steal the food. Will a dispenser take it?
Not all automatic cat dispensers are made equal. Some pay more attention to style or function than to sturdiness, but most have some kind of lid that locks or requires two hands to open. If you have a Houdini cat that can magically appear inside a space designed for a sheet of paper, it will be harder to find one that will be up to their standard. All of the dispensers above were rated on their ability to withstand a angry cat with feline anger management issues – and all passed.
Why Trust Us
Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.