Feeding & Water
Best Automatic Cat Feeders
(opens Amazon in a new tab)The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommends splitting a cat's daily food into several small meals spread through the day [1]. That's hard to do if you work long hours, and it's where an automatic cat feeder helps.
We picked three: a simple timed feeder with a screen and buttons, a two-bowl feeder for homes with two cats, and a Wi-Fi feeder with a camera you control from your phone. All three are for dry food.
Our 3 picks at a glance
- Best OverallVOLUAS Automatic Cat Feeder, 4LUp to 4 meals a day, set on a screen; plug-in or battery powerCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best for Two Catsoneisall Automatic Cat Feeder for 2 CatsTwo steel bowls 16 inches apart, up to 6 meals a dayCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best With a CameraFrienhund Automatic Cat Feeder with CameraWi-Fi feeder with a camera, app scheduling and a 7-liter tankCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
How we picked
We searched Amazon for automatic cat feeders and read the top organic results. We left out gravity feeders, which refill the bowl as it empties and don't portion meals, and we skipped listings with a high score from only a few ratings.
We chose one feeder for each kind of home and checked what each listing says about portions, meals per day and power. What vets say about meal feeding comes from the AAFP consensus statement on feeding cats [1]. For water, see our cat fountain guide.
What the research says
The AAFP's 2018 consensus statement on feeding cats says a cat's daily food should be split into multiple small meals fed throughout the 24 hours, using puzzle feeders where possible [1]. It criticizes feeding large amounts once or twice a day, or leaving food out all the time, without regard to each cat's energy needs [1].
On automatic feeders it is brief: they "can also be helpful", but they don't usually give cats a chance to forage or hunt [1]. So a feeder handles the schedule. Play and puzzle feeders still matter. We found no study showing that automatic feeders prevent weight gain.
Weight is a real issue. In the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2022 survey of U.S. veterinary clinics, 61% of cats were classed as overweight or obese [2]. That's an advocacy group's survey, not peer-reviewed and not a nationally representative estimate, but it's a good reason to measure portions and ask your vet how much your cat should eat.
VOLUAS Automatic Cat Feeder, 4L
Sold by Voluas Direct, ships from Amazon.
This is the most-rated feeder here, and the simplest. You set one to four meals a day on its LCD screen, with 0 to 40 portion settings. The listing says a portion is about 6 to 7 grams, roughly a tablespoon, which makes small meals easy to set.
It holds 4 liters of dry food, runs on a USB power adapter, and can switch to three D-cell batteries (not included) as a backup. You can record a 10-second meal call. There's no app, which some people will prefer.
Good to know
- Small portions of about 6–7 g, per the listing
- Plug-in with battery backup
- No app or Wi-Fi needed
Keep in mind
- Dry food only
- Up to 4 meals a day, fewer than the other two
- Batteries not included
oneisall Automatic Cat Feeder for 2 Cats
Sold by oneisallstudio, ships from Amazon.
The AAFP says feeding stations should be visually separated, because making a cat eat near one it would avoid causes stress [1]. This feeder splits each meal into two stainless steel bowls on opposite sides, 16 inches apart. That spreads the cats out a little, but it is still one station.
It's set with a dial, serves up to six meals a day, and the listing says a portion is about 10 grams per bowl. It holds 5 liters, plugs in, and takes four AA batteries (not included) as a backup. The bowls are dishwasher safe.
Good to know
- Two bowls on opposite sides
- Up to 6 meals a day
- Highest rating here; 2-year warranty listed
Keep in mind
- Both cats still eat from one unit; the AAFP suggests stations out of each other's view [1]
- Kibble must be under 0.5 inch, per the listing
- The spec says 11 pounds capacity while the title says 5 liters
Frienhund Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera
Sold by SAMHUG, ships from Amazon.
If you want to see your cat eat while you're away, this feeder has a camera with night vision and two-way audio. You set meals in the phone app, up to 15 a day, and the listing says the app shows feeding history, and the camera lets you see how much food is left in the bowl.
It has the biggest tank here, at 7 liters, with a stainless steel bowl, and works on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi. The listing says it can also run on three D-cell batteries if the power goes out.
Good to know
- Camera, night vision and two-way audio
- Up to 15 meals a day via the app
- Largest tank: 7 liters
Keep in mind
- Needs the app and Wi-Fi for the camera and remote features
- The title says 2K camera; the bullets say Full HD 3 megapixel
- The listing doesn't say whether cloud video storage costs extra
- The spec lists corded power only, while the bullets describe a 3 D-cell backup
Side by side
| Product | Meals a day | Portion | Capacity | Power | Controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VOLUAS 4L | 1–4 | About 6–7 g | 4 L | Adapter + 3 D (not incl.) | LCD buttons |
| oneisall 2-cat | Up to 6 | About 10 g per bowl | 5 L | Adapter + 4 AA (not incl.) | Dial |
| Frienhund camera | Up to 15 | Not stated in grams | 7 L | Adapter + 3 D (inclusion not stated) | Phone app |
Specs as stated on each Amazon listing, checked September 2026.
What to look for
Small portions
The AAFP recommends several small meals a day [1]. Check the portion size in grams so you can match what your vet recommends.
Meals per day
More meal slots let you spread food out. Our picks range from 4 to 15.
Power backup
All three take batteries as a backup. The VOLUAS and oneisall don't include them, and the Frienhund listing doesn't say. Fit them before you go away.
Separate eaters
In multi-cat homes, the AAFP suggests feeding stations out of each other's view [1]. One feeder per cat does that best.
The bottom line
- Best Overall: The VOLUAS is simple and small-portioned, with no app needed.
- Best for Two Cats: The oneisall splits each meal into two bowls on opposite sides.
- Best With a Camera: The Frienhund lets you watch and schedule from your phone.
Questions pet parents ask
Are automatic cat feeders good for cats?
The AAFP says they "can also be helpful" for feeding several small meals, but they don't usually let a cat forage or hunt [1]. Add play or puzzle feeders too.
How many meals a day should a cat eat?
The AAFP recommends splitting daily food into multiple small meals across 24 hours [1]. Ask your vet how much your cat should eat in total.
Will an automatic feeder help my cat lose weight?
We found no study showing that. It can make measured portions easier. The AAFP recommends measured small meals over free-feeding large amounts [1]; ask your vet for a weight plan.
Can I use wet food in these feeders?
No. All three listings are for dry food.
What happens if the power goes out?
Each of our picks can run on batteries as a backup, per its listing. The VOLUAS and oneisall don't include them; the Frienhund listing doesn't say.
Can two cats share one automatic feeder?
The oneisall is built for two, with bowls 16 inches apart. The AAFP suggests separate feeding stations out of each other's view [1], so two feeders in different spots is better if your cats don't get along.
Sources
- Sadek T, Hamper B, Horwitz D, Rodan I, Rowe E, Sundahl E. Feline feeding programs: Addressing behavioural needs to improve feline health and wellbeing. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 20(11):1049–1055 (2018). journals.sagepub.com
- Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. 2022 Pet Obesity Survey Results. petobesityprevention.org