As a devoted cat parent of 3 furry friends, I’ve always struggled with maintaining a consistent feeding schedule. Between early morning work schedules and late-night deadlines, I found myself constantly worrying about my cats starving until I got home to feed them.
That’s when I decided to take the plunge and invest in automatic cat feeders. Little did I know how much this decision would revolutionize not just my cats’ lives, but mine as well.
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The Quest for the Perfect Automatic Cat Feeder
Before settling on my final choices, I spent several days searching online through the world of automatic cat feeders.
I scoured countless online reviews, polled my fellow cat-owning friends for their recommendations, and changed my mind a zillion times over.
The market was teeming with options – from basic programmable dispensers to high-tech smart feeders with all the bells and whistles.
I considered factors like capacity, reliability, ease of cleaning, and of course, “smart” features that would fit into my connected home ecosystem.
After what felt like weeks of comparison and deliberation, (it was only days), I narrowed down my choices to two standout contenders that seemed to offer the perfect balance of functionality, technology, and value for money.
I narrowed down my choices to two popular options:
- MIETUBL Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera, 5G & 2.4G WiFi Pet Feeder
- PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder, WiFi Connected
Let me share my experience with each of these smart pet feeders and how they’ve transformed my daily routine.
MIETUBL Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera, 5G & 2.4G WiFi Pet Feeder
The first product I tried was the Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera, 5G & 2.4G WiFi Pet Feeder.
For those of you who have a multi-cat household, you may be familiar with the cats eating out of each others’ bowls. And, if all the cats eat the same food, it’s no big deal.
But, of course my life isn’t that easy. My senior cat has allergies and licks her belly bald. The vet finally narrowed it down to food allergies.
This means meal time has become a fiasco, policing the animals, figuring out where to place the bowls and figuring out the best way to keep them all separated.
So as I searched for automatic pet feeders, having a camera was a favorable option. I figured I could watch them if I wasn’t home to make sure they were eating the right food.
Because if I saw the wrong cat eating the wrong food, I could use the awesome speaker to tell them no, not their food. And they will listen to me and stop eating it.
Stop, I hear you laughing. I know. Cats.
Here’s what stood out:
- 1080P HD Camera with Night Vision: I could check on my cats anytime, day or night.
- Smart App Control: Scheduling meals became a breeze with the user-friendly app. LOVE this feature.
- 2-Way Audio: Being able to call my cats for dinner was surprisingly fun!
- Detachable Design: Cleaning was much easier than I anticipated.
The Good
- Real-time video feed gave me peace of mind – I love spying on them
- Flexible scheduling options for multiple cats
- Easy to clean and maintain
The Not-So-Good
- Initial setup took some time to get right, but, it really wasn’t that bad
- Occasional WiFi connectivity issues (resolved with turning my wifi on/off)
PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder, Wifi Connected, Adjustable Meal Splitter
Next up was the PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder. I was thinking that in order to keep the cats in order (haha), the two cats who eat the same food can use the same feeder.
I found this feeder that had two bowls. It has a meal splitter, so each bowl receives the same amount of food. The downfall of this device, there was no camera. Yet, I thought the benefits of feeding two cats with one feeder would be a good economical choice.
This was where I made my first mistake. I forgot that cats are little A**holes. The bottom line, they are animals. When they are hungry, if there is a dominant one, he will monopolize the bowls and take over both.
I was not expecting that, and that is exactly what happened. But, I can share more of this story later.
The PETLIBRO did offer some unique features:
- WiFi Connected: Similar to the first feeder, but with a slightly different app experience.
- Adjustable Meal Splitter: Perfect for portion control and multiple cat households (if the cats know how to share).
- Fresh Food Storage: Keeps dry food crisp and appetizing.
- Stainless Steel Components: Durable and easy to clean.
The Good
- Excellent portion control options
- Sturdy construction built to last
- Intuitive app interface
The Not-So-Good
- Slightly bulkier design compared to the first option
- Limited to dry food only
The Truth About What Really Happened
After using both feeders for several weeks, here’s what I was HOPING to discover:
- Consistent Feeding Schedule: My cats quickly adapted to the new routine, reducing their anxiety around mealtimes.
- Improved Portion Control: No more overfeeding or underfeeding – each cat got exactly what they needed.
- Reduced Stress: I could focus on work or travel without worrying about my cats’ meals.
- Better Sleep: No more early morning wake-up calls from hungry cats!
- Unexpected Bonding: Using the 2-way audio feature became a fun way to interact with my cats when I was away.
And here’s what REALLY happened:
- Until I figured out the actual timing of the feeding, one of the three cats was going hungry. Because again, cats are a**holes.
- I don’t know if I’m over or under feeding them. They are certainly getting smaller portions, so they think they are hungry. But I have the timers set for 4 feedings a day. So I might be over feeding them. You can schedule up to 6 feeds a day.
- I have created more stress for myself on one hand – I fear while I’m out one of the cats will go hungry thanks to the other ones stealing. On the other hand, I feel less stressed because when I am not home during meal time, I know the feeders are releasing food. So I can’t decide what my stress is doing.
- Only one of the three cats would try to wake me up starting around 2 or 3am. I learned to ignore him, so I don’t think the feeder had anything to do with that. Yet, if he starts pawing at my face around 4:30 am, I might hit the “feed now” button depending on how annoyed I am. At least I can “feed” him without getting out of bed. That’s nice.
- I have my voice recorded and set so before the food is released, they hear me saying their names and it’s time to eat, come get their food. Which is what I said before I bought the feeders. They do go to their respective feeders and wait for the food which is then released. So, I think they have bonded to the devices more than the sound of my own voice coming from it.
Which Automatic Cat Feeder Should You Choose?
Both the Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera and the PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder have their strengths. Your choice depends on your specific needs:
- If you prioritize visual monitoring and interaction, go for the Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera.
- If you have multiple cats and need precise portion control, the PETLIBRO Automatic Cat Feeder might be your best bet. But, only if they know how to share.
- After purchasing one of each, I decided they all needed their own feeders, since they don’t know how to share.
- I purchased two of the MIETUBLs and the third cat keeps the PETLIBRO. Yet, I am worried he is overeating now, so I will ultimately sell that one and purchase another MIETUBL. That way all three cats will have their own feeders.
- You also need to figure out the timing. I set one cat’s feeding one minute after the other two started eating. This way, they are busy eating and won’t try to steal the senior cat who is on her special food. The things we need to do.
Final Thoughts: Are Automatic Cat Feeders Worth It?
In short: Absolutely! The convenience, peace of mind, and potential improved quality of life for both you and your feline companions make automatic cat feeders a worthwhile investment.
Whether you’re a busy professional, frequent traveler, or simply looking to establish a better routine for your pets, these smart feeders can make a world of difference.
Remember, transitioning to an automatic feeder may take some time for both you and your cats.
Let their personalities dictate the type of feeder you purchase and the timing you need to set. I still tweak the timer if I find out they are stealing food again from the others. It’s a process!
Have you tried automatic cat feeders? Share your experiences in the comments below!
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