Ensure your pets are fed on time, every time with our guide to the best automatic pet feeders in Canada. We've reviewed top models for reliability, capacity, and smart features.
Cats and dogs make some of the best household pets, don’t they? They’re loyal, affectionate, and entertaining…the majority of homes in Canada have at least one of these adorable critters. Feeding schedules can get pretty demanding, though, especially if you have an active lifestyle and spend a fair amount of time away from home. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had some help?
That’s what automatic pet feeders are for! They can be used with cat and dog kibble and come in a variety of styles — some have slots that you fill with the right amount of food, and others dispense the kibble for you at a specified amount. They can all be used for multiple feedings per day, set to a schedule of your choice, and some of them even have cameras, two-way audio, and other smart features!
If an automatic pet feeder sounds like the perfect addition to your pet routine, we’d love to help you find the best fit. Automatic pet feeders will vary in things like price, size, number of meals, food delivery system (dispensing vs pre-filled slots), compatible food types, and more! And every feature matters in the long run. Trust us.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best automatic pet feeders in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
The Best Automatic Pet Feeders Right Now
Two-Meal Pick: Cat Mate C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder
Five-Meal Pick: PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
Dispensing Pick: PetLibro PLAF001 4L Automatic Pet Feeder
Smart Pick: PapiFeed Smart Automatic Pet Feeder
Interactive Pick: Furbo 360° Dog Camera + Nanny Bundle
Our Two-Meal Pick for The Best Automatic Pet Feeder
Cat Mate C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder Review
What We Think of the Cat Mate C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder
The Cat Mate C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder has a lot of things working in its favour. One of the best things about it is the bowl design—they’re wide and prevent whisper fatigue so your cats can use them every single day without becoming stressed. Each bowl has an ice pack underneath it too, so you can feed your pet wet food without it drying out or becoming unsafe. Pretty helpful, right?
You’ll also really love the simplicity of this machine. It can be placed anywhere in your house since it doesn’t rely on access to an outlet, and to set the schedule, all you have to do is rotate the timer dial! Could not be easier, could it? The timer can be set as far in advance as 48 hours, so you’ll be able to leave your cat alone for a couple of days without them gorging on a large bowl of food left out for them.
There are a few limitations you should be aware of before you decide to commit to this option. If your pet gets more than two feedings in a day, this won’t be a good choice unless you’ll be around to refill it. It’s also too small to be used with dogs that are larger than 20 lbs, roughly. Lastly, the timer isn’t super precise (it’s an egg timer, not digital), so that’s something else to keep in mind.
All in all, the Cat Mate C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder is a really great choice if you’re only going to miss occasional feedings for your cat or dog, or you’d like to portion out daily feedings for them. It’s a very simple machine that can be placed anywhere and could not be easier to set up or clean.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Cat Mate C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Cat Mate C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder. The ice packs do a really great job of keeping wet food safe and edible for a full day, and the capacity is great for cats and small dogs to get a full meal twice a day. The timer isn’t the most precise thing in the world, but they really appreciate the simplicity and easy cleaning.
Cat Mate C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You’d like to feed your pet dry kibble and wet food
You’ll be preparing meals up to 48 hours in advance
A simple system is ideal
Your cat will be eating out of it for every meal
Don’t Buy If…
You need more than two feedings in a day
Your dog is larger than a small breed
You want ultra-precise feedings
Cat Mate C200 2-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder Specifications
Dimensions: 10” x 8.3” x 3”
Weight: 0.73 lbs
Delivery System: Pre-filled slots
Number of Meals: 2
Compatible Food Types: Dry and wet
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
Our Five-Meal Pick
PetSafe Five-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder Review
What We Think of the PetSafe Five-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
The PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder has a lot going for it. We’re very happy to report that you can put as many as five cups of food in this feeder at once, and with a user-friendly digital timer, each portion will be served to your pet exactly when it should be. Depending on your schedule, your pet’s feeding might be taken care of for 2.5 days at a time!
You’ll also be really happy to hear that the tray is entirely dishwasher safe (as long as you put it on the top rack). You won’t have to do any cleaning by hand if you don’t want to. Plus, since this feeder runs on a battery rather than a power cord, you can put it literally anywhere in your house without worrying about a power source. Hello, convenience!
One of the only things you might not like about this feeder is the fact that you have to manually fill each slot with the right portion of food. This leaves you with a higher workload than some other feeders. But if you don’t mind that, the only other thing to be aware of is that the portion size will be too small for large breed dogs unless you’re feeding them 3+ times per day. Just a heads up.
All in all, the PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder is the best slot feeder for five meals. Depending on your feeding schedule, you might only have to fill it up every 2.5 days, and it’s so easy to set the right schedule on day one. It’s super easy to clean, too.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
Reviewers really like the PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder. The digital timer makes it really easy to set a precise schedule, and the one-cup compartments provide plenty of food. They really like that the tray is dishwasher safe, and it closes very securely — no animals have been able to break it open and steal food.
PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You want to schedule feedings at precise hours
You don’t want to worry about cleaning by hand
You don’t want to be limited by access to an outlet
You don’t want to fill up the tray every single day
Don’t Buy If…
You have a large dog breed
You’d prefer a dispensing feeder
PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder Specifications
Dimensions: 15.5” x 12.3” x 3.4”
Weight: 3.9 lbs
Delivery System: Pre-filled slots
Capacity: 1 cup per compartment (5 cups total)
Number of Meals: 5
Compatible Food Types: Dry and semi-moist
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
Our Dispensing Pick
PetLibro PLAF001 4L Automatic Pet Feeder Review
What We Think of the PetLibro PLAF001 4L Automatic Pet Feeder
We’re big fans of the PetLibro PLAF001 4L Automatic Pet Feeder. You set the schedules right on the machine’s display, so you don’t need to fiddle around with any apps or worry about connectivity. You’ll be able to set 1-4 meals per day and select one of nine portion sizes for each feeding. Tons of versatility for your small fur babies!
We really like how secure this machine is, too. We’re all too familiar with how much trouble young cats and dogs can find (or make) for themselves, but thanks to a super secure lid, they won’t be able to open the machine to steal a snack. Our favourite feature is the voice recording — you can record a 10-second message to play at each feeding time. How sweet is that?
There are only a couple of things that we don’t love about this feeder. The first thing is the compatible kibble size — it caps out at 10mm, so if your dog’s kibble is larger than that, you won’t be able to use this feeder. Also, the portions will be too small to adequately serve meals for medium dogs and larger — this machine is only intended for small dogs and cats.
Overall, the PetLibro PLAF001 4L Automatic Pet Feeder is an amazing option if you’d love to have a dispensing feeder for your pet. It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and has versatile scheduling options to make sure your pets get the right portion size and time between feedings.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the PetLibro PLAF001 4L Automatic Pet Feeder
Reviewers are incredibly happy with the PetLibro PLAF001 4L Automatic Pet Feeder. It’s very easy to get the scheduling set up properly, and the machine always does what it’s supposed to do when it’s supposed to do it. The voice memo feature is a really nice touch, and the capacity is great for everyone with cats and small dogs. The price was right, too.
PetLibro PLAF001 4L Automatic Pet Feeder Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You’d like to record a voice memo for your pet to play at feeding time
Your pet is a bit of a troublemaker
You want to set multiple daily meals with different portion sizes
Ease of use is important to you
Don’t Buy If…
Your kibble size is larger than 10mm
You have a medium or large dog
PetLibro PLAF001 4L Automatic Pet Feeder Specifications
Dimensions: 8.5” x 7.9” x 13.1”
Weight: 4 lbs
Delivery System: Dispenser
Capacity: 17 cups
Number of Meals: 1-4
Compatible Food Types: Dry kibble
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Yes
Warranty: 2 years
Our Smart Pick
PapiFeed Smart Automatic Pet Feeder Review
What We Think of the PapiFeed Smart Automatic Pet Feeder
The PapiFeed Smart Automatic Pet Feeder has every feature you could ask for. It offers a ton of versatility for your feeding schedule since you can choose the portion size for each meal (12 options) and the number of meals per day (up to 30). Since the bin can fit 25 cups of food, even large dogs will have multiple days of feeding covered with a single refill.
You’ll also have the option of using Alexa or the companion app to manage the feedings. You can always trigger a feeding that isn’t scheduled, and even set smart scenarios such as increasing feeding frequency on cold days, for example. With a power cord for the main power supply and a battery for backup power in the event of an outage, your pet will always be fed on time.
There are only two reasons you might want to look at some other options. First, this one is a bit more expensive than the average automatic pet feeder, and if you aren’t going to use all of the fancy features, you can find a more affordable option that does what you need. Also, because of the fancy features, this one can be a bit complicated to set up. Some people might want a simpler machine.
All in all, the PapiFeed Smart Automatic Pet Feeder is one of our favourite feeders of all time. With a ton of intelligent features, a reliable power supply, and a great capacity, it’s basically perfect.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the PapiFeed Smart Automatic Pet Feeder
Reviewers have amazing things to say about the PapiFeed Smart Automatic Pet Feeder. The versatility of the feeding schedule guarantees that each pet gets exactly what they need, and the humans have a very easy time using the app to make adjustments as things change. The bin capacity is convenient even for people with larger dogs, and they think the power backup is a great addition.
PapiFeed Smart Automatic Pet Feeder Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You’d like multiple control options
You want the dispenser to be extremely reliable
You’re feeding a large dog
You like your pet to have many small meals per day
Don’t Buy If…
Budget-friendliness matters
A simple machine is what you’re after
PapiFeed Smart Automatic Pet Feeder Specifications
Dimensions: 7.6” x 11.9” x 13.3”
Weight: 3.4 lbs
Delivery System: Dispenser
Capacity: 25 cups
Number of Meals: 1-30
Compatible Food Types: Air-dried, freeze-dried, dry kibble, or mixed
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
Our Interactive Pick
Furbo 360° Dog Camera + Nanny Bundle Review
What We Think of the Furbo 360° Dog Camera + Nanny Bundle
The Furbo 360° Dog Camera + Nanny Bundle is an amazing way to stay connected to your pet when you’re away. You’ll be able to watch them on the camera no matter where they go in the space (yay for 360-degree tracking), talk to them over the two-way audio system, and even give them treats remotely with the treat dispenser.
With the Nanny subscription, you’ll get alerts for pet activity (moving, barking, vomiting) and home emergencies (breaking glass, smoke alarm, people, etc.). And that’s not all! You’ll also get a video summary at the end of the day so you can see how your pet spent their time. And when you’re finally reunited, you can turn on the privacy mode to shut down the audio and camera systems. Peace of mind, at last.
Of course, this option won’t be a good fit if you need to feed your pet meals while you’re away (or just sleeping in). It only dispenses a single treat at a time, and you have to activate it in the app. Another potential problem you might have with this one is the monthly subscription you need for access to the best features (doggy diary, alerts, etc.).
Overall, the Furbo 360° Dog Camera + Nanny Bundle is an amazing choice if you’re not in need of meal feedings. With a two-way audio system, 360-degree camera, treat dispenser, and tons of smart features in the app with a subscription, you and your pet will both be a lot happier when you have to be apart.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Furbo 360° Dog Camera + Nanny Bundle
Reviewers really appreciate the Furbo 360° Dog Camera + Nanny Bundle. Although they have to pay for the subscription, it gives them a lot of extra features that they wouldn’t want to do without. The treat dispenser is very effective as long as they use the right kind of treats, and the camera and audio systems give owners a lot of peace of mind while they’re separated from their pets.
Furbo 360° Dog Camera + Nanny Bundle Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You want to keep an eye on your pet while you’re away
A two-way audio system is a must-have
An intelligent alert system is ideal
Privacy is important to you
Don’t Buy If…
You need a meal feeder for your pet
You don’t like cameras that require subscriptions
Furbo 360° Dog Camera + Nanny Bundle Specifications
Dimensions: 12.6” x 6.7” x 7.1”
Weight: 2.3 lbs
Delivery System: Single treats thrown
Capacity: 1 cup
Number of Meals: None
Compatible Food Types: Dry treats
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: No
Warranty: 1 year
How to Properly Choose Your Automatic Pet Feeder
Price
Most automatic pet feeders can be purchased for less than $100, but some will cost more. Generally, more expensive feeders will have smart features, a dispensing system rather than a tray, and a larger capacity.
Compatible Food Types
Every automatic pet feeder will be compatible with dry kibble, but some also work with freeze-dried food, wet food, and more. You’ll want to check the compatibility before you buy.
Food Delivery System
Automatic pet feeders can deliver food in pre-filled trays or with an intelligent dispensing system. Dispensing feeders are more convenient, but they’re also more effective and can’t be used with wet food.
Number of Meals
Some automatic pet feeders can only deliver one meal per day, others can deliver up to 30. Depending on your pet’s feeding schedule, you might need to shop around.
Smart Features
Smart features such as RFID readers, voice recordings, compatibility with voice assistants, etc. can be found in some automatic pet feeders. These features will raise the price of the machine, but they also add a ton of value.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.
