Automatic cat feeder with dispenser: buying guide

This is a multifunctional gadget for animals, which will be useful not only during periods of departure, but also on an ongoing basis.

In what cases should you consider purchasing an automatic feeder?

• Are you tired of getting up in the morning to feed the cat?
• Do you want to teach your pet to eat by the hour or are you struggling with his excess weight?
• The pet takes medications that need to be eaten regularly;
• Departure from 2 to 18 days.

Automatic cat feeders: the main thing

Before purchasing, answer these questions to understand what criteria are important to you:

• How long should a cat eat without you (a day, several days, a week, more than a week)?
• Does your home experience power outages or not?
• Is the size of the portion at a time important or does your pet avoid overeating?
• Does your pet have to eat wet food?
• Should the feeder create the effect of your presence or is its function simply to feed?

Keep the answers to these questions in mind, and this article will help you decide on the choice of model.

We made a detailed analysis of each type and identified the top 10 automatic cat feeders. In our opinion, the best option for most cat owners and their cats would be the Petkit Fresh Element Mini automatic feeder with a timer. She can:

• feed your pet dry food for two weeks;
• not overloaded with unnecessary functions;
• looks like a modern smart device that will fit into any room.

How automatic cat feeders work

Feeders can be automatic or mechanical. The mechanical one looks like a top container and bowl. Gradually the feed is poured down from the upper volume. The feeder is easy to use, inexpensive and does not rely on electricity. You can leave the animal with it for a couple of days; you can feed one or even a group of cats in a country house or on the street.

The automatic feeder is simple in its operating principle. This is a container for dry or wet food with a valve that opens according to a schedule. You can program the schedule directly on the device or through the application on your smartphone. In simpler versions, the schedule is programmed for the whole day (or more) and cannot be changed. In more complex models, the feeding schedule can be adjusted throughout the day through a smartphone application.

WHEN AND WHY DO YOU NEED AN AUTO FEEDER?

So, you need to feed your cat in your absence, it would be good on a schedule, and even better - not let him eat too much. Why does a cat need a regular feeding schedule? Read on our website in the article “Why does a cat wake you up in the morning”, everything is explained there.

You work a lot, leave home early, return late, and sometimes go away for a couple of days. Who will provide the cat with regular food when you are away? If we discard the option of a kind neighbor or a sympathetic friend/relative living nearby, then only one thing remains - an automatic feeder. She will give the cat a portion of food at lunch and will not forget to feed him if you are gone for a day or two. In all other cases, when you are at home and able to feed the cat yourself, a feeder is not needed at all.

First of all, because food is the key to building a relationship with a cat. Cats don’t owe anyone anything in life and, unlike dogs, they don’t try to please you. To achieve anything from a cat, it must be strongly motivated. What motivates her most? Food.

LET US EXPLAIN WITH AN EXAMPLE

Imagine that you have a generous relative who decides to give you one hundred thousand rubles every month just like that. This relative can do two things: put money into a bank account, from which the hundred thousand will be transferred automatically every month. Or he may offer to collect the money personally, for which you will have to visit a relative every month and spend time with him. How quickly will you forget the name and address of a relative in the first case?

If you entrust the automatic care of your cat’s food, it will quickly lose the cause-and-effect relationship between you and food. You will no longer be a “motivator” for your cat’s behavior. Your “value” in her life will fall from the level of “our everything” to the level of “what do you want?”

Therefore, whenever possible, feed the cat yourself, on your own schedule. Patiently introduce a feeding schedule that suits your daily routine. Play with your cat, teach her simple tricks with the help of treats. Use an automatic feeder only when you physically cannot be near the cat.

Types of feeders

• A top container with a bowl underneath. In this case, it is important that the structure is heavy, otherwise a curious cat may turn it over;
• Single container with hinged lid. When it rises, the cat has access to food, but the portion size is not controlled;
• Flat feeding bowl with portioned sectors. The lid has one hole and, turning, opens new segments with food over and over again. These feeders are difficult to knock over, but they are designed for a maximum of 4-6 meals.

If you are leaving the animal for two days or more, we advise you to take a closer look at automated feeders with a dispenser, in this case you will be able to determine the portion size daily during your absence.

How to make it yourself

You can make such a feeder with your own hands. It will, of course, be primitive, but it will reliably “feed” the cat for a couple of days. To make it you will need:

• wooden board (you can use a kitchen cutting board);
• several disposable cups of different shapes and sizes (can be replaced with cut-off plastic bottles);
• screws.

Types of automatic feeders

There are several types of feeder-dispensers, which differ in the design of the feed dispensing mechanism and the complexity of the technical equipment.

Automatic cat feeder with timer

The most universal are automatic feeders with a timer. They usually have a function for programming the exact time to serve food, as well as a cat food dispenser.

Automatic feeder with camera

Some feeders not only dispense food on a schedule, but create a real effect of the owner’s presence while he is not at home. These feeders are equipped with a video surveillance system that allows a person to monitor their pet, photograph it, and film it. Also, these feeders are often equipped with a two-way audio function, which allows the owner to talk to the cat, call him for dinner, or listen to his purr while eating.

Automatic feeder with cold element

The operating principle of these feeders is no different from others, but they are equipped with an additional cooling system that allows you to keep wet food fresh for some time.

Automatic drinker

In addition to automatic feeders, there are automatic drinkers, the operating principle of which is similar. They provide sufficient water to the pet at designated intervals. The most advanced models are equipped with carbon filters, made of antibacterial plastic and enrich the water with oxygen. They can be either in the form of a can with a bowl or in the form of a fountain.

Plastic product

This version of the cat feeder can be called the most popular today. It would be fair to classify the device as mechanical, because it does not have sensors, timers or other modern options. But as the amount of feed decreases, it is automatically added to the container. These designs have the following advantages:

• ease of manufacture;
• requires minimal investment of time and money;
• The products are highly efficient.

Making a plastic pet feeder doesn't require many tools. It is enough to take two containers, the total volume of which will be in the range of 5-7 liters, an awl, scissors, and tape. The step-by-step procedure for assembling the structure is as follows:

1. Take one bottle and cut off the bottom. The height of the latter should be approximately the length of a finger.
2. Cut the resulting container on one side so as to completely cut off the wall. The walls on the other two sides also need to be shortened, and the fourth side must be left unchanged.
3. Then you can start working with the second container. On one of the sides, near the bottom, a hole should be made, the height of which will correspond to the same height as the sides of the first pallet.
4. Insert the tray into the resulting hole.
5. Cover the formed structure with tape. It is desirable that the parts fit as closely as possible to each other. This is necessary to improve the stability of the product.

What to look for when choosing?

When choosing an automatic cat feeder, consider the means, your needs and goals. You may not need expensive models with video recording if you just want to provide your cat with food during your workday. However, regardless of the technical equipment, there are a number of features that are worth paying attention to when choosing any feeder:

• Spacious container. Calculate how long you will be away from home and how much your cat should eat during this time. The food container must be of sufficient size to provide enough food for the animal;
• Safety. The bowl should be made of high-quality materials, ideally stainless steel;
• Weight. The device must be stable so that the animal does not accidentally knock it over;
• Type of device power supply : mains or batteries;
• Shutter sound. It sometimes happens that cats are initially afraid of the sound of an automatic feeder, so give your pet time to get used to it, or change the model.

Review of popular models of feeders with dispenser for cats

This review contains the 10 best automatic cat dispensers so that you can choose the ideal feeder for your pet.

10th place. Ferplast Cometa Bowl

Photo of Ferplast Cometa Bowl feeder from the store int.ferplast.com

This feeder with automatic lid and timer is one of the best budget options. It has a capacity of 0.4 liters and can be programmed for up to 44 hours. This feeder can be used if you are leaving the animal for a couple of days.

Pros: affordable price; stable; removable bowl; ease of use; timer.

Cons: not suitable for wet food; does not control portion size; small bowl volume.

9th place. Feed Ex with LCD display and ice bin

Photo of the Feed Ex feeder with LCD display and ice container from the store www.feedex.ru

This feeder has four compartments with a total volume of 2 liters. The lid rotates, thereby opening access to food. A convenient small display shows the time and battery charge level.

Pros: spacious bowl; cooling system; suitable for dry and wet food; timer; recording voice messages; affordable price.

Cons: the feeding regimen can be set up either once for 4 days, or twice for 2 days, which is not suitable for everyone, so leaving the cat with it for a long time will not work.

8th place. Feed Ex for dry food

Photo of Feed Ex feeder for dry food from the store www.feedex.ru

This feeder with a container capacity of up to 2 kg is suitable for dry food only. Using the timer, you can set the number of servings for a period from 1 to 99 days.

Pros: large tank volume; ease of use; affordable price; recording voice messages; sensory protection against overflow of food; removable bowl.

Cons: only for dry food.

7th place. Large automatic feeder Feed Ex

Photo of a large automatic Feed Ex feeder from the store www.feedex.ru

This is the most spacious feeder presented in this review. It is suitable for those who need to set up a feeding system for a long time. The huge tank holds up to 10 kg of dry food and gives out from 1 to 8 servings per day.

Pros: large container volume; ease of use; ability to choose portion sizes; reliable cover and stability; removable bowl.

Cons: it runs on mains power, so it may be inconvenient to be located away from outlets; a long wire that a cat can play with and damage the power system; Suitable for dry food only.

6th place. SITITEK Pets Maxi with timer

Photo of the SITITEK Pets Maxi feeder from the store www.sititek.ru

This is a capacious feeder with a total volume of 2 liters with 6 sectors that open on a timer. You can choose several feeding modes, up to 6 days.

Pros: roomy; easy to disassemble; Suitable for both dry and wet food; small display; recording voice messages; affordable price.

Cons: 6 servings maximum, which may not be enough; There is no cooling system, so it is not advisable to leave wet food in it for a long time.

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5th place. Petwant PF-102

Photo of the Petwant PF-102 feeder from the petwant.ru store

A more advanced model with touch controls and stylish design. The capacity of the bowl is 4.3 liters.

Pros: large tank; beautiful appearance; LCD display and touch control; timer; voice messages; retains memory of the feeding mode in the event of a power failure.

Cons: only for dry food; high price.

4th place. Petwant PF-105

Photo of the Petwant PF-105 feeder from the petwant.ru store

The feeder has 5 sectors of 240 ml each and a rotating lid.

Pros: easy to use; easy to disassemble; beautiful modern design; works on batteries and mains; stable; made of quality materials; recording voice messages.

Cons: small volume; no cooling system for wet food; maximum 6 servings; the cost is higher than that of analogues.

3rd place. Petoneer Nutri Vision Feeder

Photo of the Petoneer Nutri Vision Feeder from the petoneer.ru store

This is a 3.7 liter smart device with a built-in video camera and night vision function. The application will send you a push notification if your pet independently pressed the food dispensing button and ate without your permission.

Pros: It is possible to take photos and record videos via the cloud, talk to your pet and listen to its voice using two-way audio; hidden slot for external battery for autonomous operation.

Cons: only for dry food; high price.

2nd place. SITITEK Pets Pro Plus

Photo of the SITITEK Pets Pro Plus feeder from the store www.sititek.ru

Another advanced smart device with remote control via the Hoison app. The container holds up to 2 kg of feed.

Pros: smart system for setting the feeding mode automatically or via a smartphone (the application can be installed on several devices at once); connection via Wi-Fi; spacious bowl; modern design; illumination at night; two-way audio communication; video camera for monitoring your pet online.

Cons: works only from the network; only for dry food; Currently only the Chinese version of the Hoison application is available; high price.