Cats are only dependent on the owner for their nutrition due to their individual character. The reliability of the "can opener" may suffer somewhat due to overtime, sickness or vacations. A good solution is a cat feeder. In our test, we took a closer look at some of the dispensers.
We have included the satisfaction of customers with the offered feeders in our recommendations. In addition, we answer important questions about the topic of automatic feeders in our test report.
This guide is designed to help you find the right device for your cat. A automatic feeder will not replace you, but only ensure the supply of your cat.
Automatic feeder for cats test: our personal favorites
automatic feeder with microchip – our top recommendation
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In the category "microchip feeder", the surefeed microchip feeder has caught our eye especially.
This food dispenser is ideal for a multi-cat household. You can program up to 32 different microchips or collar tags. The lid opens on the "right" cat (programmed chip). Due to the rubber seal you will not have "odor nuisance" with wet food.
The food lid closes automatically. You can also set the time intervals for the dispenser. The default setting of two seconds is usually sufficient for this automatic feeder.
automatic feeder with timer – our recommendation
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In our evaluation of automatic feeders in the category "timer", the petsafe automatic feeder has clearly scored best.
You can program the feeding time for five meals within 24 hours. The bowls have a capacity of 200 g each. The food dispenser can be filled with dry cat food, wet food or treats. Cooling accumulators are placed under the device to keep the food fresh.
A meal is always available for your cat. The other four portions are hidden under the closed lid. The rotating mechanism you set by the timer. The empty bowl disappears and the next meal becomes visible.
This automatic feeder for cats does not need a lid that pops open when in "feeding mode". This is a great advantage for timid cats.
Automatic feeder for food and water – our recommendation
Last update on 30.01.2022 / affiliate link
We think that the combination of food and water is well solved in the karlie food and water dispenser.
The feeding of dry food is easily adjustable due to the adjustable refill mechanism. The dry food "slips" automatically. The missing amount is replaced immediately after eating.
The size of the dry food ration you can set individually. The container has a capacity of 5 kg. You can easily take care of a multi-cat household. The automatic drinking water supply supports the necessary water balance of your cat.
A PET bottle is screwed into the water dispenser. The overflow into the water bowl is automatically regulated. As soon as your cat drinks, the missing amount of water is immediately replenished.
Buying guide: what you should consider before buying an automatic feeder for cats
Our cat feeder test report – advantages and disadvantages
A food dispenser gives you the opportunity to provide your cat with food at certain times. Individual feeding is also possible in a larger cat household. You have the "right" food intake better under control.
The portions are individually adjusted and a shy cat receives its share of food compared to the other cats of the same species. This independence in feeding allows you to meet your professional requirements without "bad" conscience. The important supply is cat feeder guaranteed.
A short weekend trip is possible with a food dispenser without much advance planning. You do not have to constantly entrust friends or neighbors with this task. The independent four-legged friends can feed themselves with an automatic feeder.
Your task as a cat owner is limited to filling up the dispenser. In our test report you will learn all the important details about the different automatic feeders.
How expensive are feeders for cats?
The prices of the offered feeders can be between 10 euro and 120 euro. The more expensive the feeder, the more functions the product has.
Through our test we have come to the conclusion that if you only want to organize the dry food supply during your absence, a cheap variant is sufficient.
If you want to individualize the feeding of your cats in the long run, you will have to dig a little deeper into your pocket. The price is not decisive. It is important that the feeder meets the needs of your cat and your wishes.
Where to buy feeders?
You can buy automatic feeders for cats in any pet store. The choice of different products is limited. The operator can explain the functions of the different feeders on the spot.
You can find a larger selection of different brands on the internet. By comparing prices and functions, you can choose and order the most suitable feeder for you.
Our automatic feeder tests showed, buying a food dispenser from a pet store on the internet is the most sensible solution. The most popular recommendations from online stores are amazon, zooplus or zooroyal.
If your cat refuses the food from a feeder despite everything, you can return the product with both purchase variants again. The return is possible in certain periods. This allows you to put the cat feeder to a thorough practical test first.
After a few days you are sure, either the device is accepted or not. A one-week refusal diet is not likely to stop your cat after three weeks. Both our cats accepted the feeder within a week of our test without any problems.
My cat refuses the automatic feeder – and now?
The best known and most popular alternative is to involve friends and neighbors who love animals. If you are a good neighbor, the house keys are usually exchanged.
A short call for overtime solves the feeding problem. In vacation planning, friends in the combination of watering flowers and feeding cats can also be a positive alternative. In both cases the human contact to your cat is a plus point.
However, you should make sure that your neighbors like animals. Everyday personal feeding strengthens the bond between you and your cat.
Another possibility is to feed your cat in advance. Different feeding stations are set up in the apartment or in the house. This alternative works for trained cats.
Feeding your animals in advance requires a longer preparation for the vacations. In a multi-cat household this option is feasible with some setbacks.
Microchip feeders – advantages and disadvantages
As the biggest advantage in our automatic feeder test with chip we see the individual feeding of each cat. Especially in a multi-cat household, sometimes older and shy cats miss out on the food.
The chip ensures that the lid opens on the "right" cat. as soon as the four-legged friend moves away, the lid closes again. Other cats can not steal the food.
Programming is limited to a certain number of chips. The capacity of 2 to 32 options is usually sufficient for a private cat household. For our test report two chips were completely sufficient.
Through these individual settings you can also feed different types of food. For example a high quality dry food for the cat lady with bladder problems or a wet food ration for the cat grandpa.
the function of this feeder depends on an intact battery. Here you have to check the battery capacity from time to time. we didn’t see the operation by batteries as a disadvantage in our feeder test though.
Automatic feeders with timer – advantages and disadvantages
A food vending machine with a timer opens the lid according to your instructions. You can decide whether the lid opens once or several times a day. Through these opening hours you can ration the portions.
Your cat doesn’t get food when it feels like it. If your cat is otherwise occupied (sleeping, playing), it can miss the moment of the open lid. Surely you will set the times according to your experience.
Nevertheless, the individual cat can have a different sense of time at the moment. She must wait for the next opening date. We found this factor to be negative in our cat feeder test.
like the vending machine with chip, the automatic feeder with timer is powered by a battery. This must be checked regularly.