10 Best Automatic Cat Feeders in Canada in 2022 — Reviews & Top Picks

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Lorna Whittemore

Vet, MRCVS

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Automatic cat feeders are amazing! These machines can keep your cats fed when you’re away, which can help put you at ease. For some cats, it isn’t a great idea to leave food out for them to nibble on throughout the day. Automatic feeders can also come in handy when you want to sleep in on your day off!

If you’re in the market for a new automatic feeder, you’ve likely noticed that there are many varieties out there. We did the research and created reviews for 10 of the best automatic feeders available to Canadians. We hope that you’ll find a reliable feeder that will give you peace of mind when it comes to your cat’s meals.

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The 10 Best Automatic Cat Feeders in Canada

The best overall automatic cat feeder in Canada is the WellToBe Automatic Cat Feeder. We like this one for its moderate price and that it can be programmed for up to six meals a day, which also includes the portion size. It has a voice recorder that can record a 10-second message so you can virtually call your cat when it’s mealtime. This feeder is great for multi-cat homes because it comes with two stainless-steel bowls that can hold up to 3 cups of food each. It has an anti-clog system that prevents it from jamming and alerts you when it’s time to refill it.

There are a few issues, including that you can only use kibble that is less than 0.47 inches, or it could jam. Also, the splitter that dispenses the food into the two bowls doesn’t always distribute even portions — one bowl might get less than the other. Many cats do not enjoy eating side by side so take this into consideration.

The best automatic cat feeder for Canadians for the money is the PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder. It’s cat proof, which should come in handy for owners with cats that know how to snag food from other feeders. This feature also means the food stays fresh for longer inside the storage area. It can be set for up to six scheduled meals every day, and it has a 10-second voice recorder with five different voice recordings that you can choose from. It has an LED screen for scheduling and battery level readings and an infrared sensor that will stop dispensing food if it becomes blocked.

The cons are that programming the food schedule isn’t the easiest, and the voice recorder and/or speaker are not high-quality. It can be hard to hear your voice once it’s set up.

The PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Cat Feeder is our pick for premium choice. It’s compatible with all Amazon Echo devices, so you can ask Alexa to give your cat a snack when your hands are full. This feeder goes further than that with an app for iPhones, iPods, and Android smartphones. It sends you notifications if there’s a problem with the feeder or when it’s running low or empty. It also allows you to program the feeder. It has a slow-feed option, which dispenses small amounts of food over a 15-minute time period, perfect for those cats that eat too quickly. You can program it for up to 12 meals per day, and it’s dishwasher safe.

However, it is expensive, and the smarter the cat, the more likely they will figure out how to stick their paw up the chute and dig the food out.

HoneyGuaridan’s Automatic Cat Feeder is designed for two cats, but the splitter that pours the food into two stainless-steel bowls can be removed for a one-cat household. You can program it for six meals per day and choose up to 48 different portion sizes. It has a battery backup that will retain the schedule even with a power outage. It warns you when the food is getting low and has a voice recorder for a 10-second message. There’s also a built-in sensor for when food gets stuck. The motor rotates in the opposite direction to release the stuck food.

The problems with this feeder are that the food doesn’t always dispense evenly between the two bowls and that the lid doesn’t attach as firmly as it should. Also, sneaky cats can likely figure out how to get at the food.

The Cat Mate C200 Automatic Pet Feeder is slightly different from the other feeders on this list. For one thing, it’s low-tech in comparison because it uses a timer rather than a programmed schedule. It also has two food bowls that hold 1¾ cups of food each, and it comes with an ice pack so you can use wet food with this one. The timer can be set for up to 48 hours, which ticks down until it hits zero. The lid pops up so your cat can access the food. Once done, you can throw it in the dishwasher, refill it, and reset the timer.

However, this is suitable for only one meal (or possibly two), so if you need it to feed your cats more often, this isn’t the feeder for you. You also need to be careful cleaning around the timer’s dial because the numbers are prone to rubbing off.

Arespark’s Automatic Cat Feeder has one large bowl, enabling you to set up to 15 meals each day and up to 50 different portions. You can program it with an app once the feeder is set up on the same wireless network, which can be accessed by anyone with the same account. It can all be detached for washing, and the lid has a twist-lock feature to keep the cats out and the food fresh. It has a voice recorder, and both the app and the feeder will notify you of any problems.

The problems are that if you have 5Ghz for your Wi-Fi, you might be out of luck. It works best with 2.4Ghz, and if you have a small cat, you might find that the smallest portion size is too large.

The WOPET Wi-Fi Enabled Cat Feeder is quite similar to the previous feeder on this list. You also download an app that you can use for programming, and it notifies you of any issues. You can schedule up to 15 meals a day with up to 50 different portions. You can record your voice for your cat, and it has an infrared sensor that helps prevent food blockages. You can use batteries for backup in case of a power outage.

However, it only uses 2.4GHz, and you need wireless for it to work at all. Also, it’s expensive.

The PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder allows for up to four scheduled meals and up to nine portion sizes for each meal. It has a 10-second voice recorder and battery backup, but it also retains its memory of the settings even when there’s a power failure. It comes with a desiccant bag that helps keep the food fresh, and the design is made so only human hands (and not cat paws) can get into the storage bin. It’s also well priced!

Unfortunately, while it takes human hands to lift it, the lid doesn’t lock into place, and clever cats can still find a way to knock it off and get into the food. The clock in some of these units tends to lose time, and the instructions for the portion sizes can be confusing.

PetSafe’s Healthy Pet Simply Feed can schedule up to 12 meals a day and has a variety of portion sizes ranging from 1/8 cup to 4 cups. It uses a conveyor system to dispense the food and can accommodate both semi-moist and dry food. It has a slow-feed feature, which slows down the amount of food dispensed at a time so your cat doesn’t gobble it up. Also, it’s sturdy and more difficult for cats to get into.

There are issues, of course, including the fact that while it does have battery backup, it doesn’t come with batteries or an AC adapter. If you opt for this one, ensure that the equipment is pre-purchased. It’s also expensive and doesn’t offer many of the features seen in most other feeders. It doesn’t have any way of letting you know when it needs filling without opening it up, and the portions aren’t always accurate.

The PETKIT Automatic Cat Feeder has app support, making it easy to control the scheduling and programming. It can set up 10 meals a day and will notify you when the food is getting low with an LED indicator. It can be taken apart for cleaning and has a duo fresh lock system that helps keep the food fresh and dry.

However, the same problem that plagues many of the feeders that use apps is also a problem with this one. The app is clunky and requires a great deal of information about your cat, while most people just want to feed their cat. It’s also expensive and there are issues with the Wi-Fi.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Automatic Cat Feeder in Canada

Finding the right automatic feeder is essential. It can mean the difference between reliability and your cat getting fed or missing meals. Here, we go over a few important points so you can feel more confident in the feeder that you decide on.

What’s Included

Remember to always read the fine print. If the feeder says that it has battery backup, that means you will need to purchase the batteries yourself. It should also explicitly state that you’ll be getting an AC adapter with the feeder. You should always check what the product you are buying comes with.

You should opt for a battery backup feeder if you plan to leave your cat alone longer than a day. You want to ensure that your cat has something to eat even if the power goes out.

Bells and Whistles

If you are aiming for a feeder that is supported through an app and connects to your Wi-Fi, check the feeder’s specifications. Almost all cat feeders can only connect to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. This means you’ll need to change your wireless settings every time you use the feeder.

If you’re not tech-savvy, you might want to stay away from these feeders because you might find them difficult to work with. Keep in mind that some of these feeders only work through the app and by connecting to your Wi-Fi.

Best Bet

When looking for an automatic feeder, you ideally want to aim for battery backup, a window in the reservoir, and stainless-steel bowls. The window or a clear reservoir will tell you at a glance when it needs filling, and the stainless-steel bowls are sanitary and easier to clean. Don’t purchase a feeder just because it has a voice recorder, for example, because cats are smart enough to figure out when they will be fed.

What Do You Need It For?

The feeder that you end up with should be based on what you’re using it for. If you only want it so your cat doesn’t wake you up at 5 a.m. every morning, you only need a simple one that offers one meal option. But if you need it during a short vacation or just overnight, take note of how many meals it offers and how large the reservoir is.

You must ensure that it holds enough and provides plenty of portion sizes and meal times, so your cat is fed regularly. But if your cat just grazes lightly on food and you’re not concerned about them overeating, you can also consider a gravity feeder, which is more reliable than anything plugged in.

Conclusion

We like the WellToBe Automatic Cat Feeder overall for its moderate price and anti-clog system. The PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder is cat proof for those smart cats and has an infrared sensor that prevents blockage — and it has a great price! The PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Cat Feeder is our premium choice pick, as it offers an app for programming, Alexa for snacks, and a slow-feed option for cats that tend to snarf up their food.

We hope that these reviews have helped you pick an automatic feeder that is reliable and easy to use, so your cat can have dinner when you’re not around.

Featured Image Credit: gofra, Shutterstock