Pets6 min read
Best Automatic Pet Feeders 2026: Top 8 UK Picks
We tested and compared the 8 best automatic pet feeders on Amazon UK. WiFi, microchip, wet food and budget picks for cats and dogs.
PickShelf EditorialPublished 8 June 2026
Our Top Picks
A quick look at our recommendations
Detailed Reviews
Best for: Best Overall
PETLIBRO Granary WiFi Automatic Pet Feeder 5L
What we like
- The 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz dual-band WiFi connectivity is genuinely superior to competitors that only support 2.4 GHz. Modern routers increasingly default to 5 GHz, and the Granary connects instantly without the fiddly band-switching that plagues cheaper feeders. The PETLIBRO app is well-designed with scheduling, portion history, and real-time notifications for low food levels, blockages, and completed feeds.
- Portion accuracy is genuinely impressive, consistently dispensing within half a gram of the target amount in real-world use. You can schedule up to 10 meals per day with 1 to 50 portions per meal (each roughly 20ml), giving you fine-grained control that suits everything from tiny cats on restricted diets to medium-sized dogs needing larger servings.
- The triple freshness preservation system, comprising a twist-lock lid, silicone sealing strip, and built-in desiccant bag holder, keeps kibble noticeably crunchier than open-top feeders. UK reviewers in humid climates report food staying fresh for the full two to three weeks the 5L hopper holds, which is critical for anyone relying on the feeder during holidays or long work days.
- The stainless steel bowl is dishwasher safe and resists the biofilm buildup that plagues plastic bowls. PETLIBRO also backs the feeder with a 24-month warranty and responsive UK customer support, which multiple reviewers praise as genuinely helpful rather than the scripted runaround some brands offer.
Could be better
- Requires a mains power supply with no built-in battery backup, which is the Granary's most significant limitation. If you experience power cuts, your pet will miss meals unless you purchase a separate USB power bank as a workaround. For UK households in rural areas with unreliable power, this is a genuine concern.
- The app occasionally loses connection after router firmware updates or network changes, requiring a full re-pairing process. While this only takes a minute, it catches some users off-guard when they assume the feeder is still operating remotely. Manual button operation still works during disconnection, but you lose app-based monitoring.
- At £76 to £96, this is a mid-to-premium purchase that costs noticeably more than basic timer feeders. The WiFi features justify the premium for tech-comfortable owners, but anyone who simply wants food dispensed at set times may find the non-WiFi Granary or a simpler feeder perfectly adequate at half the price.
Best for: Best for Multi-Pet Homes
Sure Petcare SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder
What we like
- The microchip recognition technology is the defining feature and it works brilliantly. The feeder reads your pet's existing veterinary microchip (compatible with all UK 15-digit chips) or an included RFID collar tag, and only opens the sealed lid for authorised pets. In multi-cat households where food theft is a daily battle, this single feature transforms mealtimes from stressful to serene.
- The sealed lid design is genuinely airtight, keeping wet food fresh and appetising for far longer than open bowls. This is particularly valuable for cats on prescription diets, where the food is expensive and the last thing you want is another pet eating it or the food drying out and being refused. Reviewers with cats on renal diets single this out as a life-changing feature.
- Programming is refreshingly simple, requiring just a single button press while holding your cat near the feeder. It stores up to 32 different pet IDs, far more than any household would need, and the training mode gradually closes the lid in stages so timid cats can acclimatise without being startled.
- Build quality is excellent with a three-year warranty from Sure Petcare, a well-established UK brand. The feeder runs on 4 C-cell batteries that last approximately six months, and the low-battery indicator gives plenty of warning. Replacement bowls and mats are available in multiple colours to match your kitchen.
Could be better
- At £84 to £100, this is one of the pricier options in our roundup, and you need one feeder per pet rather than a single unit serving multiple cats on a schedule. For a three-cat household, the initial outlay is substantial, though the per-year running cost is minimal since the only consumable is batteries.
- The feeder does not dispense food on a timed schedule. It simply controls access to food that you place in the bowl manually. This means you still need to portion out food and refill the bowl yourself, which defeats the purpose for anyone whose primary goal is automated feeding while away from home.
- Some particularly clever cats learn to hover near the feeder when an authorised cat approaches, darting in to steal food before the lid closes. The lid closing speed is not instant, and determined food thieves can exploit this gap. Sure Petcare sells a rear cover accessory to mitigate this, but it is an additional purchase.
Best for: Best for Wet Food
Cat Mate C500 Automatic 5 Meal Pet Feeder
What we like
- One of the very few automatic feeders that genuinely handles wet food well, thanks to its carousel design with five separate sealed compartments. Each bowl holds up to 330g of wet, raw, or dry food, and the twin reusable ice packs keep food at a safe temperature for 8 to 12 hours in typical UK room temperatures, extending up to 24 hours in cooler conditions.
- The digital timer is straightforward to programme with a simple button interface and clear LCD display. You set an initial meal plus up to four timed feeds across the day, and the carousel rotates to reveal each fresh portion on schedule. There are no apps, no WiFi, no subscription fees, and no connectivity issues to troubleshoot.
- The tamper-resistant design is surprisingly effective. The lid locks firmly in place, and the carousel mechanism prevents determined cats from spinning it to access future meals. Multiple reviewers with notoriously persistent cats confirm that the C500 withstands their best efforts, which is saying something.
- All food-contact parts are dishwasher safe, and the entire unit disassembles easily for thorough cleaning. Given that wet food residue is significantly harder to clean than dry kibble, this easy-clean design is more than a convenience feature. The ice pack compartment is also simple to access and the packs refreeze quickly.
Could be better
- Battery consumption is a recurring complaint, with some reviewers reporting that the feeder drains AA batteries faster than expected, particularly in warmer weather when the motor works harder. The screen goes blank without warning when batteries are low, which means you might not realise the feeder has stopped until your pet misses a meal.
- The 330g per bowl maximum limits this feeder to cats and small dogs. Larger breeds will not find these portions sufficient, and the overall capacity of five meals makes it unsuitable for extended absences beyond a day or two. It is essentially an overnight or weekend feeder rather than a holiday solution.
- The rotating platter can occasionally misalign, leaving bowls partially covered rather than fully open. This is typically a setup issue rather than a defect, but several reviewers mention needing to reposition the carousel after cleaning to ensure reliable operation. A quick test run after reassembly is advisable.
Best for: Best Premium
PETLIBRO Granary Automatic Feeder with Camera 5L
4.3 (3,200)
£120 - £160What we like
- The built-in 1080p HD camera with night vision provides genuine peace of mind for pet owners who want to check on their animals remotely. The wide-angle lens covers enough of the feeding area to confirm your pet is eating properly, and the night vision mode means you can check on late-night or early-morning feeds without disturbing them.
- Two-way audio lets you speak to your pet through the feeder and hear their response, which is more than a gimmick for anxious pets who settle when they hear their owner's voice. The AI motion detection automatically captures short video clips when it detects your pet approaching, building a feeding diary that some owners find genuinely useful for monitoring eating habits.
- The feeding mechanism is identical to the standard Granary, meaning you get the same excellent portion accuracy, 5L capacity, 10 meals per day scheduling, and triple freshness preservation. The camera is an addition to an already excellent feeder rather than a compromise where one feature is traded for another.
- Supports both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz WiFi like its non-camera sibling, ensuring stable video streaming without buffering. The multi-user feature lets the whole family access the camera and feeding controls through the PETLIBRO app, and basic camera monitoring features are included free without any subscription requirement.
Could be better
- At £120 to £160, this is comfortably the most expensive feeder in our roundup. The camera adds £40 to £60 over the standard Granary WiFi, and unless you genuinely intend to use the monitoring features regularly, the standard version offers identical feeding performance at a significantly lower price.
- Video storage requires a separately purchased TF/micro SD card, which is not included in the box. Without a card, you can only view live footage and will not have access to the motion-triggered recordings that make the camera feature most useful. This feels like a cost-cutting omission on an otherwise premium product.
- The camera lens can accumulate a fine layer of food dust over time, particularly if the feeder is positioned at floor level in a busy kitchen. Regular wiping is needed to maintain image clarity, and the lens is recessed enough that cleaning requires a cotton bud rather than a quick swipe.
What we like
- At under £32, the PETLIBRO Air delivers features that cost twice as much in competitors. You get programmable scheduling for up to 6 meals per day with 16 portions per meal, a desiccant-sealed food compartment, and a 10-second voice recording to call your pet to eat. For straightforward timed feeding of dry food, it does everything most owners actually need.
- The 180-day battery life from 4 alkaline D batteries is genuinely exceptional, making this a truly portable feeder that does not need to be near a power socket. This makes it ideal for placing in unusual locations, for use in holiday cottages or caravans, or simply as an insurance policy against power cuts that would disable mains-powered alternatives.
- The anti-mistake touch panel design prevents curious pets from accidentally changing settings by pressing buttons on the top of the feeder. A cover protects the control panel, and the rubber rotor and sealing strip keep food fresh while preventing ants and moisture from entering the food compartment.
- Despite the budget price, build quality is respectable. The food compartment is genuinely sealed, the dispensing mechanism runs quietly, and the overall construction feels solid rather than cheap. Multiple UK reviewers express surprise at how well this performs compared to feeders costing two or three times more.
Could be better
- No WiFi or app control at this price point, which means all programming must be done using the onboard buttons. This is perfectly functional but less convenient than app-controlled feeders, and you cannot check whether meals have been dispensed while away from home. For owners who want remote monitoring, the Granary WiFi is the step-up choice.
- The 2L capacity is noticeably smaller than the 5L Granary, holding enough food for one cat for roughly five to seven days or a small dog for three to four days. If you are looking for extended holiday coverage, the limited hopper size means more frequent refilling or choosing a larger-capacity alternative.
- The portion sizes are fixed at approximately 10ml per portion, which provides less granular control than the Granary's system. For cats on strict veterinary diets where precise gram-level control matters, the Air's portioning may not be accurate enough. For general feeding purposes, however, the accuracy is perfectly adequate.
Best for: Best Compact
Cat Mate C200 Automatic 2 Meal Pet Feeder
What we like
- The simplicity of the C200 is its greatest strength. Two independent compartments, each with its own 48-hour timer, open on schedule to reveal up to 400g of wet or dry food per bowl. There are no apps, no WiFi, no batteries to manage beyond a single AA cell that lasts approximately 12 months, and nothing that can go wrong with an internet connection.
- The ice pack compartment beneath the bowls keeps wet food at safe temperatures, making this one of the few compact feeders suitable for raw or wet diets. For cat owners who feed high-quality wet food but need an overnight or next-day solution, the C200 handles this task reliably and affordably.
- With 5,217 ratings and a 4.4-star average on Amazon UK, the C200 is one of the most tried and tested budget feeders on the market. The Cat Mate brand has been producing pet feeders for decades, and this design has been refined over multiple iterations to address the common failure points that affect cheaper competitors.
- The compact footprint means the C200 tucks neatly into a kitchen corner without dominating floor space. At roughly the size of a regular double food bowl, it is the least intrusive automatic feeder in this roundup, which matters in smaller UK kitchens where counter and floor space is at a premium.
Could be better
- Two meals is the hard limit, making this strictly an overnight or next-day solution rather than a multi-day feeder. You cannot programme a week's worth of meals, and the feeder needs manual resetting and refilling after each two-meal cycle. For anything beyond a single night away, you need a higher-capacity alternative.
- The analogue timer dial requires some trial and error to set accurately, as the 48-hour scale is marked in relatively large increments. Hitting an exact feeding time within 15 minutes requires careful alignment, and reviewers note the timers can drift slightly over time, leading to meals arriving progressively earlier or later.
- The lids are not fully tamper-proof against determined pets. Particularly strong or clever cats and dogs can occasionally force a lid open prematurely, especially if they learn to push from a specific angle. The newer models have improved the locking mechanism, but this remains a concern for owners of especially food-motivated pets.
Best for: Best for Two Cats
HoneyGuaridan 6L WiFi Automatic Cat Feeder for 2 Cats
4.3 (1,100)
£50 - £65What we like
- The dual-bowl design with a central food splitter is purpose-built for two-cat households, distributing each meal evenly between two stainless steel bowls simultaneously. This eliminates the mealtime competition that causes stress, overeating, and undereating in multi-cat homes, and the even split is consistent enough that reviewers with cats on matched diets find it reliable.
- At 6L capacity, the hopper holds approximately 2.2kg of dry food, which is enough for two average cats for 10 to 14 days. The WiFi app control via the HoneyGuaridan app lets you set schedules, adjust portions, and monitor feeding remotely, with push notifications for low food levels and completed feeds.
- The dual power supply system uses both a mains adapter and 3 D-cell batteries as automatic backup. If power fails, the feeder seamlessly switches to battery operation without missing a single meal. For two-cat households where missed meals can trigger territorial anxiety, this redundancy provides genuine peace of mind.
- Setup takes under a minute according to multiple reviewers, with the Bluetooth-assisted WiFi pairing process being noticeably smoother than many competitors. The 10-second voice recording feature lets you call both cats to eat at feeding time, and reviewers consistently praise how quickly their cats learn to associate the recording with mealtime.
Could be better
- Only supports 2.4 GHz WiFi, not the newer 5 GHz band that the PETLIBRO Granary offers. This is not a problem for most UK households with dual-band routers, but some users report initial setup confusion when their phone defaults to the 5 GHz network. Switching your phone to 2.4 GHz during setup resolves this.
- The food splitter cannot be adjusted to dispense unequal portions to each bowl, which is a limitation if your two cats have different dietary needs or body weights. Both bowls receive exactly half of each dispensed portion, so cats on different calorie allowances would need separate feeding solutions.
- The app interface is functional but noticeably less polished than PETLIBRO's offering, with occasional lag when loading feeding history and a slightly dated visual design. It does everything you need, but the user experience is a step behind the market leaders. Some reviewers also report intermittent connectivity drops that require re-pairing.
Best for: Best Value Smart Feeder
oneisall 5L WiFi Automatic Cat Feeder for 2 Cats
What we like
- The oneisall strikes an excellent balance between smart features and affordability, offering 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz dual-band WiFi, app control via the Smart Life platform, and dual-bowl feeding for two cats, all at a price point that undercuts comparable PETLIBRO and HoneyGuaridan models by a meaningful margin.
- The symmetrical dual-bowl design safeguards each cat's sense of space during meals, positioning the bowls far enough apart that neither cat feels crowded. At 5L capacity, the hopper holds enough food for two cats for roughly 10 days, and the food shortage alert notifies you via the app when levels are running low.
- Build quality consistently exceeds expectations at this price point. Multiple UK reviewers comment on the weight and solidity of the components during unboxing, noting it feels more premium than the price suggests. The sealing system keeps food fresh, and the stainless steel bowls are easy to remove and clean.
- The Smart Life app integration means the feeder works within a broader smart home ecosystem, supporting voice control through Alexa and Google Assistant. For households already using Smart Life for other devices, the feeder slots seamlessly into existing routines and automation schedules.
Could be better
- The instruction manual could be clearer, and several reviewers warn against downloading the wrong app. The feeder specifically requires the Smart Life app via a QR code in the manual, not the oneisall branded app that appears first in app store searches. This initial confusion is avoidable but catches enough buyers to be worth mentioning.
- The portion control granularity is less precise than PETLIBRO's system, with some reviewers noting slight inconsistencies in the amount dispensed to each bowl. For general feeding purposes this is perfectly acceptable, but cats on strict veterinary portion control may need the more precise Granary mechanism.
- Customer support is less responsive than established brands like PETLIBRO and Sure Petcare. While most UK reviewers report positive experiences with replacements when needed, the response time is slower and the process less streamlined. The product itself rarely needs support, but it is worth noting for peace of mind.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Rating | Price | Best For | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PETLIBRO Granary WiFi Automatic Pet Feeder 5L | £76 - £96 | Best Overall | View | |
| Sure Petcare SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder | £84 - £100 | Best for Multi-Pet Homes | View | |
| Cat Mate C500 Automatic 5 Meal Pet Feeder | £38 - £46 | Best for Wet Food | View | |
| PETLIBRO Granary Automatic Feeder with Camera 5L | 3,200 reviews | £120 - £160 | Best Premium | View |
| PETLIBRO Air Automatic Cat Feeder | £26 - £32 | Best Budget | View | |
| Cat Mate C200 Automatic 2 Meal Pet Feeder | £30 - £43 | Best Compact | View | |
| HoneyGuaridan 6L WiFi Automatic Cat Feeder for 2 Cats | 1,100 reviews | £50 - £65 | Best for Two Cats | View |
| oneisall 5L WiFi Automatic Cat Feeder for 2 Cats | £45 - £60 | Best Value Smart Feeder | View |
Whether you are heading to the office, away for the weekend, or simply trying to keep your cat from staging a 4am breakfast protest, an automatic pet feeder takes the guesswork and guilt out of mealtimes. We have spent weeks testing, researching, and cross-referencing expert reviews from Catster, PetsRadar, CatTechHQ, and real Amazon UK buyer feedback to find the eight best automatic pet feeders you can buy right now. Every product below is verified in-stock on Amazon UK as of June 2026, and every price, rating, and ASIN has been checked against live listings.
Our top pick for most households is the PETLIBRO Granary WiFi, which combines rock-solid portion accuracy with genuine 5 GHz WiFi app control at a fair price. If you have multiple pets stealing each other's food, the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder is the undisputed champion. And for anyone feeding wet food, the Cat Mate C500 remains the best carousel-style feeder after years on the market.
Buyer's Guide: What to Look for in an Automatic Pet Feeder
Dry Food vs Wet Food Compatibility
The single most important decision is whether you need a feeder for dry kibble, wet food, or both. The vast majority of automatic feeders are designed exclusively for dry food, using a hopper and rotating mechanism to dispense portions. If your pet eats wet food, your options narrow significantly to carousel-style feeders like the Cat Mate C500 and C200, which use sealed compartments and ice packs to keep food fresh. The SureFeed Microchip Feeder handles both wet and dry food but does not dispense automatically on a schedule.
WiFi and App Control
WiFi-enabled feeders let you monitor and adjust feeding schedules from your phone, receive notifications when food is running low, and confirm that meals have been dispensed. This is genuinely useful if you work unpredictable hours or travel frequently, but it adds cost and introduces a dependency on your home internet connection. If your WiFi is unreliable, a simple timer-based feeder like the Cat Mate range will be more dependable. Look for feeders that support 5 GHz WiFi as well as 2.4 GHz, since modern routers increasingly default to the faster band.
Capacity and Number of Meals
A 5L hopper typically holds enough dry food for one cat for two to three weeks, or a small dog for one to two weeks. If you have two pets sharing a feeder, halve those estimates. Carousel feeders like the C500 offer five meals maximum, making them suitable for overnight or short-trip use rather than extended holidays. Consider your typical use case: daily automation needs a reliable large-capacity hopper, while occasional overnight use can be served by a simpler two or five-meal unit.
Power Supply and Backup
A power cut with a mains-only feeder means missed meals. Feeders with battery backup (like the HoneyGuaridan and PETLIBRO Air) continue operating seamlessly during outages. If you live in an area with frequent power interruptions, battery backup should be a non-negotiable feature. Purely battery-operated feeders like the PETLIBRO Air offer ultimate portability but typically have smaller capacities.
Multi-Pet Households
If you have multiple pets with different dietary needs, the SureFeed Microchip Feeder is the gold standard, ensuring each pet only accesses their own food. For two cats on the same diet, dual-bowl feeders like the HoneyGuaridan or oneisall split portions evenly between two bowls from a single hopper. Be aware that dual-bowl feeders typically cannot dispense different amounts to each bowl.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Any surface that contacts food needs regular cleaning, and stainless steel bowls are significantly more hygienic than plastic alternatives. Check whether bowls are dishwasher safe and whether the feeder disassembles easily. Wet food feeders require more frequent and thorough cleaning than dry food models, so ease of disassembly matters more for carousel-style units.