Most automatic feeders run from a 5 V USB adapter, which works on any mains supply; the local version ships with the right plug. The row that matters is “Power” in the spec table: “Mains and battery” means the feeder keeps dispensing on batteries during an outage — on camera models the camera usually drops out, but feeding continues.

Kibble size: the dispensing mechanism has an upper limit

Feeders move dry food with an auger or a rotating wheel, and makers specify an allowed kibble size, usually somewhere in the 5–15 mm range. Very large or irregular kibble and oily coatings can jam. Check the figure against the food your cat actually eats before you settle on a model.

Wet food: only a few feeders are built for it

Wet food needs a feeder with cooling or sealed bowls — in our list, the models that show wet food under “Food type” (SureFeed, and the Cat Mate C500 with ice packs). Everything else is a dry-food dispenser; wet food left in an open hopper spoils within hours.

Multi-cat homes: only a microchip feeder separates food per cat

A standard feeder serves whoever is standing in front of it. If one cat needs a prescription diet or medicated food, you need a feeder that reads the microchip and opens only for that cat — the same principle as a microchip cat flap (see our guide). The “Multi-cat” column shows which models keep portions separate.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to an automatic feeder during a power outage?

Most models include battery backup and keep dispensing on schedule during outages. Camera models may pause recording and Wi‑Fi features while on battery only.

Can I use wet food?

Dry-only is most common, but wet-food models exist — e.g. the Cat Mate C500 (ice packs) or PETLIBRO Polar (electronic cooling).

Does it work for multiple cats?

Shared feeders let any cat eat. To control intake per cat, a selective feeder like SureFeed (opens only for a microchipped cat) works well.