10 Best Automatic Cat Feeders for Multiple Cats in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks
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If you have independent cats, they may do well with an automatic cat feeder. Automatic cat feeders have evolved and improved over the years, so they’ve become a lot more reliable. They’re a great investment, especially if you’re starting to transition from working from home to going back into the office, or if you tend to travel a lot. There are many different kinds of cat feeders, so we developed a collection of reviews of the best automatic cat feeders for multiple cats. Having more than one feline can prove to be most difficult at mealtime. Keep reading to find an automatic cat feeder that’s a great fit for you and your cats.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | WellToBe Dispenser for Cats |
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Best Value | Cat Mate Auto Feeder |
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Premium Choice | SureFeed Microchip Cat Feeder |
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DOGNESS Smart Feeder & Camera |
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HoneyGuardian Automatic Cat Feeder |
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The 10 Best Automatic Cat Feeders for Multiple Cats
1. WellToBe Dispenser for Cat & Small Dog
Capacity: | 13 cups |
Mealtime count: | Six meals per day |
This feeder also has a splitter so that the kibble can fall into two separate bowls. This encourages your cats to eat their own portions. Just keep in mind that the size of the kibble can’t be more than 0.47 inches or else it can risk jamming the feeder. However, if the dispenser gets clogged, it does have an automatic reversal system that works to sift the kibble.
- Two-way splitter
- Automatic de-clogging system
- Has back-up power source
- Kibble can’t exceed 0.47 inches
2. Cat Mate C200 20Bowl Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder – Best Value
Capacity: | 14 ounces of wet food |
Mealtime count: | Two meals per day |
- Can hold wet food
- Ice pack keeps food fresh
- Easy to clean
- Dispenses two separate meals
3. SureFeed Microchip Small Dog & Cat Feeder – Premium Choice
Capacity: | 6 cups |
Mealtime count: | Unlimited |
SureFeed’s feeder is one of the most technologically advanced automatic cat feeders in the market. It senses the microchip in your cats administered by veterinarians and only opens when the designated cat approaches it. It also comes with a special collar so that only the pet wearing this color can eat from the feeder. This technology is great for homes with multiple pets because it prevents other pets from eating your cat’s food. The feeder also comes with instructions to help train your cat to get used to it. So, even timid cats can transition to eating from it.
It can also hold both dry and wet food, so your cats can enjoy their favorite meals while you’re gone. It’s important to note that this feeder doesn’t hold as much food as other automatic cat feeders. Therefore, it’s a good solution for when you’re absent for shorter periods of time. It’s also best if each pet has its own feeder, which can get expensive. However, if you have a pet that tends to steal food and gain weight, this is a great solution to prevent that pet from eating another pet’s food.
- Prevents food-stealing
- Can store dry and wet food
- Keeps food fresh
- Holds small capacity
- Relatively expensive
4. DOGNESS Automatic WiFi Dog & Cat Smart Feeder with HD Camera – Best for Kittens
Capacity: | 25 cups |
Mealtime count: | Unlimited |
One thing to keep in mind is that this feeder uses only a power adapter and doesn’t have a set of back-up batteries. Therefore, if there was a power outage, this feeder will stay shut off.
- Connects to smartphone app
- Has HD camera
- Patented jam-free dispenser
- No back-up batteries
5. HoneyGuardian Automatic Cat Feeder
Capacity: | 13 cups |
Mealtime count: | Six meals per day |
Lastly, this cat feeder can also run on batteries, so if there’s an issue with its power adapter, it’ll automatically use energy from the batteries. Some cat owners that purchased this feeder did face initial challenges with setting up the automatic dispensing schedule because the buttons on the setup screen can be a little confusing at first. However, once you get used to the system, you should be able to program the feeder to automatically dispense food up to six different times a day.
- Voice recording enabled
- Back-up batteries
- Two-way splitter
- Setup isn’t very intuitive
6. PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Programmable Dog & Cat Feeder
Capacity: | 24 cups |
Mealtime count: | 12 meals per day |
There’s also a slow feed option, which dispenses a meal over 15 minutes to prevent cats from eating too quickly. You can also temporarily pause feeding without reconfiguring the regular feeding schedule.
This feeder can use both a power adapter and batteries. However, both are not included, so make sure to purchase either option or both before attempting to use this feeder.
- Dispenses high number of meals
- Slow feed option
- Option to temporarily pause food dispensing
- Power adapter sold separately
7. Cat Mate C500n Digital 5 Meal Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder
Capacity: | 7¼ cups |
Mealtime count: | Five meals a day |
This feeder also only requires three AA batteries, which last for about 12 months of use. This feeder may not be the best option if you’re planning an extended vacation. The scheduling options are to either have the lid open once a day for 4 days or twice a day for 2 days.
- Energy efficient
- Can hold wet food
- Tamper-proof lid
- Not good for extended absences
- Has only one power source
8. WOPET 6L Automatic Cat Feeder
Capacity: | 6 liters |
Mealtime count: | 15 meals per day |
The feeder also has an infrared sensor that detects if the bowl is full so that it won’t release more food and overfill the food bowl if your pet decides not to eat a meal. The cat feeder operates on two power sources: a power adapter and batteries. The batteries act as a back-up power source in case of a power outage. It will also continue to work off the current meal schedule if there’s a break in your home’s WiFi connection.
- Easy meal schedule setup
- Voice recording option
- Two power sources
- Can’t make changes without WiFi
9. Petlibro Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder
Capacity: | 17 cups |
Mealtime count: | Four meals per day |
Another unique feature is the desiccant bags that you insert into the food storage compartment so that kibble stays fresh for longer. This automatic cat feeder is also ideal for owners who are out of the house for longer periods of time or on vacation for a few days. You can record a mealtime message to encourage your cats to eat, the feeder also has a back-up battery option in case there are issues with the power adapter.
- Difficult for pets to break into
- Record mealtime message
- Back-up batteries
- Scheduling meals isn’t user-friendly
10. PetSafe Smart Feed 2.0 WiFi-enabled Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder
Capacity: | 24 cups |
Mealtime count: | 12 meals per day |
There’s also a “Feed Now” option on the phone app so that the feeder can dispense food right away without stopping the normal meal schedule. You can also use the “Slow Feed” option for pets who eat too fast, which dispenses food over the span of 15 minutes.
This feeder has a fairly large bowl, so it might be too big for smaller cat breeds to use. The price also tends to run on the more expensive end. However, the feeder’s still a great option to consider because it helps make healthy eating schedules an easier and more convenient experience.
- “Feed Now” and “Slow Feed” options
- Easy to set up a meal schedule
- Compatible with Amazon Echo
- Can feed more than two cats
- Relatively expensive
- Too large for smaller cat breeds
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Automatic Cat Feeders for Multiple Cats
Even in the subcategory of automatic cat feeders, there are several different kinds of options. It’s important to consider the following key factors to find a feeder that’s best for your situation.
Cat Food Capacity
Make sure to purchase a feeder that can hold the right amount of food for the number of cats in your house. Most feeders contain between 10-20 cups of dry cat food. The capacity of food that the feeder can hold will affect how long you can stay away from home. Therefore, if you travel frequently or have more than two cats, make sure to find a cat feeder that can hold at least 18 cups of cat food.
Also, make sure to find a cat feeder that can dispense the correct type of food. Most automatic feeders can contain dry cat food only. However, there are some models, such as the Cat Mate C200 20Bowl Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder and SureFeed Microchip Small Dog & Cat Feeder that can hold wet cat food. Just remember that these specific feeders can only hold wet cat food for a limited amount of time because they use ice packs. Therefore, it’s best to use these types of feeders if you’re out of the house for less than 24 hours.
Number of Daily Meal Distributions
Different cat feeders have different amounts of times they can dispense food. Cat feeders that can dispense food more frequently tend to be more expensive. However, you may not necessarily have to buy these feeders. Most cat feeders have options to change the portion size of the meals that get dispensed. Therefore, if you’re fine with releasing a larger volume of food, you can save more money and purchase a cat feeder that dispenses fewer daily meals.
Smart Technology Options
There are several different types of technological advancements that have appeared on cat feeders over the years.
Power Sources
Most automatic cat feeders use a power adapter as the main source of energy. These days, it’s rare to see cat feeders that are exclusively battery-operated. If you’re away from home often, make sure to look for cat feeders that have a back-up power source so that you don’t have to worry if there’s a power outage while you’re gone. The HoneyGuardian Automatic Cat Feeder and WOPET 6L Automatic Cat Feeder are great examples of feeders with a substantial back-up power source.
Conclusion
Considering all the criteria for a good cat feeder, our recommendation for the best overall automatic cat feeder for multiple cats is the WellToBe Dispenser for Cat & Small Dog. It usually has a comparable price and has all the features you need to make sure your cats are well-fed while you’re away from home. The DOGNESS Automatic WiFi Dog & Cat Smart Feeder with HD Camera is also a great option. It has a camera that helps give you peace of mind as you’re able to check on your beloved cats while you’re out of the house.
- See Also: 6 Best Automatic Outdoor Cat Feeders