TOP 8 automatic feeders for cats and dogs

Types of automatic feeders for cats and dogs

There are 3 main types of automatic feeders, with their pros and cons. There is no universal, suitable for all occasions, so you need to carefully understand the purpose of each type and choose the best one for your situation.

1. Segmented (round for wet and dry food)

Segment-type automatic feeders usually use a round container, divided by compartments into separate feeding trays. This automatic feeder can be used for any type of feed – dry, wet or natural. But at the same time, the number of feedings without refueling is limited by the number of compartments, so segmented automatic feeders are most often used in the absence of the owner during the day and for feeding the animal at night.

2. With hinged lid

Automatic feeders with a hinged lid can also be used for both dry and wet food. But the main disadvantage of such a feeder is the possibility of 1 feeding (or 2 for certain types of feeders).

3. Reservoir with dispenser

The tank with dispenser is a very popular model of automatic feeders for cats and dogs. With the help of automation, dry food is fed from a large tank into the tray. In this case, the accuracy of the portions is measured by the dispenser. You can rarely replenish such a feeder. But automatic feeders with a dispenser also have disadvantages – the use of only dry food and possible blockages of the device when the food sticks together.

10 most important criteria for choosing an automatic feeder

Having dealt with the types of automatic feeders, we move on to an overview of the parameters by which you should make your choice.

1. Easy to open the pet feeder.

This is one of the most important criteria, because if the pet finds a way to open the automatic feeder and get all the food at once, then the meaning of the automatic feeder disappears, and it turns into a “hack me and eat a lot of food” attraction. Accordingly, cash costs (sometimes significant) are wasted.

Everything is used: picking off the lid, turning over the automatic feeder, scrolling the rotation mechanism – dispensers, dispensing containers, etc.

An example of an unsuccessful automatic feeder design:

2. Locking buttons (when you press the desired button, rotation occurs).

This paragraph complements the previous one. The pet can determine the button, after pressing which the mechanism rotates. This is due to the lack of a button and screen blocker.

Also, if the device does not have a button blocker, then the animal can knock down the current settings or turn off the device altogether.

3. Power supplies.

The feeder can have different power sources.

• Power adapter. Power from the socket is economical, but not mobile. It should also be noted that in the event of a power outage in the house and power surges, the automatic feeder will turn off, and the settings may go astray.
• Batteries Most often, they are not included in the kit, so when buying, you need to consider the cost of buying new batteries. In automatic feeders, type D batteries are most often used, the cost of one set can reach up to 1000-1500 rubles. And periodically you will need to buy new ones.
• Battery. A rechargeable built-in battery is a very convenient element, as it allows you not to spend money on batteries and at the same time have an independent power source.

For reliability, it is better to choose devices that have multiple power sources.

The best option is a combination of “Power Adapter + Battery”. With this combination, if the electricity in the house goes out, the battery will come to the rescue, ensuring the smooth operation of the device.

Also a good option is “Power Adapter + Batteries”. Sufficient reliability, with the only drawback – the need for periodic purchase of batteries.

4. Reliability of the mechanism, automation and software.

Pay attention to the reliability of mechanisms and automation. Any failure means that the animal will be left without food. Not a single manufacturer is insured against breakdowns, so know the main rule for using an automatic feeder: human control.

ATTENTION: do not leave your pet for a long time (more than 2 days) without control. Any breakdown, power outage or dead batteries, if used for more than two days without any supervision, can lead to the death of the animal!

WHAT TO DO: visiting pets is necessary, at least once every few days. Of course, an automatic feeder makes life easier, but it will never completely replace a person.

USEFUL ADVICE: you can install a video camera (or several) to monitor the pet, then you will keep the situation under control.

Remember that everything ingenious is simple. The more complex the device (more functions and elements), the higher the probability of its breakdown.

5. Feed jam.

This paragraph complements the previous one, to a greater extent applies to electric feeders with a reservoir and a dispenser.

Feed in the dispenser and tank may stick together due to moisture or the properties of the feed itself. Carefully consider the choice of food for the automatic feeder, test it before leaving the animal alone for a long time.

Automatic feeders segmented and with an opening lid do not have this disadvantage, but their use is limited to 1-2 days without refueling.

6. Types of food used.

When using feeders with a hinged lid or segmented, it is possible to supply both dry and wet food. This is an absolute plus of these types of feeders.

In automatic feeders with a reservoir and a dispenser, only dry food is used.

7. Tank volumes and serving sizes.

From the previous point it may seem that it is best to use segmented or hinged lid feeders, but not everything is so simple. In automatic feeders with a reservoir and a dispenser, it is possible to store a large supply of dry food without having to fill the device daily.

At the same time, portion sizes in automatic feeders with a tank can be finely adjusted without weighing before filling.

IMPORTANT: when choosing between types of automatic feeders, it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons of each type of automatic feeder, because there is no universal type suitable for all life situations.

8. Product quality and case material.

Pay attention to the quality of the product, the plastic used and the components. Cheap automatic feeders break easily, their parts break off at the slightest fall. The pet itself can easily break them (see point 1).

9. Sophisticated interface and programming.

For advanced users, this is not so obvious point – they will be able to understand any device, but for many people, auto-feeder programming and complex interface can be a real headache.

The instruction manual must be ONLY in Russian.

10. Location of the settings panels.

The settings panel should not be located at the bottom of the device or in other inconvenient places. If you can set up the automatic feeder only by turning it over, then this will seriously complicate your life. In this case, before each programming or changing the settings, it will be necessary to empty all the feed, make the necessary settings, and then pour the feed back in.

TOP-8 automatic feeders for cats and dogs

To facilitate the selection process, we have compiled our own rating based on the listed parameters. A summary table for all parameters will be at the end of the article, read to the end 🙂

1 place. Tenberg Jendji

Rating: 9,9

The Tenberg Jendji automatic feeder for cats and dogs is a real flagship for those who appreciate the most advanced and comfortable solutions. The highest level of reliability, simple operation, dual power system and “smart” functions – this device has everything you need.

Pros:

• the ability to schedule up to 6 feedings per day, servings from 5 to 200 g;
• support for audio messages for the animal at the time of the start of feeding;
• removable stainless steel bowl;
• memory function (all settings are saved after power off);
• simple operation via LCD panel;
• dual power system – from the adapter and batteries;
• silica gel moisture absorbers that keep food dry;
• stable construction and reliable lock on the box.

Cons:

• High price;
• Not suitable for wet coma.

Expert comment: “The Tenberg Jendji automatic feeder is an ultimate solution, the authors of which have collected all the most relevant technologies. At the same time, the emphasis is not just on making an interesting toy for the owner, but on ensuring the safety and comfort of the pet.”

Buyer Feedback: “The feeder is worth every ruble invested in it. I read a lot of different reviews before buying one for myself. And every time I missed something, but here there is everything at once – even the voice of your own dog can be recorded. At the same time, the feeder also performs its main function perfectly, the bowl is washed normally, the design is stable. All in all, I recommend it without hesitation.”

2nd place. Petwant 4,3L dry food with video camera

Rating: 9,7

The Petwant automatic feeder has a video camera, is powered by an app and has a fairly large 4,3 liter tank.

Pros:

• video camera 1 MP;
• application for work and integration with a smartphone;
• audio messages;
• dual power supply (accumulator + batteries).

Cons:

• You need to buy 3 D size batteries (not included);
• dry food only.

Expert comment: “Good intellectual feeder. Works from the application, integrates with a smartphone, there is a video camera. It has two power sources, but batteries must be purchased separately. If there is an opportunity to buy such a feeder, then feel free to buy.

Buyer Feedback: “It is convenient to feed a cat remotely and not worry about her condition on a trip, because you can always see what she is doing. There were no complaints during operation; in the absence of Wi-Fi, it works as usual. Convenient and practical thing.

3 place. Tenberg Yummy

Rating: 9,8

The Tenberg Yummy automatic feeder combines key qualities: it has a reliable tamper-evident protection, a dual power supply (battery + adapter) and at the same time a low cost.

Pros:

• dual power supply (battery + adapter);
• reliable protection against opening (the lid is in the recess and securely fixed);
• suitable for wet and dry food;
• smart button lock;
• you can choose the color of the feeder (5 colors).

Cons:

• up to 5 feedings without refueling.

Expert comment: “The Tenberg Yummy automatic feeder is optimal in terms of price / quality ratio. It has a dual power supply, and with a battery (no need to spend extra money on batteries). The design has thought out protection against opening: fixing the lid in the recess, blocking the buttons and anti-slip feet.

Buyer Feedback: “I love the design of the feeder, looks good in the kitchen! I chose a pink shade to match the color of the headset!))) Compared to ordinary bowls, the automatic feeder looks big. A bit like a robot vacuum cleaner, but still cool, looks stylish!”

4th place. Automatic feeder TRIXIE for two feedings TX2 600 ml

Rating: 9,1

One of the few models of automatic feeders with a hinged lid. Quite popular and inexpensive.

Pros:

• suitable for wet and dry food.

Cons:

• Runs on batteries only (not included)
• designed for 2 feedings;
• cheap plastic;
• loud clockwork.

Expert comment: “Not a bad model, one of the few in its class (with a hinged lid). The low cost and easy setup have made it quite popular with pet owners.”

Buyer Feedback: “Chinese plastic, batteries are difficult to install. The clockwork is very loud.”

5th place. SITITEK Pets Pro (4 feedings)

Rating: 8,9

Automatic feeder of the famous brand SITITEK with a 4 liter tank. Like all feeders with a reservoir and a dispenser, it is only suitable for dry food.

Pros:

• LED backlight (not switched off);
• 4 liter tank.

Cons:

• the only source of energy (adapter);
• only for dry food;
• settings are reset after a power outage;
• the buttons on the control panel are hard to press.

Expert comment: “Overall, a normal model of an automatic feeder, it has a beautiful design. Unfortunately, it has only one power source (adapter), respectively, in the event of a power outage in the house, the animal will be left without food. There is LED lighting, but it does not turn off, which is not very convenient if the room should be completely dark.”

Buyer Feedback: “Works well, even if there was a short power surge. 4 feeding modes with a choice of portion sizes. But the choice is very limited! If you follow the norm per day by the weight of the animal, it may not suit you. There was a power outage for an hour, after turning on the feeder lost time at 12:00, but she continued to feed according to a given program, just with a reference to 12:00.

6th place. Xiaomi Petkit Fresh Element Smart Automatic Feeder

Rating: 7,9

Automatic feeder of the Petkit brand in the Xiaomi family with a dispenser and operation from the application. Suitable for dry food only.

Pros:

• work from applications;
• 5,9 liter tank;
• steel bowl.

Cons:

• cost (from 17 rubles);
• need to buy batteries (not included);
• possible failures.

Expert comment: “The case when the presence of a large number of functions and sensors greatly reduces the overall reliability of the device. Almost everything is used in Xiaomi Petkit Fresh Element: Hall sensor, strain gauge, high-precision current sensor, infrared sensor (10 different sensors in total), mobile application. But, unfortunately, all this leads to frequent breakdowns: failures in portion sizes, application failures, etc. ”

Buyer Feedback: “The feeder itself decided that it would give out one serving instead of two at a time. We just left for a neighboring city for a day, we arrive – the cats are hungry.

7th place. “Feed-Ex” for dry food 2,5 l

Rating: 7,2

A very popular model, one of the cheapest among automatic feeders with a reservoir and a dispenser. Easy to set up, but has significant drawbacks.

Pros:

• low battery indicator;
• easy setup.

Cons:

• powered only by 4 batteries 1.5V type “C” (not included);
• a large expenditure of money for frequent battery changes (from 1 to 3 costs of the feeder itself per year);
• animals easily open the automatic feeder;
• frequent failures of settings, a lot of “glitches”;
• frequent breakdowns of the mechanism;
• cheap plastic;
• small container for dry food (2,5 l).

Expert comment: “A very popular cheap model with significant drawbacks. The first is the real expense of money for the purchase of batteries or accumulators. The cost of using an automatic feeder will increase at least 2 times. The second is the lack of reliability, a large number of “glitches” and the ease of opening for animals.”

Buyer Feedback: “I did not notice the shortcomings until I left for two days. Upon arrival, three cats, distraught with hunger, were waiting for me. It turned out that the feed was smeared on the walls of the tank, from the outside it seemed that the feeder was about a third full, but a funnel formed inside and the mechanism did not throw anything into the tray. After that, I began to closely monitor the feeder. It turned out that she had a lot of glitches. It does not work well if the tank is less than half full of feed. Sometimes it triggers on vibration or a loud sound (for example, a sneeze), sometimes the rotary mechanism that gives out food jams, and the photo sensor is constantly buggy – today, for example, it was a very sunny day, and although direct sunlight did not fall on the feeder, the photo sensor glitched, and at 16 o’clock the feeder did not give out food.

8th place. “Feed-Ex” for 6 feedings

Rating: 6,4

A very popular feeder because of its price. The biggest disadvantage is the lid, which pets can learn to open in 2-3 days.

Pros:

• price (about 3000 rubles);
• suitable for wet and dry food.

Cons:

• pets easily open the lid once or twice;
• flimsy plastic;
• powered only by 4 batteries 1.5V type “C” (not included);
• frequent settings failures;
• short service life.

Expert comment: “The feeder stands out from the competition with a low price, which does not go unnoticed. The main drawback of this design is the ill-conceived lid, which most pets open. The feeder runs only on batteries, which will need to be purchased (not included) and spend extra money on it. But they will be enough for a sufficiently large amount of time, because the power consumption during operation is negligible.

Buyer Feedback: “I bought 2 feeders on February 24, 2018, blue and pink, one for each cat. The clock was constantly lost, on Monday they open at the same time – by Sunday with a difference of 5 minutes. By September, one broke down, after clicking on start now it was spinning without stopping (blue), I ordered a green one. On February 20, the pink one also broke. The service life of the feeder is less than a year. The cats are sad.”

Summary table of parameters of automatic feeders

We hope this article was helpful and will help you make the best choice for your pet!