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Of course, we all want to spend as much time as possible with our cats. However, busy work schedules and family holidays make that dream an impossibility for much of the time. Automatic feeders can help take the guesswork out of when you’ll be home to feed your cat since it’ll simply give them their set portion at the hour you put in the program or set the timer to.
All felines can benefit from regular meal times since they thrive on consistent schedules, but strict feeding times are critical for pets with diseases like diabetes that require small, frequent feedings. Pets who struggle with weight maintenance may also prosper from an automatic feeder that doesn’t allow them to raid their food bowl at whim.
When it comes to automatic feeders, you can find a variety of power options from a Wi-Fi-enabled feeder that you can control from anywhere in the world, to a gravity feeder that requires nothing but the laws of physics to deliver meals. We’ve compiled reviews of several top choices available in Australia in each of these categories to help you see which one fits into your cat’s mealtime routine best.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
The 8 Best Automatic Cat Feeders In Australia
1. Advwin Automatic Cat Feeder – Best Overall
| Capacity: | 6 Liters |
| Digital Automatic Timer: | Yes |
| Wi-Fi: | Yes |
With the Advwin 6L Automatic Cat Feeder, you can continue to show your cat that you care for them even when you’re not there by engaging with the 2-way voice intercom. You can talk to your cat while they eat, and you’ll see and hear their response from wherever you are in the world. When the 1080P camera detects movement, it will send a notification and a picture to your phone to let you know that your cat is nearby. The night vision camera allows for a 24/7 inside scoop into your cat’s eating habits, which can be very useful if you’re monitoring their dietary habits for health reasons.
Designed with smart kitties in mind, there is a lock button on the device in case your clever feline learns how to press the release button. As an added bonus, the stainless-steel bowls are removable and dishwasher safe. In the event of power loss, there is a battery backup option where you can supply D batteries (not included). You do need at least 2.4G of Wi-Fi for this automatic feeder to function. As with most automatic feeders, only dry food is appropriate because wet food would clog the device.
But given all of the unique features and large 6-liter dry food capacity, this is definitely our pick for the best overall automatic cat feeders available in Australia.
2. Cat Mate 2 Meal Automatic Cat Feeder – Best Value
| Capacity: | 28 ounces |
| Digital Automatic Timer: | No |
| Wi-Fi: | No |
The Cat Mate C200 is one of the most budget-friendly automatic feeders that also scores highly positive reviews. Our pick for the best automatic cat feeder for the money, this feeder gives your cat a thrifty way to enjoy a fresh meal up to 48 hours after you manually set the timer. There’s no Wi-Fi required, which is great news if you live in a remote area with poor signal.
The capacity is only 28 ounces, which is a little small. However, the ice pack lasts 48 hours at best—and some pet parents warn it’s not even that long—so this would probably be the best choice when you anticipate a long day at work or a quick weekend trip rather than a feeder to supply your cat’s needs while you’re on an extensive holiday excursion. The bowls and lids are removable and dishwasher safe for quick clean up.
3. Catit PIXI Smart Feeder – Premium Choice
| Capacity: | 2 Liters |
| Digital Automatic Timer: | Yes |
| Wi-Fi: | Yes |
We think our premium choice is the purrfect addition to any cat lover’s home. The cute kitty face feeder is equipped with a cat nose button for manual feeding, which thankfully can be disabled if you have a cat who likes to eat a little too much. You can set up to 12 meals per day on the included app, and you’ll receive important notifications on your phone such as when the feeder is running low.
You do need at least 2.4 GB of data to activate the Catit PIXI Smart Feeder and the included app tools, although the manual feeding button works offline if you’re experiencing connectivity issues.
4. CatMate Automatic Cat Feeder with Digital Timer – Best for Kittens
| Capacity: | 57 ounces |
| Digital Automatic Timer: | No |
| Wi-Fi: | No |
As young kittens transition from mother’s milk to solid food, some might prefer the ease of wet food as opposed to dry, hard kibbles. An automatic feeder is a must in this situation because kittens need smaller portions more frequently than adult cats, and that can be hard to provide if you work away from home.
The CatMate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder features five compartments, each with a 11.5-ounce capacity. The twin ice packs keep the food fresh all day, and the unit can run for roughly a year on 3 AA batteries. Wi-Fi isn’t required since this automatic feeder runs on a manual timer. Of course, the downside is that you must remember to set it every time it runs out. The only other complaint is that some pet parents have noted that the bowl is a little too deep for their cat. On the plus side, the bowls and lids are dishwasher safe.
5. 2 in 1 Cat Automatic Feeder & Water Dispenser
| Capacity: | 3.5 liters food, 3.8 liters water |
| Digital Automatic Timer: | No |
| Wi-Fi: | No |
There are no frills with this automatic feeder. If you live in an area with frequent connectivity issues and power outages, the 2 in 1 Dog/Cat Automatic Feeder & 3.8L Water Dispenser by beyonday is the choice for you. It relies on nothing but gravity to deliver meals. Food and water travel from the reservoir into the bowl as it empties, giving your pet a continuous supply.
Of course, this design works better for some pets than others. It’s a dream for picky eaters and cats who don’t have a problem with portion control. However, a gravity feeder is definitely not recommended for felines who are overweight or require their meals at specific times.
6. WellToBe Automatic Cat Feeder with Double Bowls
| Capacity: | 4 Liters |
| Digital Automatic Timer: | Yes |
| Wi-Fi: | No |
If feeding time can cause tension between your pets, the Automatic Cat Feeder by WellToBe resolves the squabbles by splitting the meals into two portions. The splitter can also be removed if you only have one pet. The 4-liter capacity can deliver up to 6 individual meals per day from 1-48 portions of 0.28 ounces or about 1/16 of a cup each. The feeder runs off a power adapter with a battery backup option that requires 4 D batteries.
This isn’t a Wi-Fi enabled feeder, but it has many features typically featured in high tech feeders such as a blue warning light that will flash when the dispenser is running low. You can also record a voice message to play at mealtime that lasts up to 10 seconds. You might want to monitor the feedings occasionally to make sure your cats are receiving a fair amount of food. The only complaint voiced by pet parents is that the feeder sometimes gives one bowl an unequal portion compared to the other.
7. TEKXDD Automatic Cat Feeder
| Capacity: | 4 Liters |
| Digital Automatic Timer: | Yes |
| Wi-Fi: | No |
The TEKXDD Automatic Pet Feeder releases between 1-5 meals per day depending on your presets. Although it’s not a Wi-Fi enabled feeder, the touchscreen controls give it a sleek and modern feel. You can greet your cat with a voice message that lasts up to 10 seconds that’ll play every time food is dispensed. The 3 D battery backup ensures that they never miss a meal in the event of power failure. The bowls are removable for easy cleaning, but they may not be dishwasher safe.
8. AEROKO Automatic Cat Feeder
| Capacity: | 4.5 Liters |
| Digital Automatic Timer: | Yes |
| Wi-Fi: | No |
Feed your cat 1-4 times a day and never worry about them skipping meals due to power failure. The AEROKO Automatic Feeder runs off a power adapter with unique USB charging. There’s also a battery backup option that requires 3 D batteries (not included). If you forget to load the batteries and you do lose power, you don’t need to worry about resetting the feeding times when the power is restored. The memory function saves your settings so the feedings can continue as soon as possible. The bowls are also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
While this feeder is ideal for a long workday or a short weekend trip, it’s not recommended for a long separation from your cat since it can only deliver 1-4 meals before needing a refill.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Automatic Cat Feeder for Your Cat
You’ll need to determine which type of feeder best suits your cat by comparing capacity, timers, and functions. Higher-capacity feeders typically allow for more frequent meals. The AEROKO Automatic Pet Feeder is an exception, as it has a rather large 4.5L capacity despite the low 1-4 meal count. Kittens or cats with certain medical conditions such as diabetes benefit the most from small, frequent feedings. Make sure to take note of how many meals your dispenser can provide before needing a refill, especially in these cases.
Type of Food
Most automatic feeders only dispense dry food, as moist food can become clogged. Our best value option, the CatMate C200, and our best choice for kittens, the CatMate C500, are the only options for wet food, but they do have a low 2-meal capacity. Both are equipped with ice packs that last for roughly 48 hours. However, that’s the maximum, so we recommend checking the first few times you use them to find a more accurate estimate.
Timer Control
Some timers on automatic feeders are operated digitally, so you can set and forget it (as long as you keep refilling the reservoir when it runs low, of course). Others may have to be set manually or may be Wi-Fi controlled. If you struggle to maintain consistent internet connectivity at your house, you might benefit from a manual or digital timer. However, you’ll still need to make sure you have a battery back-up for a digital timer in the event you lose power.
Other Features
Automatic feeders may feature helpful high-tech functions, such as a voice recorder that allows you to create and store a unique voice message that can alert your cat when it’s dinnertime. You might also want to scout product descriptions for convenient perks, such as dishwasher-safe bowls and lids.
Conclusion
Automatic feeders can relieve some of the stress of owning a pet since it reassures you (and your pet) that they’ll be fed regardless of 5:00 PM traffic or dire circumstances at your kid’s school. It can also take the financial burden of hiring a pet sitter for a short weekend getaway. However, they can’t replace quality time with your pet. We also highly urge you to call someone to check on your cat if you’re going to be away for longer than 48 hours.
While automatic feeders are nice, unfortunately, they’re not infallible, and you don’t want to accidentally starve your pet if it malfunctions. Our overall best choice, the Advin 6L Automatic Cat Feeder fixes this problem somewhat by allowing you to monitor your cat’s eating habits 24/7 as long as there’s Wi-Fi connection. You can even talk to your cat with the two-way intercom. Our best value option, the CatMate C200, is affordable and can dispense both wet and dry food. Our premium choice, the Catit PIXI Smart Feeder, is one of the most high-tech feeders on our list. Whatever you choose, we hope our reviews helped make your decision easier!
Featured Image Credit: Kylbabka, Shuttestock