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Cats and dogs enjoy a daily routine, but long work days and busy schedules make it nearly impossible to maintain consistent meal times. Automatic pet feeders dispense the right amount of food at a predetermined time, so you don’t have to worry about rushing home to feed your pet.
Even better, according to .css-1ijse5q{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline; text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#1c6a65;text-underline-offset: 0.25. rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s escape-in-out;transition:all 0.3s escape-in-out;word-break:break-word;}.css-1ijse5q: hover {color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;} Association for the Prevention of Pet Obesity, then automatic pet feeders can help them get back into shape. You can program the dispenser to dispense precisely measured portions. Unlike humans, those who feed pets are never fooled by those “puppy eyes” into needing extra help, nor are they pressured into serving a second dinner, which often happens when family members fail to communicate that homemade the animal is fed.
You can choose from several types of feeders to suit your pet’s food needs. Smart feeders allow you to remotely change your pet’s feeding plan and even dispense treats from your phone, and some even come with built-in cameras so you can keep an eye on your pet at all times. Other feeders don’t use an app but have convenient features such as storing wet food in the refrigerator or using a microchip to identify access to certain pets.
Most automatic feeders work best with dry food, but some may offer canned, raw or cooked food. Wet food can be left at room temperature for up to four hours, but if you’re away longer, you’ll need a feeder with ice packs to keep the food fresh throughout the day.
Opened dry pet food can spoil even if it is stored in the feeder’s reservoir. Your pet’s feeder should contain a maximum of three to six weeks’ worth of food. There are about four cups of food per pound of dry food, depending on the size of the kibble. For cats and dogs with one baby weighing less than 25 pounds, you can purchase small bags of food (4 to 6 pounds) every few weeks that fit neatly into a 24-cup feeder.
Some automatic feeders have buttons so they can be set manually, while others are programmed using smartphone apps. Manual controls are ideal if you want any family member, friend or pet sitter to change the settings without downloading the app, but the app allows you to control the feeder and receive alerts from your phone when you’re not home. Most pet feeders have battery backup capabilities, so you won’t have to worry about whether your furry friend will be fed during a power outage.
Every pet feeder recommended here has been rated four stars or higher by pet parents like you. I also tested the feeder on my dogs and cats to see how the high-tech features apply in real life. While the extra bells and whistles don’t necessarily impress my pets, they do make your daily life easier in many ways. These quality pet feeders meet my high standards for reliability, ease of use, and affordability. There are basic but reliable options starting at $20, as well as the most expensive “best overall” options loaded with time-saving features.
The feeding robot was developed by Whisker, the manufacturer of Litter-Robot. It has several great features including a built-in lithium-ion battery backup. Other feeders require batteries to keep your pet fed during a power outage, but the robot feeder’s built-in battery provides power for up to 24 hours. It also offers unprecedented flexibility, including a control panel that allows you to manually schedule work, and a smartphone app with advanced features such as tracking whether your pet has finished eating, alerting when food is low, and dispensing treats.
The PetSafe Healthy Pet Feeding Station features a removable stainless steel bowl that is gravity-filled from a reservoir without any wires or batteries. This is ideal if your pet likes to graze during the day, but may not be suitable for pets who cannot be trusted to regulate themselves. The reservoir provides a level of protection from air, moisture and debris, helping to keep your pet’s food fresh.
Smart Feed PetSafe is packed with smart features but is easy to use and set up. It is controlled via the free PetSafe app, which requires a home Wi-Fi connection. With the app you can plan up to 12 meals a day. If you want to give your pet an impromptu treat, simply press the button on the top of the feeder (it can be turned off if your pet finds it!), browse the app, or simply say, “Alexa, give this to my pet.” Snack” if you connect it to Amazon Echo.
The Gamma 2 Nano Feeder may not have smartphone or virtual assistant compatibility, but it still offers modern, convenient features that make eating easier. The LCD screen can alert you to an alarm, and the hand-held buttons allow you to schedule meals, set portion sizes, or quickly serve your pet a snack. You can even set it to a “slow feed mode” where it dispenses small amounts of food over 15 minutes to help calm your eating.
Feeding wet food such as canned, freshly prepared or raw pet foods can be a challenge if you cannot prepare it around your pet’s schedule. Wet food can be kept at room temperature for up to four hours before it becomes unsafe for pets, and even then it can easily dry out or attract insects. The Cat Mate Digital Pet Feeder keeps your pet’s food fresh until it’s ready to eat and comes with two ice packs to keep food cold.
While SureFeed by SurePet doesn’t dispense food, it allows your pet to eat at their own pace without worrying about spoiled food, bugs, or sneaky housemates. This is ideal for families where one of the pets eats prescription food or if someone tends to eat from other people’s bowls. The smooth lid opens silently when the desired pet approaches, identifying it by a microchip or the attached tag on the collar.
There’s a lot to love about the Dornis Smart automatic feeder, and the soft pink and mint green options are love at first sight. With the Dogness app, you can schedule feedings and set meal quantities, record your voice to call your pet for dinner, and even track leftovers. The app does require a learning curve as the instructions are sometimes unclear, but most reviewers are happy once they get the hang of it.
If you need both a pet camera and a feeder, you can save time, money, and space by choosing the 2-in-1 Smart Pet Feeder from Arf Pets. The built-in HD camera allows you to keep an eye on your pets, and there’s even two-way audio so you can talk to them. The camera and meal planning features are controlled through the Arf Pets app, so you can feed and monitor them from your phone anytime, anywhere.
LP: These devices are not intended to replace you. While they are great for helping your pet eat on time, it is best not to use them at every meal. Pets, especially cats, need moisture in their diet, and dry food does not provide it. While you’re at home, offer foods high in water content, such as wet food, or try adding supplements, such as bone broth, to keep your pet healthy. Also pay attention to how much your pet eats, as changes in appetite may be an early sign of health problems.
LP: Always thoroughly clean the tank between fills or every four weeks, whichever comes first. The fat in dry food can accumulate on the sides of any storage container and contain bacteria that can make your pet sick. Be sure to clean every washable part, including the bowl. If you only use it during peak hours or on holiday, make sure the feeder is clean and empty when not in use for long periods of time.
LP: Any time you leave multiple pets alone with food, they are likely to start fighting. If your pet is susceptible to resource guarding, you will need several feeders, preferably separated by doors or placed in separate rooms. If you trust your pet to share, some feeders, including the PetSafe Smart Feeder, can be used with a feeding kit (sold separately). It comes with two bowls and a divider so your pets can eat together without crowding around one bowl.
PM: If the feeder is turned off or the batteries are replaced, will the feeder retain the settings you programmed?
LP: If the feeder is unplugged but has a battery backup or has smart features and requires Wi-Fi access, it will save your meal timing settings.
Lindsey Pevney is a pet industry writer who has spent the last ten years working closely with pet professionals to spread the word about innovations in behavior training, veterinary care and household products that make our pets’ lives happier, healthier and, most importantly, , alive. longer. Through her contributions to Popular Mechanics, she produces the best pet products to free up your shopping hands for belly rubs and behind the ear rubs. When she’s not writing about pets, she can be found making homemade pizza, picking mushrooms, and cuddling with her dog Matilda Wagyu and cat Sabrina.
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Post time: Dec-07-2023
