Whether your dog's extra pounds have turned into a health hazard or you just keepforgetting to fill the cat's food bowl, it's time to invest in anautomaticpet feeder to keep your fur babies happy and healthy. Smartfeeders help pet owners and pets keep track of when feeding time occurs as well as how much food gets added to their dishes.

Also: The best pet cameras

Automatic feeders can make sure that your pet gets precisely the allotted amount of food they're supposed to eat daily. Many of the best automatic pet feeders come with smart features, like Wi-Fi connectivity, and some can even handle feeding Fido for over a week before a refill is needed (and if you forget, don't worry -- theywilllet you know). 

Our pick for the best automatic pet feeder is thePetlibro . We combed through other options on the market, taking into account smart features like Wi-Fi connectivity, number of feeding times, and portion sizes, to find the best ones for all kinds of pet parents.

The best automatic pet feeders of 2023

Petlibro

Best automatic pet feeder overall

Petlibro/ Pros & Cons Pros

• 2-inch deep stainless steel food tray
• Physical buttons to program feeding times

Cons

• Not Wi-Fi friendly
• Tray may be too small for multiple pets

More Details

Petlibro features: 2-inch deep stainless steel food dish  Backup battery option for power outages (batteries not included)  Two food tank options depending on household size

This Petlibro is the best automatic cat feeder, but it's designed for both cats and small-to-medium-sized dogs. It comes with a 2-inch deep stainless steel food tray for when you need to wash out the bowl, but it helps keep kibble in the bowl and, most importantly, not in the surrounding area.

You'll be able to read the time in clear numbers on the screen and program the pet feeder with the physical buttons front and center. The pet feeder can dish out up to nine different portions of food from one to four times per day. 

In the event of a power outage, the feeder can use three D-cell alkaline batteries to keep the food going until power is restored. If you have more than one furry friend, it comes intwo sizes: 4L and 6L.

View now at Amazon

Wopet Automatic Cat Feeder

Best automatic pet feeder for cats

Wopet/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Comprehensive smart app
• Truly customizable feeding plan
• Built-in Desiccant Box

Cons

• Doesn't work on 5GHz network
• App can take time to register feedings
• Cannot work without Wi-Fi connection

More Details

Wopet Automatic Cat Feeder features: Up to 15 meals per day for your pet Up to 20 portion sizes  Comprehensive smart app

The Wopet Automatic Cat Feeder is perfectly suited for cat kibble. It boasts a 4Lcapacity, can dispense up to 15 meals for your fluffy friends, and can handle up to 20 different mealtimes. Under the lid, you can expect an updated anti-clogging design to keep the food flowing. The machine fits kibble as large as 15mm, making it perfect for most dry food sizes.

Because this is a smart automatic pet feeder with 2.4Gz Wi-Fi-enabled features, you can control everything from the accompanying app. This includes feeding times, portion sizes, and even a 10-second voice recording to alert your furry friends that it's suppertime. 

View now at Amazon

DoHonest Automatic Feeder

Best automatic pet feeder with a camera

DoHonest/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Easy setup and cleaning
• Built-in camera
• 5GHz and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi compatibility

Cons

• Not suitable for larger kibble
• No color night vision

More Details

DoHonest Automatic Feeder features: 8 L food tank 1080p camera with night vision and two-way audio Wi-Fi app control

Want to up your game with a built-in camera for your pet feeder? Whether you want to be able to call them over when it's dinner time or watch to make sure your fur baby eats their meals, the DoHonest automatic pet feeder will let you check in on the camera from anywhere using your Android or iOS device.

The desiccant on the inside of this smart feeder's lid helps keep food fresh to make pet parents' lives easier, knowing their fur baby remains a happy and healthy pet. 

If your pets are used to hearing your voice at mealtimes, you can record your own voice messages and set custom feeding calls to summon them while the feeder dispenses the kibble. With a large, 8L capacity food tank, this feeder can keep your cats or dogs happy for a few days.

View now at Amazon

Petlibro Automatic Feeder for Two

Best automatic pet feeder for multiple pets

Petlibro/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Touchscreen for programming feedings
• Black plastic design to hide dirt marks
• Adjustable food splitter

Cons

• Larger kibbles may not fit
• No Wi-Fi-enabled features

More Details

Petlibro Automatic Feeder for Two features: Two stainless steel food bowls Up to 50 portions per meal 10-second audio call for pets

With a 5L capacity and two stainless steel food bowls, this Petlibro automatic pet feeder can feed two cats at the same time (provided they want to share, of course). The black design is great at hiding dirt from messy mouths.

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. 

As a personal user of this cat feeder, one of the features I really enjoy is the adjustable feeding splitter to allow for different amounts of kibble to flow into each of the two bowls. The splitter will allow the portions to flow into the food bowl depending on your cats' needs. You can also opt for the single bowl model, too.

View now at Amazon

SureFlap SureFeed Microchip Automatic Pet Feeder

Best automatic pet feeder for special diets

SureFlap/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Microchip-compatible feeding
• Easy to program and operate
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Not designed for larger breeds
• Geared toward cats
• Expensive

More Details

SureFlap SureFeed Microchip Automatic Pet Feeder features: Microchip-based signals  Airtight neoprene lid Battery-operated (batteries not included)

So you've got two different pets with two different diets; the good news is that with the SureFlap SureFeed automatic pet feeder, you can use their microchips to allow certain furry friends to feast when they're hungry. All 9 (Avid Secure), 10 (FDXA), and 15 (FDXB) chips are compatible with the automatic pet feeder.

It uses a plastic covering to ensure that only the pet(s) that you want eating from the food tray will be able to eat from it. The cover lid opens when pets get close and shuts when your designated pet walks away. This makes it easier to control who's eating where and when. To further keep pets out, a neoprene lip seals any food into an airtight space to keep wet food moist and dry food safe. The bowl can hold up to 13.5 fluid ounces of cat food, so you don't have to constantly refill the bowl. It also operates on batteries for ease-of-use.

View now at Amazon

What is the best automatic pet feeder?

Our pick for the best automatic feeder is the Petlibro Automatic Feeder for cats and small or medium dogs. Its easy-to-understand LCD screen tells you exactly when meal portions will dispense and how many portion sizes will be included with each meal. 

It's also easy to program and easy to clean, and it can hold enough kibble that you won't have to worry about your furry friends for some time. It also features a deep stainless steel bowl to make sure the kibble stays in the bowl and not all over your floors.

Best automatic pet feeders	's take	Price	Suitable for	Tank capacity	Connectivity	Extra features
Petlibro	Best overall	$56	Cats and dogs up to 44 lbs	4L or 6L	-	LCD screen, battery backup, 10-second voice recordings
Wopet	Best for cats	$50	Cats	4L	2.4GHz Wi-Fi	Mobile app capability, anti-clogging design, 10-second voice recordings
DoHonest	Best with camera	$130	Cats and dogs	8L	2.4GHz & 5GHz Wi-Fi	Built-in camera, large capacity, battery backup, 10-second voice recording
Petlibro for two	Best for multiple pets	$76	Two cats and/or dogs	5L	-	Meal splitter, battery backup, 10-second voice recording
SureFlap SureFeed	Best for special diets	$228	Cats and small dogs	0.4L	-	Airtight lid, only opens for compatible microchips

Which is the right automatic pet feeder for you?

Though we consider the Petlibro to be the best automatic pet feeder overall due to its features that make for wide compatibility with different pet owners, the right automatic feeder for your needs may be different.

The best automatic feeders for your pets will largely depend on the kind of pet you have, whether you have a dog or a cat, how many meals you'd like to store in them, and your pet's eating habits. It's also worth considering what extra features are important to you, like a camera, voice recording capabilities, or extra bowls.

Another aspect to keep in mind is how much space you have to devote to an automatic feeder, especially as the sizes vary widely from more compact options like the Wopet to the much larger Petlibro options.

Choose this automatic pet feeder...	If you want...
Petlibro	A large kibble storage tray that can last a long time between refills but still keeps the dry food fresh for your pet. It also lets you record your voice for up to ten seconds, giving a new meaning to a dinner bell.
Wopet	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.
DoHonest	To be able to watch and talk to your pets via the built-in camera. It can also send you real-time notifications to your mobile device for any motion detected near the feeder, so you know when your cat finally decides to finish his food.
Petlibro for two	To feed multiple cats or dogs that enjoy eating together. This device also works to feed large dogs that wouldn't typically use an automatic feeder as there's more space for kibble with two bowls.
SureFlap SureFeed	To feed a pet with special dietary restrictions. The neoprene lid ensures freshness and restricts access to other pets that you want to keep from accessing any special or prescription food.

How did we choose these automatic pet feeders?

We combed through hundreds of pet feeders, taking into consideration ease of use, kibble storage size, the number and amount of feedings per day, and more. In our selection, we checked customer reviews as well as the following: 

Capacity:Each pet feeder holds a certain amount of food, so we considered different capacities which would hold more or less food (meaning you have to refill with food either more frequent or less frequent). 

Pet type:Different pet types require different kinds of food bowls. For example, cats prefer a shallow bowl that allows them to eat the bottom without bending their whiskers. On the other hand, some dogs prefer an elevated food bowl, especially if the dog is bigger or has joint issues. 

Features:We considered special features in automatic pet feeders like Wi-Fi connectivity, accompanying apps, cameras, touchscreens, and more. 

Price:Automatic pet feeders will greatly range in price, depending on the factors above. We chose options in the low price range ($50-$60), as well as in the higher-end price range ($130-$230) so that there is something for every budget. 

What should you look for in a pet feeder?

It depends on your needs. Do you want one with Wi-Fi so you can check on your cats' food levels while you're out of town for the weekend? Or perhaps you want one that just dispenses kibble?

In general, you should take into consideration the size of the kibble tank. After all, the larger the tank, the longer the food will last. One of the most important features, however, is the kibble sizing. You want to make sure the pet feeder you choose can fit the size of your chosen kibble.

Other factors to consider are how many times you want to feed your pet during the day. If they require small, frequent meals, then more feedings built into the software is best. However, if they don't require a lot of feedings, one that operates more than four times per day may not be the best choice for you.

How do you set up an automatic pet feeder?

It depends on the pet feeder you purchase. Each automatic pet feeder comes with instructions in either a pamphlet or a guide book. Be sure to read through the instructions very carefully. 

If you're still unsure how to set it up after reading the instructions, you can also google how to set up the automatic feeder of your choice.

What is the purpose of an automatic pet feeder?

An automatic feeder ensures that your fur baby gets fed at regularly-timed intervals. Say, for example, you have a small dog that gets fed at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, but you're delayed by that missed commuter train. An automatic feeder can make sure that your dog still gets his dinner.

It works the same way if you decide to go on a weekend trip. While we don't recommend leaving your pet unchecked, if your trip gets delayed, you can focus on getting home safely while knowing your cat has food, water, and a litter box while you're away.

Are there any alternatives worth considering?

Yes; we linked a few below that are definitely worth considering for your pets.

Best smart alternative

Papifeed Automatic Dispenser

This Papifeed automatic dry food dispenser can hold up to 6L of kibble, has Wi-Fi connectivity, dual power supply, and a stainless steel bowl. 

View at Amazon

Best alternative for small animals

Petory Timed Automatic Cat Feeders

The Petory is a timed feeder that is perfect whether you have cats, small dogs, or both. 

View at Amazon

Best compact alternative

Voluas Automatic feeder

This dry food dispenser doesn't have Wi-Fi connectivity, but it does feature a battery backup so your fur babies stay fed even if your home loses power.

View at Amazon

Recommends

The 5 best VPN services (and tips to choose the right one for you)The best AI art generators: DALL-E 2 and other fun alternatives to tryThe best Android phones you can buy (including a surprise pick)The best robot vacuum and mop combos (and if they're worth the money)

• The 5 best VPN services (and tips to choose the right one for you)
• The best AI art generators: DALL-E 2 and other fun alternatives to try
• The best Android phones you can buy (including a surprise pick)
• The best robot vacuum and mop combos (and if they're worth the money)