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The best automatic dog feeders might not seem like a necessity, until that impromptu business trip comes calling and you don’t have anybody to pet sit in your absence.
It is a pretty useful purchase, especially for professionals who have busy work schedules and even for seniors who find it difficult to frequently refill feeding bowls.
We know what you just thought. But you don’t want to leave dog food open even for a day as it can be prone to bacterial contamination. Also, chances are that your pet might eat all the food they can at one go and starve for the rest of the day(s).
As the name suggests, automatic pet feeders dispense food in specific quantities at preset times. That of course is just the tip of the iceberg. Depending on what you are willing to spend, you can get advanced pet feeders that even send you alerts whenever your dog eats his meal.
If this is the first time you are shopping for pet feeders, then here’s some help.
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Best Automatic Dog Feeders
| Image | Automatic Dog Feeders | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder | 99% |
 | 2. WOpet SmartFeeder Automatic Pet Dog and Cat Feeder | 96% |
 | 3. Arf Pets Automatic Pet Feeder Food Dispenser for Dogs & Cats | 93% |
 | 4. PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder | 89% |
 | 5. PetSafe 5-Meal Pet Feeder | 85% |
1. PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
The PetSafe Smart Feed is the successor to the extremely popular PetSafe Automatic dog feeder. (We owned two of these)
This version is more advanced and crammed to the brim with features. To give you some perspective, it syncs with your smartphone, can be controlled and programmed from anywhere in the world using the smartphone app and can store as many as 12 programmed meals varying in sizes and feed times.
Although it might come across as gimmicky, each and every feature is practical and useful.
The smart dog feeder
PetSafe makes it easy to program meal times and sizes from just about anywhere. You can schedule up to 12 meals a day with portion sizes ranging from 1/8th of a cup to 4 cups, depending on Bowser’s appetite.
For dogs that gulp their food, there’s a slow feed option that slows down the dispensing time. In other words, a single portion can be dispensed over a 15-minute period. Less chances of choking or vomiting.
If your pet is craving for some chow beyond the scheduled meals, then you can activate the Feed Now option which instantly dispenses a portion of food any time you need.
When your dog is fed, you get a notification on the app. Smart!
Completely Pet Safe
Anyone who’s used dog feeders would know that pets can try their best to jailbreak the device to get access to the hidden dog food treasure.
Thankfully, the PetSafe is truly Pet Safe. It features a translucent hopper that can store dry or semi-moist food, safely locked away from stealthy paws.
No amount of pawing or clawing is going to dispense food. Both dispenser and hopper are completely secure.
The food itself is dispensed into a stainless steel bowl that’s dishwasher safe.
Overall, it’s effortless, timely and automated pet feeding.
Pros
- Completely automatic pet feeding
- Syncs with smart phone
- Set up to 12 meals a day in varying portion sizes
- Preprogrammed meals will be dispensed even if router is offline
- Works with dry and semi-moist food
- Secure hopper that prevents pets from breaking in
- Sends you alerts when your pet is fed
Cons
- There is a button on the pet feeder and some smart pets will eventually figure out that pressing it dispenses food. As a workaround, use some duct tape to cover the button.
2. WOpet SmartFeeder Automatic Pet Dog and Cat Feeder
If you thought that a pet feeder that connects to your smartphone was advanced enough, then here’s the WOpet SmartFeeder.
This one does everything that the PetSafe Smart Feed does. Additionally, it also comes with a night vision enabled HD camera and microphone with two-way audio.
If your pet refuses to eat until they hear your voice, the WOpet pet feeder has you covered. Even better, you can see a live video of your pet having their sumptuous meal.
Up to four meals a day
The WOpets SmartFeeder allows you to program up to 4 meals a day. That’s a lot less than the 12 meals that the PetSafe can dispense.
But 4 meals with portion sizes varying from 1/8th of a cup to 1 cup usually suffices for most small to medium sized dogs and cats.
You can always manually dispense food beyond the scheduled meals using the WOpets app.
In case of a power outage or loss of Wi-Fi connectivity, it comes with a backup battery that kicks in and automatically dispenses the food.
Large container for up to 17 cups of food
The WOpets smartfeeder features a large dog food container that holds up to 17 cups of pet food at a time.
This reduces the need for frequent refills and keeps you covered for days or even weeks.
The food is dispensed into a dishwasher safe, stainless steel bowl. The bowl is detachable and easy to clean.
Pros
- Completely automatic programmable dog feeder
- Syncs with your smartphone (Android and iOS) using the WOpets app
- Dispenses up to 4 meals a day
- Portion sizes varying from 1/8th of a cup to 1 cup
- Food container holds up to 17 cups of food
- Backup battery works in case of a power outage
- Food dispensed into a dishwasher safe, stainless steel bowl
Cons
- Works only with dry food
- The 4 portions a day might not suffice for large dogs. That means that you will have to manually dispense the food many times
3. Arf Pets Automatic Pet Feeder Food Dispenser for Dogs & Cats
The Arf Pets Automatic Pet Feeder is the budget priced option in this list.
It is a programmable pet feeder that allows you to preset and dispense up to 10 meals a day with each meal portion fixed at 0.8 oz.
You can set up to 4 meal alarms and even a meal call for your pet in your own recorded voice, which encourages fussy pets to eat their meals in your absence.
Blue LCD display
Programming the Arf Pets automatic pet feeder is a breeze. It has a large, blue LCD display with alphanumeric icons for most of the settings. You can set meal times, number of meals and set alarms.
Meal sizes can be customized based on a chart that’s provided in the instruction manual. Each meal is 0.8 oz and you can increase this up to 1 cup per serving.
The meal hopper comes with a magnetic lock and accommodates approximately 18 cups of dog food, which should suffice for a few days at least.
Sturdy unit that’s difficult to break into
The magnetic lock makes the food container almost impossible to break into. However, it won’t stop your pets from trying and they might tip the whole unit over. It weighs only 4.63 lbs. without food in the container.
To prevent this, keep this next to a wall. The Arf Pets Automatic feeder works on AC power and 3x D-sized batteries.
If you are going to be away for a while, it is recommended that you use batteries to power it so that it keeps working in case of a power failure.
One minor grumble that we have is that the dispensing plate/bowl is plastic. We always prefer stainless steel because it’s easier to clean and does not leech chemicals into the food.
Pros
- Budget priced automatic pet feeder
- Large LCD display with alphanumeric icons
- Dispense up to 10 meals a day in 0.8 oz increments
- Set up to 4 alarms a day
- Record a meal call for your pet in your own voice
- Magnetic lock on the food hopper
- Holds up to 18 cups of dry food
Cons
- Works only with dry food
- Does not sync with your smart phone
4. PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder
The PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed is the non-Wi-Fi compatible version of the Smart Feed pet feeder.
So, if you are looking for the reliability and automation of PetSafe, minus the Wi-Fi compatibility and bells and whistles, then this is one of the best pet feeders in the market currently.
You can pre-program up to 12 meals with portion sizes ranging from 1/8th of a cup to 4 cups.
And it has an LCD screen with 5 buttons for easy navigation and programming.
Sturdy little food dispenser
This is a very durable unit with a tough black plastic casing that can easily resist the most resilient pair of paws. A latch keeps the food hopper secured and weighing almost 5 pounds, it isn’t the easiest one to topple.
However, we still recommend that you keep this next to a wall. Just in case.
The hopper itself is translucent and you can easily know when it’s time for a refill. Way better than having to manually check the container every now and then.
Unlike most other automated pet feeders, Pet Safe works with both wet and dry food kibbles of varying sizes.
Multiple modes to suit your pet’s eating habits
PetSafe throws in a bunch of automated feeding modes that can be selected based on your pet’s eating habits. There’s a slow feed mode that dispenses the food in very limited quantities over a 15-minute period. This is perfect for dogs that gulp their food fast.
There’s an immediate feed mode that dispenses a second serving immediately after the first one and there’s a pause feed mode that stops dispensing temporarily.
We love the large stainless steel food bowl that can hold up to 5 cups of dog food at a time. It’s perfect for large dogs and small ones.
Pros
- Completely programmable automated pet feeder
- Dispense up to 12 meals a day
- Customizable portion sizes
- LCD screen with 5 buttons for navigation
- Translucent container with latch
- Stainless steel bowl
- Multiple food modes
Cons
- None
5. PetSafe 5-Meal Pet Feeder
Petsafe’s 5-meal pet feeder is ideal for working pet parents who want to pre-program pet meals on a daily basis.
It allows you to preprogram 5 meals a day at different times. Portion sizes can be customized and you can also use it if your pet loves the occasional midnight snack.
Easy to program
Programming the 5-meal pet feeder is a no-brainer. Just select the meal timings, load the dry or semi-moist food into the five slots in the carousel and you are set.
At the selected time, the carousel starts to rotate with a whirr, which indicates to your pet that chow is about to be served.
Most dogs and cats easily get adjusted to the soft whirring sound. One of the best aspects is that you can dispense as much food as you want to in one serving.
If the amount of food in one slot of the carousel doesn’t suffice, then you can always preset the feeder to dispense two servings at a time and so on.
Easy to clean
The food carousel is detachable and dishwasher safe. Also, the unit when snapped shut is almost impossible to bypass.
So, even if you have a glutton feline who loves to topple over food dispensers, they have their task cut out with this one.
Pros
- Budget priced automated food dispenser
- Perfect for everyday use
- Serve up to 5 meals a day in divided portions
- Works with dry and semi-moist food
- LCD screen makes it easy to program
- Dishwasher safe carousel
Cons
- This is an automated food dispenser that can dispense food over a 24-hour period only. If you are looking for something that can keep you covered for two to three days, then this won’t work for you.
6. Aspen Pet Lebistro Programmable Cat and Dog Feeder
The Aspen Pet Lebistro Programmable Cat and Dog Feeder is great for smaller dogs. LCD screen for programming and setup. 18 cup hopper securely locks to the base to prevent overfeeding.
- Runs on 3 D-cell batteries.
- Removable bowl is top rack dishwasher safe.
- Can serve 3 meals a day of between 1/4 cup and 3 cups of dry food.
7. SureFlap Automatic Pet Feeder
The SureFlap Automatic Pet Feeder is great for homes with several pets. It can be opened with either the microchip ID or RFID collar tag. It has simple one-button programming.
- Works with 9, 10, and 15 digit microchip IDs.
- Can hold 13.5 ounces of wet or dry food.
- Prevents food stealing by furry siblings.
8. Vanness AF3 3-Pound Auto Feeder
The Vanness AF3 3-Pound Auto Feeder is a great choice for a simple auto feeder. It has a 3 pound capacity food hopper. It is a simple gravity-operated feeder for pets who are fed free-choice.
- Plastic feeder is US FDA approved.
- Removable lid and tray are dishwasher safe.
- Does not need power or require batteries to operate.
9. Little Giant Galvanized Steel Chow Hound Dog Feeder
The Little Giant Galvanized Steel Chow Hound Dog Feeder is a gravity-powered automatic feeder. It is best used for large dogs that are fed in a free-choice style. It can hold up to 25 pounds of food.
- Constructed from heavy 24 gauge galvanized steel.
- Magnetic closure keeps food fresh and pests out.
- Designed to be hung on a wall or frame.
10. WESTLINK 6L Automatic Pet Feeder
The WESTLINK 6L Automatic Pet Feeder is a highly customizable automatic feeder. Large six liter, secure food hopper. Unit is powered by 3 D-cell batteries and has low power consumption.
- Can be set to dispense 4 meals a day with 39 amounts of food to be dispensed.
- Built in recorder and speaker allows the user to program a meal call or message to be played at mealtimes.
- Infrared detection prevents excess food from being dispensed and damaging unit or overfeeding pet.
11. BELOPEZZ 6L Smart Pet Automatic Feeder
The BELOPEZZ 6L Smart Pet Automatic Feeder makes automatic, measured feedings easy. It has a large 6 liter hopper that can hold over six pounds of dry food. It can be used to prevent both overeating and underfeeding.
- Two sizes of meals to choose from, for small and large dogs.
- User-recordable 10 second voice clip that will be played at mealtime.
- Automatic detection of uneaten food, so if there is excessive food left from a previous feeding it will not overfeed.
12. Petnet SmartFeeder
The Petnet SmartFeeder is smartphone and WiFi controlled. It requires a wireless router to connect to before functioning. The companion app will help determine meal size and frequency. It is easy to clean, with the metal bowl being dishwasher safe.
- Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Nest Cam, so voice commands can be used to feed your pets.
- Smart unit provides updates on meal times, food remaining, and even view a mealtime snapshot.
- Rechargeable backup battery will last up to 2 days.
13. TAMO Perfect Dinner Fully Programmable Automatic Pet Food Dispenser
The TAMO Perfect Dinner Fully Programmable Automatic Pet Food Dispenser offers worry free absent feeding. Ideal for a wide variety of pets, feeding from 1/3 cup to 6 cups at a time. Ten second personalized voice recording for mealtimes.
- Built in recorder and speaker allows the user to program a meal call or message to be played at mealtimes.
- Detachable bowl for easy cleaning.
- Large LCD screen for easy setup and programming.
14. JOYTOOL Automatic Feeder
The JOYTOOL Automatic Feeder allows precise food dispensing. It can provide more than 5 days of feeding with up to 4 meals a day. It is easy to disassemble and clean.
- Built in recorder and speaker allows the user to program a meal call or message to be played at mealtimes.
- Infrared detection prevents excess food from being dispensed and damaging unit or overfeeding pet.
- Feedings can be between 1 and 39 portions, giving a highly customizable level of feeding control.
15. PetCul Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder
The PetCul Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder has a 3 liter food capacity, and is great for small to medium pets. Allows the user to schedule 4 meals at specific times. Runs on both power adapter, or batteries.
- Feedings can be between 1 and 39 portions, giving a highly customizable level of feeding control.
- Built in recorder and speaker allows the user to program a meal call or message to be played at mealtimes.
- Infrared detection prevents excess food from being dispensed and damaging unit or overfeeding pet.
16. TDYNASTY 6.5L Pet Feeder
The TDYNASTY 6.5L Pet Feeder is a great choice for vacation feeding or simply measured feedings when you can’t be around. It has a classic sleek, black design to fit in with all decor. Can be easily disassembled and cleaned.
- Infrared detection prevents excess food from being dispensed and damaging unit or overfeeding pet.
- Internal dispenser is sturdy and will not clog or stick.
- Runs on batteries and plug-in power.
17. PetSafe Digital 2-Meal Feeder for Dog
The PetSafe Digital 2-Meal Feeder for Dog is great for small and medium dogs. It allows the user to schedule two meals up to four days in advance. Each compartment holds 1.5 cups of dry food.
- Can be used to teach slow feeding to eager eaters.
- Sleek look fits in great with any decor.
- Easy to clean, BPA-free plastic can be washed on the top rack of the dishwasher.
18. PAWISE Automatic Pet Feeder for Dogs and Cats
The PAWISE Automatic Pet Feeder for Dogs and Cats offers a single, double, and five-meal model. It is perfect for overnight or short vacation feeding. 48 hour timer feeder runs on AA batteries.
- High-quality BPA free plastic feeder.
- Can be set for 1 or 2 feedings per day.
- Allows scheduling meals 48 hours ahead of time.
19. SereneLife Automatic Pet Feeder
The SereneLife Automatic Pet Feeder is a highly customizable automatic feeder. Large six liter, secure food hopper. Unit is powered by USB wall adapter, or optional 3 D-cell batteries.
- Built in recorder and speaker allows the user to program a meal call or message to be played at mealtimes.
- Infrared detection prevents excess food from being dispensed and damaging unit or overfeeding pet.
- Feedings can be between 1 and 39 portions, giving a highly customizable level of feeding control.
20. Balimo Automatic Smart Pet Feeder
The Balimo Automatic Smart Pet Feeder has a large seven liter hopper. It can be set to feed up to four times a day, with each meal being a different amount, if desired. Operates on 3 D-cell batteries that can last up to 3 months.
- Feedings can be between 1 and 39 portions of 5g or 10g amounts, giving a highly customizable level of feeding control.
- User can record up to 10 seconds of voice for each meal.
- Hopper is easily cleaned, and the feeding tray is dishwasher safe.
21. HICTOP Automatic Pet Feeder
The HICTOP Automatic Pet Feeder can hold about 28 cups, or 7 liters, of food. It has an elastic latch to keep pets out of the food hopper. Up to four meals per day can be dispensed.
- Infrared detection prevents excess food from being dispensed and damaging unit or overfeeding pet.
- Feedings can be between 1 and 39 portions of 5g or 10g amounts, giving a highly customizable level of feeding control.
- User-recordable 10 second voice clip that will be played at mealtime.
22. PortionProRx – Automatic Pet Feeder
The PortionProRx – Automatic Pet Feeder is ideal for households of single or multiple pets that are seeking to automate feedings. Can hold up to 32 cups of dry food. Works with included RFID tag that has longer range than traditional microchips.
- Allows for up to 6 meals per day.
- Includes one RFID tag, with additional tags available for multi-pet households.
- Prevents food stealing and overfeeding.
23. SKYMEE 8L Smart Automatic Pet Feeder
The SKYMEE 8L Smart Automatic Pet Feeder can hold up to 30 days of food for small and medium pets. It allows the user to record 10 seconds of voice to be played as a meal call. Dual power supply, both main power and battery.
- Can run for up to one year on 3 D-cell batteries.
- Built in recorder and speaker allows the user to program a meal call or message to be played at mealtimes.
- Both the hopper and the tray can be easily cleaned, while the body is wipe clean only.
24. OSPet Smart Feeder
The OSPet Smart Feeder operates using 3 D-cell batteries. Three times a day it will feed a customizable amount of between 1 and 12 portions. It has a 5 button LCD screen to display various pieces of information about the feedings.
- Large 5.5 liter capacity.
- Pet-proof lock, secure lid, and heavy base to prevent eager pets from tipping or opening the unit.
- LCD screen can display meal size, current time, number of meals programmed, and how many meals have been served.
25. Pawple Automatic Pet Feeder
The Pawple Automatic Pet Feeder will dispense up to four meals a day. It is programmable to release 2 tsp. to 4.5 cups of food. Bright and easy to program display panel is quick to set.
- Large, seven liter capacity.
- Able to run on 4 C-cell batteries.
- Recordable personal voice message.
26. Dr. Feeder 4.5L Smart HD Camera Feeder
The Dr. Feeder 4.5L Smart HD Camera Feeder is a smart feeder designed to work with iOS. Can be configured to feed automatically or manually via the app. Built in camera and microphone provide live video and two-way audio during feedings.
- Locking lid to prevent being opened by pets.
- Feeds up to 4 meals a day on automatic setting, with unlimited manual feedings via the free app.
- WiFi capability when on main power, but battery backup is available for automatic feedings.
How we selected the best automated dog feeder
Our selections were based on three key variables.
The level of automation: Different people have different needs from a programmable dog feeder. While some pet parents want to be able to control their pet’s meals from work or when they are travelling, others want something that prevents their pet from waking them up in the middle of the night for a snack. To this end, we have included the most advanced automatic pet feeder, in the PetSafe Smartfeed and the WOpet Smartfeeder. But we have also included a basic one in the Pet Safe 5-meal dispenser. We didn’t select gravity feeders because they are prone to jamming.
The number of meals dispensed: Our best pet feeder allows you to dispense up to 12 meals a day and even customize the portion sizes for each meal. That more than suffices even for large dog breeds and keeps you covered for at least 3-4 days of travel. P.S. Always ensure that your pet has a steady supply of fresh water when you are away from home.
Ease of use: As much as you seek automation, you do not want to be overwhelmed by all the fancy settings and make a mess of meal time. All the pet feeders in this list are extremely user friendly. You can sync them with your smart phone, control portion sizes, set meal times, record videos, see your pet, speak to them. Whew! All of this without spending hours with the instruction manual.
Pet safe: Secure food containers are one of the most important features that pet parents desire. All the automatic pet feeders in this list feature latches or magnetic locks that prevent cats and dogs from pawing their way into them.
Having worked closely with two pet rescue centers and having fostered several cats, dogs and chinchillas, we have had the opportunity to test out a lot of automatic pet feeders. And we can say that most of them have glaring flaws that make them prone to jamming and malfunctioning. The last thing you need is your pet to stay hungry all day while you are under the impression that they are being fed on time.
So, here are our recommendations for the most reliable and trusted programmable dog feeders.
Recommended Reading:
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Sources:
Additional Recommended Reading:
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