What’S The Best Automatic Outdoor Cat Feeders ?
- May 27, 2023
- By Dr. Deborah Fletcher
If you have outdoor cats, you know how tough it is to feed them since you don't want the food to rot or collect moisture and get soggy and stale—not to mention being taken by other critters.
Outdoor cat feeders can assist alleviate this issue by dispensing food at the appropriate time.
That being said, there are numerous brands available, and selecting the ideal one for your pet might be a time-consuming procedure, but that's where we come in.
We've chosen the best automatic outdoor cat feeders to compare so you can notice the differences. We'll go over the benefits and drawbacks of each, as well as how they worked with our cats.
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has also included a short buyer's guide to help you figure out what to look for if you continue to browse around.
Reviews
Best Value Van Ness Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder
Our recommendation for the best automatic outdoor cat feeder for the money is the Van Ness Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder.
It’s made of non-toxic plastic approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, so it’s safe to use with your pet, and a smoky, see-through reservoir lets you see how much food is left.
It has a 24-cup capacity, so you’ll only need to fill it every few days, and it comes already constructed, so you can use it right away.
The Van Ness Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder’s disadvantage is that the plastic is exceedingly weak and readily bends and warps. After only a few days of use, our lid would not close due to the sunlight striking it.
Pros
- FDA-accepted plastic
- Simple to fill
- Transparent reservoir
- There is no assembly.
Cons
- Plastic is flimsy.
Sure Petcare Microchip Auto Cat Feeder – High-Quality Option
Our premium outdoor cat feeder is the Sure Petcare SureFeed Feeder Connect Microchip Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder. It records how much and when your pet eats each day and sends a detailed report to your smartphone app.
It can track up to 32 pets at once and remains locked until a registered cat approaches, ensuring that there are no burglars. It’s also one of the few gadgets that can be used with both wet and dry cat food.
Aside from the exorbitant price, the Sure Petcare SureFeed Feeder has a drawback in that it requires your cat to have a microchip or a specific ID tag to access the machine, and it only comes with a single tag.
We also have a bully cat who pushes the other cats out of the way to eat their food, and the machine will stay open for this cat once it is opened by one of the others.
Pros
- It keeps track of how much food your pet consumes each day.
- It only opens when your pet approaches.
- It is possible to track up to 32 pets.
- It is suitable for both wet and dry food.
Cons
- Expensive
- It only comes with one collar tag.
- Cats can deceive it.
PETKIT Automatic Cat Puppy Feeder – Kittens Only
The PETKIT Automatic Cat Puppy Feeder is our top selection for the best kitten feeder. It’s extremely light, weighing only a few ounces, and it schedules and distributes food using a smart system that communicates with your phone.
It contains a fresh lock system to keep moisture out of the food and a low food indication to ensure you never run out. A battery backup ensures that the equipment continues to operate even if the power goes out.
The software required to utilize the PETKIT Automatic Cat Puppy Feeder was our major issue with it. It’s not easy to learn, and the only way to fix mistakes is to delete everything and start over.
We’ve also noticed that the batteries continue to deplete while the machine is plugged in, so make sure you check them periodically to ensure they’re still charged.
Pros
- New locking system
- Power as a backup
- Food deficiency indicator
- It is compatible with a smartphone app.
Cons
- Software that is difficult to use
- While plugged in, it runs on batteries.
Healthy Pet Simply Programmable Cat Feeder by PetSafe
The 24-cup size of the PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Programmable Dog & Cat Feeder will keep your cat nourished for several days.
It can dispense food up to 12 times a day and even includes a slow feed option that spreads the food out over 15 minutes to keep your pet from eating too quickly.
The LCD screen makes programming simple, and the ABS plastic and stainless-steel construction make this a long-lasting equipment.
The disadvantage of utilizing the PetSafe Healthy Pet was that assembly took a long time, and it was difficult to get it to work correctly the first time we used it.
Pros
- It can feed up to 12 people every day.
- LCD display
- Option for slow feeding
- Durable
Cons
- It is difficult to set up.
Automatic Cat Feeder Super Feeder
The Super Feeder Automatic Cat Feeder is an excellent feeder that can be programmed to feed your cats up to 96 times per day using the 15-minute timer.
This timer allows you to provide food at precisely the appropriate time, and it’s ideal for cats who eat excessively and frequently vomit because it can be configured to provide less food more frequently.
It also includes the necessary hardware to anchor it to a wall or brace, which can help keep it from tipping over, and you can expand this device to feed more cats or hold more food by purchasing extensions.
The Super Feeder Automatic Cat Feeder has one disadvantage: it requires some assembly, and the instructions aren’t as clear as they may be. We also discovered that it required frequent tweaks otherwise it dispensed too much food.
Pros
- Expandable
- Can feed up to 48 times each day.
- Mounts are included.
Cons
- Assembly is required.
- Frequent modifications are required.
Finding The Best Automatic Outdoor Feeder: A Buyer's Guide
Capacity
When selecting your next automatic outdoor cat feeder, the first thing to consider is how much food volume it has.
The more food you can fit in it, the less often you’ll need to refill it, reducing your daily tasks and allowing you to take longer vacations. Larger capacity machines, on the other hand, will take up more space on your porch or patio.
Reliability
If you have an appropriately sized machine, the next item to consider is its dependability. It’s not very beneficial if the device doesn’t dispense rewards when it’s supposed to.
We found no significant issues with reliability in any of the models on this list. However, we strongly advise you to read the evaluations on any other brands you’re considering to guarantee they consistently dispense food when they’re intended to.
Durability
Even if you put these dispensers on a covered porch, they will be vulnerable to extreme weather conditions because they are outdoor dispensers.
As a result, building material is critical since weak plastic will distort in hot weather and shatter in cold weather.
In our reviews, we attempted to highlight any brains that may not be ideal for extreme conditions, and we urge that you read the reviews of any brands not on our list that you may be considering for durability difficulties.
Potion Management
Portion control is critical since it ensures that your pet eats appropriately without becoming overweight.
A machine that delivers too much food may leave food in the bowl after your cat has finished eating, inviting ants and other insects, not to mention other animals.
In our reviews, we attempted to highlight any products that have issues with portion control.
Simple Setup
Another item to consider before choosing an outdoor cat feeder is the installation. Many current feeders employ cellphones and apps to control feeding time and portion amount, whereas older models rely on timers and manual methods.
Modern gadgets are more expensive, have a steeper learning curve, and may be less robust than vintage equipment, but they are frequently more accurate.
Many also include beneficial functions such as tracking how much your cat eats and allowing you to see and communicate with your cat from a distance.
Conclusion
When it comes to the best automatic outdoor cat feeder, BestForPets (bestforpets.org) strongly recommends our best automatic outdoor cat feeders list.
The Hepper Cat Auto Feeder boasts a 4 Litre capacity, an anti-clogging construction for consistent food delivery, and a high-tech operation mechanism that makes feeding your cat more convenient.
The Van Ness Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder is our greatest value, and it’s an excellent choice for anyone searching for a high-capacity unit at a reasonable cost.
Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.
Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher
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