An automatic cat feeder just may change your life. No more screeching at 4 am. Plus, it can give some peace of mind while you're away from your fur baby. As seen with the rise of automatic litter boxes and pet tracking, technology has made it so we can closely monitor our pets without having to do a lot of the manual labor normally involved.
Gravity-fed automatic dry-food dispensers were invented nearly a century ago, but today most automatic cat feeders utilize Wi-Fi and are connected to an app on your phone that allows you to make a schedule or feed on demand from afar, all while monitoring your pet’s eating habits. Newer models have taken this tech further, like the Petkit YumShare Dual-Hopper 2 Automatic Feeder With Camera ($170) which has a built-in, AI-enabled camera to analyze the remaining food in the bowl and will stop dispensing to prevent overfeeding. Automatic wet-food dispensers—our top pick in this category is the Petlibro Polar Smart Wet Feeder ($170)—are relatively new, often using ice packs or mini-refrigeration cooling systems to ensure the food stays as fresh as possible.
Automatic feeders are also helpful for pet parents who want to monitor their pets’ health, have specialized schedules, or want to foster healthier eating habits. (A customizable automatic cat feeder can help with the endless gorging-vomiting cycle many cats struggle with.) Nearly all of the automatic cat feeders on this list are marketed toward cats, but some can be used with smaller dogs, and I’ve noted these below.
Check out our related guides, like the Best Automatic Litter Boxes, Best Cat Water Fountains, Best Smart Cat Collars, and Best Pet Cameras. More of a dog person? We've got you covered; see our Best Accessories and Tech Essentials for Your Dog.
Updated May 2026: We've added the Cheerble Match G1 and Oneisall 2-in-1 Automatic Cat Feeder and Water Dispenser, and updated prices and links throughout.
This model is an upgrade on one of my favorite models below, the Petkit YumShare Dual-Hopper Automatic Feeder With Camera, but with added AI features. It has a crystal-clear video feed, night vision, customizable meal calls, and a dual-hopper for two different types of food. Through the connected app, you can set feeding schedules or feed on demand from both tanks, use two-way audio, and watch the feeder from your phone. Unlike most other brands, the AI-enabled camera doesn't require a subscription and can identify up to 20 pets and log when they've eaten individually. The camera also uses AI to analyze the remaining food in the bowl and will stop dispensing to prevent overfeeding.
This feeder worked excellently throughout testing, and I like that you don't need to opt in to the subscription plan to have AI recognize different pets. However, I still think the connected Petkit app isn't as reliable or as easy to use as Petlibro's app (above).
This updated Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder solves pretty much every gripe I had with other automatic feeders aimed at storing wet food—it’s essentially a mini-fridge guaranteed to keep food fresh, and it’s connected to an app where you can schedule and customize feedings and keep a feeding log. Food is given in three stainless steel wide, shallow bowls, which means less chance for whisker fatigue with wide bowls or feline acne with bacteria-harboring plastic. When it’s time to feed, the cover slides back from the hole and reveals the food beneath.
The refrigeration uses thermoelectric cooling and stays at 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and cooling is paused 30 minutes before scheduled feeding time to make sure it’s at the ideal temperature. The bowls are now numbered, so you can easily correlate feedings to specific bowls in-app. Through the app, you can alter schedules, manually feed on demand, and control how long it's open—there's even a sensor to make sure it doesn’t close while your kitty is feeding. This is the best automatic wet feeder on the market in my opinion—I even bought a second one for my other cat.
It can be used with cats or small dogs.
Note: For certain Amazon locations, this feeder is marked as a “Frequently Returned Item.” I haven't experienced any issues with reliability or performance, and it's worked well for the past six-plus months of testing.
Although this isn’t the most expensive automatic feeder on this list, it’s reliable, tech-savvy, and highly customizable. It's controlled via an app and dispenses food from its 5-liter capacity based on the feeding schedule you create. It has a 1080p HD camera with night vision so you can watch and hear your pet eat even when far away, and you can communicate with them via speaker. Through the Petlibro app (for Android and iOs), you set up a feeding schedule (up to six meals a day) or feed snacks with your desired amount, from one-twelfth of a cup to four cups. The app is easy to use with extremely customizable feeding plans with meals that you label individually. Our runner-up pick below, the Petkit YumShare Dual-Hopper Automatic Feeder with Camera is similar in many ways, but the app is a little more intuitive, reliable, and user-friendly on this one (plus we love the built-in camera to spy while afar), so that's why it's remained the reigning champ.
It can be used with cats or small dogs.
This model is sunsetting for the newer Petkit model above, but you can still find it on third-party sites, and it's still one of my favorite models I've ever tested.
This automatic feeder is basically the same model as above, but doesn't have an AI-enabled camera. It does have an HD camera with a 140-degree viewing angle, infrared night vision, two-way audio with customizable meal calls, and a dual hopper, which allows you to store and dispense two different types of food. Through the connected app, you can customize and set feeding schedules from the two separate tanks, give snacks, and watch the feeder from your phone. Plus, the camera will analyze the remaining food in the bowl and stop dispensing (to prevent overfeeding).
I love that the dual hopper can store different types of dry kibble and freeze-dried food, and dispense them separately. I recommend people save their moolah and just go with this model—unless you need AI to identify your cats—you can spot the difference between cats through the camera yourself for $70-ish less.
It can be used with cats or dogs.
This is a sleek, more pared-down pet feeder from Petlibro. Although it has a simpler design and smaller capacity (2 liters) than others tested, this auto feeder has a hygienic stainless steel bowl, rotor design, and a tight seal and button that opens the top to ensure kibble stays fresh (and is kitty tamper-proof). It's connected to Petlibro's easy-to-use app, where you can schedule up to 10 meals a day in one to 16 portions, or feed on demand. Plus, unlike the other Petlibro feeders I've tested, this goes down to a super small 1/24 cup dispense amount, which makes it easy if you just want to dispense a small snack. It also has a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 30 days, so you can have freedom in movement or placement. Unlike many others on the list, you don't have the ability for two-way audio or monitoring when each pet is fed, and it only works on 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi. But if you're looking for a cheaper, more basic auto-feeder (and don't need a camera or audio), I'd recommend this model.
It can be used with cats or very small dogs.
This automatic feeder doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it's a solid, inexpensive dual feeder. There’s an app where you can customize feeding plans of up to six meals a day, each meal being 1/12 of a cup. But it also has a knob on the front to plan meals if you don't want to use the app. (I found that the app could be very buggy and I often relied on manually programming.) You can also record a 10-second meal message to play before mealtimes. It can be plugged in or run on four AA batteries in case of power outage, for extra peace of mind. I love that the bowls are almost a foot away from each other to give more space for my greedy cats, and the hygienic stainless steel inserts can be removed for easier cleaning. The app is very bare-bones and could use work, but this dual feeder worked reliably, and I consider it a great deal at this price point.
Can be used with cats or small dogs.
This automatic feeder features dual storage, a built-in camera, two-way audio, and a connected app for scheduling and on-demand feeding. It’s AI-enabled to differentiate between pets and identify their behavior. Setup is super easy and takes only a few minutes; then you’ll need to upload pictures of your cats for their profiles and set up customized feeding plans for up to three pets, in increments of ⅛ of a cup. In theory, you can create customizable feeding plans for each pet, but there’s no way to ensure each cat is getting their own portions and not stealing the others'. Plus, you can’t just set up a general daily plan; you have to set a schedule for each individual pet.
The AI didn’t distinguish and label my cats in the video feed, which I found odd, but it did identify and log behaviors it recorded, like feeding, napping, and walking. Through the app, you can watch highlights and activity logs, communicate via speaker, and feed on demand. It was cool to be able to watch past video feeds and see the labels AI creates based on observed behaviors, but the promised custom, individualized feeding plans underdeliver.
Can be used with cats or small dogs.
I was pleasantly surprised by this relatively affordable automatic feeder. It has a scale in the bottom of the stainless steel bowl, which makes sure your pet is getting the exact right amount of food. It'll even alter how much it dispenses based on how much is left in the bowl, ensuring your pet isn't overeating. The feeder has anti-jam technology, low-food-detection sensors, and a backup battery in case of a power failure.
From the app, you can schedule and alter feedings with an optional meal call recording, and it logs when and how much your pet has eaten. This is super helpful to better track and understand your cats' eating habits. But because I have two cats, the tracking feature isn't as reliable, as the feeder doesn't know which cat was eating when it logs. For that reason, some of the cooler aspects of monitoring feedings with this feeder work best for single-pet homes.
It canan extended 2 years be used with cats or small dogs.
For this feeder, the pet wears a collar with a tag in which the feeder’s lid opens only with that tag. The sensor in the pad in front will be activated, the stainless steel food bowl (which is removable for washing and is dishwasher safe)is uncovered, and the cover will retract over the kibble when the cat leaves, ensuring that only the chosen pet with the collar can access the food. Through the app, you can create up to 10 feeding schedules whose amounts can be modified anytime, including on-demand feeding. The automatic lid is customizable too, as you can switch on the app to leave the lid in “open mode” or adjust how long the lid stays open after your pet walks away from it.
Overall, I think this is a nearly perfect device for a particular kind of pet owner. It works best for a cat in a dog home where the owner doesn’t want the dog getting into the cat’s food, if each pet in the home has an RFID feeder, if one particular cat has special dietary needs, or if you have a multi-cat home with an aggressive eater. In these cases, I truly think this product would be a life-changer. (If you get a One RFID for each pet, it’s recommended that you space them at least 10 inches apart to avoid any interference.)
It can be used with cats or very small dogs.
Like the Petlibro, this feeder aims to thwart greedy pets from overeating by using facial recognition. But unlike the other camera feeders, the footage data is processed locally without external storage like Cloud or SSD, and the camera only sees a 25-centimeter range, so there are fewer privacy concerns than other camera-enabled models. During the initial setup, you'll just put your cat near the feeder for it to use AI technology to scan and store that info so it can recognize which cat to open the feeder for.
This model is compatible with kibble, freeze-dried, and wet food, with space below the bowl for an optional ice pack. Once you've plugged it in and connected to Wi-Fi and the app, you'll have the camera capture the pet you want the bowl to open for and set up the pet profile. Through the app, you'll adjust schedules, with up to four feedings per day, and you'll also be able to adjust the amount of time it's open for. There are also options to leave the lid open for free feeding, which is especially useful when your pets are still getting used to the new feeder. When the camera recognizes the cat, the clear plastic covering opens to reveal the food. Through the app, you'll be able to view and adjust schedules, as well as view historical logs of the cat's feeding habits.
The camera was able to differentiate my cats without issue, but they look completely different. I'd be curious to see how accurate the recognition technology is with cats that look more similar. This model also doesn't have a large capacity, so you'll have to manually refill when food levels are low. This model is a solid option for people who need to keep their pets' food separate without needing to have a special collar tag like the model above.
Size is suitable for cats only. This model is on pre-order only and will be available for public purchase on May 25.
This expensive, tech-y automatic feeder has buttons and an app where you control feeding schedules and food amounts, including monitoring levels to make sure there is enough (when the food level is low it alerts you via app and via a light on top of the feeder). I love how customizable meals are: You can set multiple schedules for different days of the week, and it dispenses anywhere from one-eighth of a cup to half of a cup of food. It also has gravity mode, where the feeder checks levels every six hours and dispenses food automatically if the bowl is empty.
The app is intuitive and easy to use with customizable settings, and it also tracks every time a cat is fed. Although the plastic food bowl is food-safe and BPA-free, plastic is still prone to harboring bacteria, and I’d prefer stainless steel. (Whisker has a stainless steel ($20) insert or glass bowl insert for $30). I can’t really find any other faults in this feeder—it has worked perfectly and just feels sleek and elevated.
It can be used with cats or small dogs.
Oneisall 2-in-1 Automatic Cat Feeder and Water Dispenser for $54: Generally, I'm a fan of all the Oneisall pet products I've tested. While they aren't the most technologically advanced, they are always reliable and cheap. This model is relatively simple. To set up, you'll need to hook up the bowl supports and dishwasher-safe stainless steel bowls, fill the water and kibble compartments, and plug in. This model runs on corded electricity but has an optional 4 AA batteries in case of power outage. There is no connected app. You'll just set the clock and adjust meal settings, and you can schedule one to six meals per day with adjustable portions, from one to 10 portion sizes. I don't love having food and water so close, since cats prefer them to be separate to prevent cross-contamination in the wild. I always recommend automatic pet fountains instead for a fresh source of water, but if you don't have a lot of space, are on a budget, and need a temporary solution for getting fresh water to your kitty while you're out of town, the gravity-fed water system ensures water stays relatively fresh (plus, the translucent tank makes it easier to check water levels). I'd recommend this basic option if you're on a budget and need a temporary solution for when you're out of the house (and don't mind not having a connected app).
Closer Pets C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder for $50: This automatic feeder is super simple, which is both its weakness and its strength. It’s essentially two shallow plastic containers with stainless steel inserts (both dishwasher safe) and tamper-resistant lids that are locked and automatically open using an old-school egg-style timer that runs on a AA battery rather than electricity. Although the container has an ice pack to keep the wet food cool, after one night it lost virtually all of its coolness. There’s a lid-link clip attachment, a small piece of plastic that links the lids to ensure they will open at the same time, which is super helpful for owners of two cats like me. I wish the timer were electric so I could program it to the exact time I want it open, rather than guesstimating the timing on the little marks. However, this is a simple solution to help make sure both my cats are given wet food without me having to wake up at the crack of dawn.
Oneisall Cordless WiFi Automatic Cat Feeder for $70: I had high hopes for this cordless feeder that boasts a rechargeable battery with a 100-day life and an integrated app, but it's just too unreliable. Through the app, you can program up to 10 daily meals (in 1-12 portions each), monitor pets' eating habits, and customize meal calls. Unlike other apps, you're not able to choose portion size, but instead have to multiply the number of servings. The app gave me constant problems, and would often disconnect from the feeder and be unable to reconnect to WiFi. Luckily, I was able to program meals via the screen and buttons, but it would've been a whole lot nicer if the app had worked reliably.
Catit Pixi Smart 6-Meal Feeder for $100: Like others on this list, the Catit Pixi wet and dry feeder uses ice packs to keep wet food fresh and rotates the meals in six compartments on a set schedule. The schedule can be programmed via the app or changed on the body of the feeder. At this price point, the app shouldn’t be this limited and glitchy. The schedule is available in military time only, and the app is extremely limited—you can only set the meal schedule for the same day, and when I wanted to do only two to three meals a day spread over two days, I had to reschedule the meals for every new day. The feeder didn't keep it cold enough to spread the meals out and the wet food was not at a safe eating temperature. At this price point, just get the Petlibro Polar wet feeder for a few bucks more.
Catit Pixi Smart Cat Feeder for $140: Kibble is stored in the body of this dry feeder, but it doesn’t have a window to visually check food levels. The calendar to plan meals shows only a week at a time, and although it should repeat daily based on the schedule, I found that some days there would be no schedule despite setting one up. The Pixi also doesn’t tell you how much food was dispensed; it just refers to it as a “portion”—I manually measured and found the portion was less than a tablespoon of kibble. After using it continuously for more than a month, I found it was extremely glitchy and almost never reliably stuck to the programmed schedule, sometimes skipping meals altogether. This feeder is potentially dangerous, and I'd caution pet parents against relying on it.
Closer Pets C500 for $75: This automatic wet and dry feeder can schedule up to four pre-portioned meals (and one meal given manually) that are opened on a timer system using three AA batteries (sold separately). The user presets the four times they want the bowls, which have ice packs underneath, to rotate. The bowls are quite deep and narrow and aren’t super easy for cats to reach, which could cause whisker fatigue. And although there are two relatively large ice packs, when I checked on the feeder after a night’s sleep, the packs weren’t very cold. This may be OK for kibble, but wet food was kept at unsafe temperatures, and my cats couldn't reach all of the food.
Why Use an Automatic Feeder?
Automatic feeders are great for pet owners who want to help manage their pets’ weight and monitor eating patterns. Plus, they allow for a lot more control and precision for owners to learn exactly how much their cat is eating and when. Because cats are naturally more nocturnal, many have the annoying habit of waking you up in the early hours, demanding food, and these allow you to set up a schedule that fits more to their schedule without inconveniencing yours.
Of course, it’s never recommended to leave pets alone for long periods, but these automatic feeders give more peace of mind and are a whole lot healthier for your pet than leaving a huge amount of food for free-feeding while you're away for the night. Simply put, it’s an easier way to feed and monitor your cat’s health with less work for you, the human.
I have two rescue cats, ages 4 and 5, and they eat two wet-food meals a day and small amounts of dry kibble throughout the day. Vets (and TikTokkers) have successfully persuaded me to move toward a primarily wet-food diet, however, which has a higher water content. This provides more moisture in their diet, which helps with potentially life-threatening problems like UTIs, which are especially prevalent in male cats. I still like to give smaller dry-food meals throughout the day for them to satisfy their need for crunch.
For dry food, I use Hill’s Science Diet, and for wet food, I use Friskies' Shreds variety. (Yes, only Shreds. Fellow cat owners will understand.)
I set up the feeders, noting ease of setup, potential problems, and app navigation. I also tested various schedules and manual feedings through the app, noting any issues. I used each of the feeders for at least a week, if not more.
How Long Can I Leave My Cat Alone?
Although cats are generally thought of as less high-maintenance than dogs, it’s still not good to leave your cat for prolonged periods. Under dire circumstances, you can leave a cat alone for 24 to 48 hours with scheduled feedings and a clean water source, but it’s not ideal—especially for cats with health issues, kittens younger than a year, or very elderly cats. Although these feeders are automatic, and meals can be scheduled in advance and over multiple days, our pets still need their human pals around for enrichment, care, and well, love.
How to find us: Add WIRED.com to your preferred sources in Google
Using AI for just 10 minutes could make you lazy and dumb
Big Story: He couldn’t land a job interview—was AI to blame?
Tesla says wheels may fall off Cybertrucks
Livestream: Submit your questions about how AI is transforming work
10% Off Exclusive Squarespace Promo Code 2026
Memorial Day Appliance Deals + Up to an Extra $1000 Off + Free Delivery on appliance purchases $998+
LG Promo Code: 20% Off Your First Order
10% Off Dell Coupon Code for New Customers
30% Samsung Coupon - Offer Program 2026
Doordash Coupon $20 Off
Source: Wired
