If you want to make sure your furry friend is being fed at regular intervals, keeps to their specialised diet, or that no other prying paws swipe at their food, an automatic pet feeder could be a great solution for you.
With one of these gadgets, you can automatically feed your pet without leaving them waiting or interrupting your busy schedule. You can set meal timers to feed you pet promptly, even when they want to be fed early in the morning before you've even got out of bed!
An automated feeder can also help prevent separation anxiety in your pup and help keep your feline stress free with a comfortable routine and a distraction which will keep them occupied while you’re away.
We’ve listed some of the best automatic feeders we've found for cats, dogs and smaller pets too!
Automatic pet feeders for cats
Automatic pet feeders for cats
1 of 5PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder
The PETLIBRO cat feeder has 4 programmable meals a day with up to 9 portion settings per meal to customise the diet to your pet. The programmes are easy to set with the inbuilt LCD screen and the feeder is easy to clean with a removable tank and tray. The dual power supply means you're not at risk of the feeder not working if there's a power outage. This nifty gadget also comes with a voice recorder so you can call your pet to mealtimes with a 10 second voice recording. Help comfort them, call them, and bond when you're not there.Capacity: 4LPortions: 9 portion settings, 1-4 meals a day. Roughly enough for 15 days of food for dogs, 25 days for catsFood type: DryPower: 5V DC adapter and battery powered 3 x alkaline D-cellSuitable for: Small and medium sized pets
2 of 5Cat Mate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder
Never feel guilty again about missing your beloved pet's meal time when you're out of the house. The Cat Mate C500 has a 4 meal carousel with a timer to allow for rotation and access to meals at set times. Schedule the mealtimes with the digital timer and keep hungry paws at bay with the tamper-resistant lid. With an inbuilt twin ice-pack, food stays fresh.Capacity: 330g per portionPortions: 4Food type: Wet or dryPower: Battery powered 3 x AASuitable for: Cats, kittens, small dogs, puppies
£34.99
- Rrp: £39.99
3 of 5SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
This automatic pet feeder isn't only great for providing food while away, it's also great for households with multiple pets. The feeder reads a pet's microchip as it approaches and if the correct pet is detected the lid opens before closing again when they move away. Great for preventing other pets from stealing food or for targeting pets on special diets, this device is easy to programme with the push of a button. Food stays fresh in the sealed bowl and this pet feeder comes with a single and split bowl for separating wet and dry food. Capacity: 400mlPortions: 1-2Food type: Wet or dryPower: Battery powered 4 x C cellSuitable for: Small, medium and large sized cat & small dog
4 of 5WellToBe Automatic Cat Feeder
Got multiple pets in need of feeding? The WellToBe automatic pet feeder will do the trick with super flexible meal scheduling. This feeder can be programmed up to 6 meals a day with 48 portion sizes to choose from. With a two-way splitter, you can fill two stainless steel bowls or even adapt the device to one if you only have the one cat to feed. Programme a 10-second message for your pet and never have a problem with the anti-clog design, low food alerts and dual power supply.Capacity: 3.8LPortions: 48 portion settings, 1-6 meals a day. Roughly enough to feed a large adult dog for 3 days, an adult cat for half a month.Food type: Dry and kibble size below 0.47inchesPower: DC power adapter and battery powered 3 x D-cellSuitable for: Small to large sized pets
5 of 5Cat Mate C3000 Dry Food Feeder
This Cat Mate model carries the same perks as the other Cat Mates on this list, but with the added capacity with a large 3kg dry food hopper and easy to use LCD screen. The snap lock lid is anti-tamper and the specially designed nozzle closes at the end of each feed cycle to prevent any prying paws. The food stays sealed and fresh within the hopper and every component is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.Capacity: 3kgPortions: 3 portions a day.Food type: Dry Power: Battery powered 4 x C cellSuitable for: Cats, small dogs and puppies
£39.99
- Rrp: £83.59
Automatic pet feeders for dogs
Automatic pet feeders for dogs
1 of 5PAWISE Automatic Pet Feeder
Schedule meals up to 48 hours in advance for convenience and peace of mind in this BPA-free plastic feeder. Simply fill the feeder trays with food, set the timer and you're good to go! The provided ice packs can also sit under the trays to keep your pet's food fresh for longer.Capacity: 1.5 cups per portionPortions: 2Food type: Dry or wetPower: Battery power 1 x AASuitable for: Cats and dogs
£16.99
2 of 5PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Pet Feeder
With smart phone programming, you can control your pet's mealtimes from anywhere! With the free smart app you can set up to 12 meals to feed on your pet's schedule, set flexible portion sizes, receive alerts when the food level is low and when your pet has been fed. There's even a Slow Feed setting to dispense meals in small amounts over 15 minutes for pets who tend to eat too quickly. This pet feeder is great for giving you peace of mind.Capacity: 5.6LPortions: 1-12 portions a day with variable settingsFood type: DryPower: AC power adapter and battery power 4 x D-cellSuitable for: Cats and dogs
£164.99
- Rrp: £206.99
3 of 5PetSafe Automatic 2 Meal Pet Feeder
Help prevent overeating and portion control with this 2 meal pet feeder. Schedule meals up to 24 hours in advance and set to 30-minute intervals with the simple to use dial. The removable tray is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and the tamper resistant lid will stop any hungry puppy-dog eyes.Capacity: 330g per portionPortions: 1-2Food type: Dry or wetPower: Battery powered 1 x alkaline AASuitable for: Cats and dogs
£19.79
- Rrp: £24.99
4 of 5Trixie Automatic Food Dispenser
In a similar design, this stylish automatic food dispenser comes with a 49 hour timer to set mealtimes and 2 ice packs which make this a great option for wet and dry food. If you're away for a long day, this gadget will ensure your pet is well fed and at the right times whilst avoiding overfeeding.Capacity: 300ml per portionPortions: 1-2Food type: Dry or wetPower: Battery powered 2 x AASuitable for: Cats and dogs
£27.05
5 of 5GOFUN Automatic Pet Feeder
Your pup can enjoy all the delicious foods with this automatic pet feeder. With 6 trays for dry and wet food (and ice pack space for freshness) you can provide your furry companion with regular quantitative meals and a non-slip mat to keep the feeder firmly in place. To ensure safety, the food tray will stop rotating when your pet's paws are sensed in the tray and settings can be easily configured with the LCD display.Capacity: 6 equal meal sizesPortions: 1-6 a dayFood type: Dry or wetPower: Power adapter and battery power 3 x C cellSuitable for: Cats and dogs
Automatic pet feeders for other smaller pets
Automatic pet feeders for other small pets
1 of 2Podazz Automatic Aquarium Fish Feeder
It's not just our furry friends that need feeding! If you have fish in an aquarium or tank, you can keep them fed with this automatic fish feeder. With a top-opening design, you can easily add feed to the device with a large 200ml capacity. Fill with fish food including flake feed, pellets and powder and use the display to set your feeding times to 4 times a day.
£17.99
- Rrp: £23.99
2 of 2Youyijia Automatic Pet Feeder
This automatic feeder hasn't just been recommended for cats and dogs but smaller furry friends too including guinea pigs and rabbits. This automatic pet feeder is divided into six independent compartments, which will remain open until the next set feeding time. At the next set mealtime, the dishes will cycle to the next tray full of food. After completing six meals, simply remove the food tray, clean it, and refill the equipment.
Tips for choosing the best automatic feeder fit for your fluffy companion
Capacity and number of portions
When deciding which automatic feeder to buy, you'll need to consider how long you anticipate being 'away' from the device and how long you'll need to keep you pet fed for. If it's just for a day at a time, a 2-meal feeder will work fine. However, if you're often away or have a busy schedule, a feeder with a larger capacity and higher number of portions will suit best.
Size
While capacity will feed in to the size of the automatic pet feeder, you'll need to make sure the device is suitable for your pet. For a large dog, you'll want to consider a feeder with a large bowl, taller height and customisable portion sizes to suit. For a smaller dog or cat, the more compact models will work just fine.
Ease of use
The feeder needs to be easy for not just your pet to use but for you too! You'll need to be able to easily configure the settings for the necessary timings, number of meals and portion sizes for your pet and have an interface that is easy to understand when it comes to low-food or power alerts.
Food type
Quite a few automated pet feeders have been designed for dry food only, especially those with a large tank capacity. If your pet prefers wet food, you'll need to look out for an automatic pet feeder that'll allow this without risking the feeder's performance.
Extra features
Some automatic pet feeders have voice recorders built in. While this might not be front of mind when looking for a feeder, it could work well to build the bond between you and your pet when you're not there, entice your pet to mealtimes and keep them calm and comforted with your voice when you're not around. Some come with smart apps too which we think is super helpful, especially if you want peace of mind knowing when your pet has fed when you're away.