Programming using the digital display takes some time because the buttons are only labeled with symbols. You’ll need to read the manual to know which buttons to push and in what combination, but it’s fairly easy once you get the hang of it.

Remember that most automatic feeders are only suitable for dry foods unless they’re a plate style feeder. So if your kitty prefers wet foods, think about that too. Does your pet have a particular amount of food it eats at a time? You need to choose an automatic cat feeder that will satisfy your cat’s dietary and serving requirements. It’s also worth noting that while many “smart” feeders double as pet cams, the Feeder-Robot does not. You also can’t record a message to play calling your cat at mealtime when food is dispensed like you can with other models like the WOPET automatic feeder. A wide, shallow food dish that slopes toward the cat for easy access and the prevention of whisker fatigue

Of the feeders we tested, this one required the most assembly. Although the instructions were relatively straightforward, I struggled to get the two main pieces in place. However, my assistant immediately figured out the problem and had the machine ready to go in less than two minutes. Programming the machine wasn't intuitive either, but the instructions helped.

Another factor to consider as you shop is how much food the feeder can hold. Dry food feeders typically have a hopper that can store several days worth of food, but some are larger than others. If you opt for a model with a smaller hopper, you’ll end up needing to refill the container more frequently. Automatic cat feeders for wet food, on the other hand, typically have one or more compartments where you can portion out meals. If your cat is going to be alone for a longer period, you may need a feeder that has more compartments. Features Users report that the controls take some getting used to, but if you’re not smartphone savvy it might be a simpler option than app-controlled feeders. What We Liked: Having said that this isn’t the type of feeder you would want to leave with a cat for days at a time unsupervised because there is a danger that it may get completely jammed and your cat will go hungry. It is best used with human supervision as a self-replenishing food bowl for cats who aren’t prone to excessive overeating. The large-capacity Feeder-Robot ranked highest in ease of use and functionality among the best automatic cat feeders. It can be programmed to dispense scheduled feedings or keep the dish full at all times.A Wi-Fi-enabled pet feeder with a smart app to monitor while you're away. This lets you create and change schedules remotely from your phone so you can rest assured your pet is fed even if your schedule changes. Additionally, automatic feeders are an effortless way to provide multiple small meals a day. As natural predators, cats in a natural environment might eat six meals a day. This eating routine can keep cats stimulated and may help to keep your cat satisfied, staving off the boredom and hunger pangs that may promote gorging and obesity. Similarly, They’re Useful for Anyone Who Feeds Feral Cats Outdoors A previous version was written by Andrew Whalen, a senior editor for The Spruce Pets with hundreds of hours of experience testing pet products. Whalen lives with two rescue cats, Church and Wally, who have wildly different feeding schedules and eating habits. Their input and emotional support was crucial to the automatic cat feeder testing process. Set one to six meals per day, including up to 50 portions per meal with 20 ml for each portion. If you want to manually reward your cat, you can press a manual feeding button on the touchscreen to dole out an extra portion. Like the Wopet, it features a 10-second audio call to alert your cats that it's time to eat.