5 Best Automatic Pet Feeders UK 2026: Feed on Schedule
An automatic feeder keeps your dog or cat on a healthy routine even when life gets in the way, dispensing precise portions on a schedule. The smartest models let you feed from your phone, record a mealtime voice call, or lock a bowl to a single microchipped pet.
We compared the leading automatic pet feeders available in the UK in 2026 on portion accuracy, reliability, app features and food type. Here are the five best.
Top Picks at a Glance
| Product | Key Spec | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETLIBRO Granary Automatic Feeder | Dry food, up to 6 meals | £59 | Best Overall |
| SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder | Microchip-locked bowl | £129 | Best for Multi-Pet Homes |
| PETKIT Fresh Element Solo | WiFi app, dry food | £99 | Best Smart/App Feeder |
| Arf Pets Automatic Feeder | Dry food, 4 meals | £45 | Best Value |
| Cat Mate C500 | 5 meals, wet or dry | £49 | Best for Wet Food |
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The 5 Best Automatic Pet Feeders Reviewed
1. PETLIBRO Granary Automatic Feeder — Best Overall
★★★★★ 4.6/5 | £59
The PETLIBRO Granary hits the sweet spot of price, reliability and features. It dispenses up to six precise meals a day, records a 10-second call to your pet at mealtimes, and has a twist-lock lid plus dual power (mains and battery backup) so a power cut never means a missed meal.
Key features: Up to 6 programmable meals, 10-second voice recorder, twist-lock freshness lid, mains + battery backup, portion control
✓ Pros
- Reliable, accurate portioning
- Voice recording reassures pets
- Battery backup for power cuts
- Great value
✗ Cons
- Dry food only
- No smartphone app on base model
- Large kibble can occasionally jam
2. SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder — Best for Multi-Pet Homes
★★★★☆ 4.5/5 | £129
In a multi-pet home, the SureFeed solves food-stealing for good: its lid only opens for the registered microchip or RFID collar tag, so each pet eats its own food (and prescription diets stay protected). It suits wet and dry food and keeps meals fresh and fly-free.
Key features: Microchip/RFID activated lid, works with wet or dry food, sealed lid keeps food fresh, ideal for prescription diets
✓ Pros
- Stops food stealing between pets
- Protects prescription diets
- Keeps wet food fresh and fly-free
- Reads existing pet microchips
✗ Cons
- No scheduling — it's access control, not timed
- Battery powered
- Higher price
3. PETKIT Fresh Element Solo — Best Smart/App Feeder
★★★★☆ 4.5/5 | £99
For phone control, the PETKIT Fresh Element Solo leads. Feed on demand or schedule from anywhere via the app, get low-food and dispense alerts, and rely on a desiccant compartment that keeps kibble fresh. A sleek, quiet unit that looks the part in a modern kitchen.
Key features: WiFi app control, remote & scheduled feeding, low-food alerts, freshness desiccant box, quiet dispensing
✓ Pros
- Full smartphone control from anywhere
- Reliable alerts and logging
- Keeps kibble fresh
- Attractive, quiet design
✗ Cons
- Dry food only
- Needs stable WiFi
- App account required
4. Arf Pets Automatic Feeder — Best Value
★★★★☆ 4.2/5 | £45
The Arf Pets feeder covers the essentials for less: up to four scheduled meals, adjustable portions, a voice recorder and an easy-to-clean removable hopper. If you want dependable scheduled feeding without app complexity, it’s a solid budget choice.
Key features: Up to 4 daily meals, adjustable portions, voice recorder, removable dishwasher-safe hopper, dual power
✓ Pros
- Cheapest reliable scheduled feeder
- Voice recording included
- Easy to clean
- Simple to programme
✗ Cons
- Only 4 meals a day
- Basic build
- Dry food only
5. Cat Mate C500 — Best for Wet Food
★★★★☆ 4.3/5 | £49
Most feeders can’t handle wet food — the Cat Mate C500 can. Five sealed compartments rotate on a timer, and two ice packs underneath keep wet food fresh for hours, making it ideal for cats fed pouches or trays while you’re out for the day.
Key features: 5 timed compartments, works with wet or dry food, ice-pack cooling, digital timer, easy to clean
✓ Pros
- Handles wet food, unlike most rivals
- Ice packs keep meals fresh
- Five separate meals
- Simple digital timer
✗ Cons
- No app or voice features
- Fixed number of compartments
- Manual refilling of each tray
How to Choose the Right Automatic Pet Feeders
- Wet or dry food: most feeders take dry kibble only; for wet food choose a compartment feeder with cooling, like the Cat Mate.
- Portion accuracy: look for adjustable portions and consistent dispensing to keep your pet’s weight in check.
- App vs simple timer: app feeders let you feed remotely; simple timers are cheaper and need no WiFi.
- Multi-pet homes: a microchip feeder like the SureFeed stops one pet eating another’s (or a prescription) food.
- Power backup: a battery backup means a power cut never causes a missed meal.
- Cleaning: removable, dishwasher-safe hoppers and bowls make daily hygiene far easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are automatic pet feeders safe to leave my pet with?
Yes, for short periods. They’re ideal for maintaining routine during work hours. For trips longer than a day, always arrange a person to check on your pet as well.
Can automatic feeders dispense wet food?
Most handle dry kibble only. For wet food, choose a compartment feeder with ice-pack cooling such as the Cat Mate C500.
Will an automatic feeder help my pet lose weight?
It can. Precise, scheduled portions prevent overfeeding and grazing, which — alongside vet advice — supports healthy, steady weight management.
What happens in a power cut?
Choose a feeder with battery backup, like the PETLIBRO Granary, so scheduled meals continue even if the mains power fails.
Our #1 Pick
For most UK buyers, the PETLIBRO Granary Automatic Feeder is our top recommendation — accurate scheduled portions, voice reassurance and battery backup at a genuinely fair price.
Affiliate disclosure: PetPicks UK is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our recommendations.
