Things to Consider Before Buying an Automatic Pet Feeder

Ease of Programming

According to Ellis, easy programming is one of the top things to seek out when looking for a pet feeder; he 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 at a schedule that’s best for them. She also says that WiFi capabilities and app controls can be very helpful — our best overall choice, the Whisker Feeder Robot offers both of these.

Back-Up Power Supply

The majority of automatic pet feeders run on electricity, so looking for ones that have a back-up battery/can run on batteries instead can be very helpful, especially if the power goes out, Ellis notes. Most of the models featured on this list do, in fact, 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. Wuellner. Of the models we tested, the Whisker Feeder Robot held the most food while the PETLIBRO AIR Automatic Pet Feeder held the least.

How We Tested

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.

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 five winners. She also spoke with pet experts Nicole Ellis, a certified dog trainer and Rover Pet People panelist; Dr. Kristin Wuellner, a licensed veterinarian at Hill’s Pet Nutrition; and Erin Askeland, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA and 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.