We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Pet Products The 6 Best Automatic Pet Feeders We Tested with Our Cats and Dogs Our top pick is the Whisker Feeder Robot for its unique and intuitive features By Melanie Rud Melanie Rud Melanie Rud is a freelance beauty writer, editor, and expert living in Chicago. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 14, 2024 02:55PM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews What to Know Behind the Scenes FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Tamara Staples Pet parents will go to great lengths for their pet's happiness and comfort, showering them with the latest toys, treats, pet beds, and more. While an automatic feeder may not top the list of must-haves in your book, our testing confirmed the benefits of these helpful devices. Certified dog trainer and Rover Pet People panelist Nicole Ellis tells PEOPLE that automatic pet feeders are ideal for pet owners who work from an office and pets that eat multiple meals a day or earlier risers who "wake you up at 4 a.m. for breakfast." What We Learned As a general rule of thumb, we found automatic pet feeders to be best suited for cats and smaller dogs, with no feeder proving quite sturdy enough for large pups. To determine exactly which automatic pet feeder performs the best, our team of testers tried 11 top contenders in the lab and at home, using both smaller cat kibble and larger dog kibble. We evaluated the ease of setup, programming options, cleaning process, and overall performance. Six feeders proved to be better than the rest. Keep scrolling to see the best automatic pet feeders PEOPLE recommends for your home. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Whisker Feeder Robot at Amazon $299 Jump to Review Best Budget: PetSafe PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Feeder at Amazon $53 Jump to Review Best for Small Pets: PETLIBRO Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder at Amazon $76 Jump to Review Best for Multiple Pets: SALE Ymiko Automatic Cat Feeder at Amazon $40 $31 Jump to Review Best Battery-Operated: SALE PETLIBRO Air Automatic Pet Feeder at Amazon $43 $35 Jump to Review Best Quiet: PETLIBRO Granary Two Cat Feeder at Amazon $90 Jump to Review Best Overall Whisker Feeder Robot PHOTO: Amazon $299 at Amazon $299 at Litter-robot.com Star Qualities Comes with three useful feeding modes Feeder has Wi-Fi capability with an accompanying app Design is intuitive to set up, use, and clean Red Flags Takes up quite a bit of space Most expensive of any feeder we tested (but worth it) While this was the priciest option of any that we tested, we still deemed it worthy of the hefty price tag for several reasons. First, it boasts a unique number of features, including Wi-Fi capability and an accompanying app that makes it easy to change and update feeding schedules anytime, anywhere. You can also send a "snack" from afar, which we think is a cute way to treat you're pet when you aren't home. There’s also a backup battery (sold separately) that can power the feeder for up to 24 hours, a boon for pet parents concerned about power outages. It performed well in all of our tests with both dog and cat kibble and was intuitive to set up and program, as well as to clean. It is on the bulkier side, though that didn’t bother us that much given the stylish appearance that’s akin to a Keurig coffee machine. Size: 13 x 9 x 5 inches | Wi-Fi Enabled: Yes | Power Source: Electricity or backup battery (sold separately) | Max Capacity: 32 cups PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples Best Budget PetSafe PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Feeder PHOTO: Amazon $53 at Amazon $68 at Walmart $47 at Chewy Star Qualities Very basic to set up and operate Removable tray is dishwasher-safe Since it's battery-operated, you can place it anywhere in your home Red Flags Feeders need to be resynchronized over time (if you have more than one) Capacity is super small For those seeking out a simple, straightforward, affordable pick that doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, this automatic pet feeder from PetSafe is a great pick. Setup and operation are both a breeze — simply add four D batteries to the back, set the clock, and toggle through the multiple feed modes on the LCD screen to program. Precise programming allows you to plan meals down to the minute, or you can choose to feed now or even suspend a meal if needed. The tray has five compartments for five pre-portioned meals, all with a one-cup capacity, making this better suited for cats and smaller pups. It’s worth noting that if you have multiple feeders for more than one pet, you will likely need to synchronize them occasionally. PEOPLE shopping editor Kayla Kitts — who has been using these feeders for six years with her two cats — noticed that even when programmed to deliver food at the same time, the feeders will start running a few minutes apart. And since this is a very manual feeder, the clock does not register daylight saving time, so you will need to adjust for that, too. Size: 15.5 x 12.3 x 3.4 inches | Wi-Fi Enabled: No | Power Source: Battery | Max Capacity: 5 cups People / Kayla Kitts Best for Small Pets PETLIBRO Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder PHOTO: Amazon $76 at Amazon $70 at Chewy $70 at Best Buy Star Qualities Very easy to take apart and clean Accurately and correctly dispenses the programmed amount of food each time Red Flags Programming can be a bit cumbersome Design isn’t particularly stable to have around larger animals This model has an LCD screen and a clear audio feature that lets you record a message telling your furry friend it’s time to eat, as well as a spot for backup batteries in case of power outages. A sleek design and easy-to-clean features also topped our list of "likes" for this feeder. Just keep in mind that it’s not sturdy enough to use around bigger dogs; the brand recommends it for animals under 30 kilograms. It also does take quite a bit of button-pushing to set up the initial programming, as well as if you then want to change any of the times or amounts after the fact. Size: 13.78 x 13.27 x 7.56 inches | Wi-Fi Enabled: No | Power Source: Electricity or batteries | Max Capacity: 29 cups PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples Best for Multiple Pets Ymiko Automatic Cat Feeder PHOTO: Amazon $40 $31 at Amazon Star Qualities Motor is relatively quiet when dispensing food Accurately dispenses the pre-programmed amount of food at the set time Red Flags Base and food tank are all one piece, making it more difficult to clean Not particularly sturdy and could easily be knocked over Dispensing up to four meals per day and up to nine portions per meal (and accurately, might we add), this is a nice choice for cats and/or smaller dogs. However, we found that if there is already kibble in the dispenser tray, then that portion will be skipped on the first disbursement. Set up and programming are both fairly intuitive, as is recording a voice message to play when the food is dispensed. It’s also aesthetically pleasing, although the fact that the base and tank can’t be separated does pose some cleaning challenges. Also, this model was one of the least stable options we tested, so just keep that in mind for pets that tend to paw and nudge their feeders. Size: 12.56 x 7.83 x 7.83 inches | Wi-Fi Enabled: No | Power Source: Electricity or batteries | Max Capacity: 12.7 cups PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples Best Battery-Operated PETLIBRO Air Automatic Pet Feeder PHOTO: Amazon $43 $35 at Amazon $46 at Chewy Star Qualities Solely battery-operated, with a lifespan of 180 days Budget-friendly price point Has a locking top for mischievous pets Red Flags Has a much smaller overall capacity than the other products we tested For those who perhaps just want to try out the world of automatic pet feeders without relying on an electrical outlet or an app, this model is it. The simplicity is reflected in the very affordable price, one of the least expensive options of our winners. Physical setup is easy — even more so given that it runs on batteries, with a battery life of up to 180 days — as is programming. It's also got a locking top for mischievous pets who may paw at the apparatus. We appreciated that all of the buttons are hidden behind a panel, ensuring your pet couldn’t reach or push them. To that point, given the small capacity (which we found to be even less than the 2 liters advertised), this is definitely a pick best reserved for cats. Size: 10.4 x 12.2 x 7.1 inches | Wi-Fi Enabled: No | Power Source: Battery | Max Capacity: 8.45 cups PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples Best Quiet PETLIBRO Granary Two Cat Feeder PHOTO: Amazon $90 at Amazon View on Petlibro.com $84 at Chewy Star Qualities Quietest one we tried, which would be ideal for more anxious pets Can operate via a plug or batteries Bowl and tray are washable, and the main basin has a filter to prevent mold Red Flags Not sturdy enough to withstand excitement from larger dogs Initial programming was tedious Automatic pet feeders offer so much convenience, but for some anxious animals, the digital sounds of these devices can be a little intimidating. The Petlibro Granary Automatic Pet Feeder impressed us with how quietly it released the food. In addition to its stealth operations, the feeder is versatile: It can be plugged in or work via batteries. Its setup is not intuitive (it took a while to program the initial feedings), but it's doable if you follow the included instructions. It has various programming settings to adjust the serving amounts, and the structure is sturdy enough to withstand excitement from small dogs and cats. The features are somewhat basic, but it's compact, quiet, and highly functional. Plus, it has an LED screen for easy control access, a voice recording option, and is affordable compared to many options. It comes with one bowl and tray that are both washable, but the base that holds the kibble is more challenging to clean. That said, we appreciate the included filter that helps prevent mold. Size: 113 × 7.5 × 7.5 inches | Wi-Fi Enabled: No | Power Source: Electicity or batteries | Max Capacity: 21 cups What to Know About Automatic Pet Feeders Ease of Programming According to Ellis, easy programming is one of the top things to seek out when looking for a pet feeder; she suggests looking for specific functions such as the ability to schedule multiple meals and adjust portion sizes. Erin Askeland, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, and Camp Bow Wow’s animal health and behavior expert, agrees, noting that you want to make sure you can feed your pet on a schedule that’s best for them. She also says that Wi-Fi capabilities and app controls can be very helpful — our best overall choice, the Whisker Feeder Robot offers both of these. Backup Power Supply The majority of automatic pet feeders run on electricity, so looking for ones that can also run on batteries can be very helpful, especially if the power goes out, Ellis notes. Most of the models featured on this list have a dual power source. Food Capacity “It’s important to consider how many pets you are feeding and the frequency of your pet’s meals and select a device that holds that amount of food that’s needed throughout the day,” says Dr. Kristin Wuellner, a licensed veterinarian at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. People / Tamara Staples The 7 Best Dog Food Storage Containers of 2024, Tested by Real Pet Parents Behind the Scenes Our testers compared 11 popular automatic pet feeders to see how well they stacked up in a range of categories. Design: We first set up the automatic pet feeder in our lab, taking note of the power source (or sources), and how easy it was to set up, as well as if a pet could access the food or control button.Features: We tested out each product using both cat kibble and dog kibble, evaluating how accurately and easily it dispensed the food and tried out any manual functions as well.Price: Considering the price of each model, we weighed in on what we liked most, what we would change, and how each product compared to other pet feeders our testers may have tried in the past.Long-Term Testing: We sent our winning feeders home with real pet parents to see how they fared in real-life scenarios after three and six months of regular use. Frequently Asked Questions Are automatic pet feeders worth it? Yes, depending on your lifestyle and the pet you have. “Automatic feeders can work well for someone who has to be out of the house for the normal mealtime; for offering several, smaller meals throughout the day; or simply for convenience for either the owner or even a pet sitter who may be caring for the pet,” says Askeland. How do you ensure an automatic pet feeder is safe? “You want to ensure that the pet feeder cannot be knocked over, as this can be not only physically dangerous as it falls, but can also allow a pet to indulge in more food than they should, which can lead to gastrointestinal issues,” cautions Ellis. Dr. Wuellner notes that it’s also very important to remember that, while convenient, they aren’t a replacement for a kennel or pet sitter for long periods of time, such as while you’re on vacation. How do you clean an automatic pet feeder? Askeland notes that cleaning can be a challenge because of the multiple parts and bulkiness of some of these machines. Looking for one with removable parts that are dishwasher safe can help make your life easier, notes Ellis, although your best bet is to always follow the cleaning directions on any particular product you’re using. People / Tamara Staples Why Trust PEOPLE? Melanie Rud is a freelance beauty writer, editor, and expert living in Chicago. Prior to moving to Chicago, Melanie held beauty editorial positions at Shape, Good Housekeeping, and Health. For this piece, she examined the testers' insights for each feeder, compiling all of the scores and data before whittling the list down to our six winners. She also spoke with pet experts Nicole Ellis, Dr. Kristin Wuellner, and Erin Askeland, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA for more information on how pet parents can best utilize these devices. Our Expert Panel Nicole Ellis is a certified dog trainer and Rover Pet People panelist. Dr. Kristin Wuellner is a licensed veterinarian at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Erin Askeland, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA is Camp Bow Wow’s animal health and behavior expert. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.