6 Best Automatic Outdoor Cat Feeders in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Whether you have indoor/outdoor cats or take care of a feral cat or colony, an automatic cat feeder is a convenient tool to make your life easier. While there are many options on the market, not all of them are suitable for outdoor use.

We’ve selected a range of automatic outdoor cat feeders based on reviews from fellow cat owners. From simple designs to high-tech feeders with bells and whistles, here are our picks for the six best automatic outdoor cat feeders.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 6 Best Automatic Outdoor Cat Feeders

1. Yuposl Automatic Cat Feeder – Best Overall

The Yuposl Automatic Cat Feeder is the best overall automatic outdoor cat feeder. It offers over 180 days of use per session with three D-size alkaline batteries, so you can set it outside without worrying about it dying or looking for a power outlet. If you wish, there is a wall power supply for more convenience.

There’s an option for multiple cats with individual feeders. If your cats overeat, there’s a feature to lock the food box with snaps on the right and left sides. It also has insulation around the feeder to keep food fresh and resist insects and other contaminants. You can set the number of servings and frequency of feeding as well. Some reviewers said it was too noisy and scared their cats, however.

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2. Van Ness Automatic Cat Feeder – Best Value

Van Ness Automatic Cat Feeder is the best automatic outdoor cat feeder for the money. This simple feeder relies on gravity for automatic feeding rather than timers or power. All you have to do is fill the large reservoir. It’s clear to easily monitor portions and has a hinged top and spill-less valve for quick, mess-free refilling.

The feeder is made of FDA-approved plastic and 20% recycled content. Plastic is easy to clean and hygienic to keep your outdoor cats safe and healthy. It comes in a 1.5-cup or 2.5-cup capacity. Though inexpensive, this feeder does take some work to keep filled and doesn’t offer features to control portions and overeating. Some reviewers said it broke easily as well.

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3. PAPIFEED Smart Automatic Cat Feeder – Premium Choice

The PAPIFEED Smart Automatic Cat Feeder is an app-controlled WiFi cat feeder that can connect to a 2.4GHz network or a 5G network. You can set up a feeding schedule of up to 30 meals per day with different meal portions. This is an easy feeder to set up outside but conveniently controlled from your smartphone app.

The feeder is constructed of BPA-free, food-grade plastic and stainless steel to maintain good hygiene. If there are multiple outdoor cats or you need a slow feeder, you can control the portions using a manual “feed” button. Another unique feature is the scenario mission, which adjusts the portions under certain conditions. You can either plug the feeder in with a DC 5V power adaptor or rely on battery power. Several reviewers struggled to connect to the app or their Alexa or Google Home system. Some also said it seems to be better for dogs than cats.

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4.PAPIFEED Automatic Cat Feeder – Best for Kittens

The PAPIFEED Automatic Cat Feeder is a great choice for kittens that live outdoors. It holds 3.5 liters of cat food with desiccant bags to provide fresh food for days. There’s an option for a DC 5V power adaptor or 4 AA batteries to choose the most convenient way to feed your outdoor cats. You can feed your cat from anywhere with the 2.4 GHz WiFi and smartphone app. It’s also Alexa-compatible to control feedings using voice commands.

Kittens have different intake needs. This feeder comes with the scenario mission feature to automatically adjust the portions according to different inputs, such as when the weather is cold or as the kittens grow. If overeating is a problem, you can select manual feeding and better control the portions. Reviewers experienced issues with the app connection and scheduling. Some people had problems with rodents or insects contaminating the food.

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5. 2-Pack Automatic Gravity Cat Feeder

This 2-Pack Automatic Gravity Cat Feeder relies on gravity to automatically dispense food to cats. It comes in a two-pack if you have multiple cats or want to rotate the feeders out. The reservoirs hold about six pounds of food and about a gallon of water, which lasts about a week. The bottom of the feeder and the reservoir are constructed of plastic and stainless steel for durability and good hygiene.

Though this feeder lasts a long time, it doesn’t have any power supply or smartphone features to schedule feedings. If you have multiple cats or overeaters, there’s no way to control portions. Reviewers noted that this is good for multiple cats but may be too much for just one cat.

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6. Nourse CHOWSING Automatic Cat Feeder

The Nourse CHOWSING Automatic Cat Feeder has a simple design with a one-gallon reservoir capacity to supply adequate portions for your outdoor cats. There’s a wide food outlet area for food to flow out easily, but there’s no way to adjust portions. Both the reservoir and the bowl are made of high-quality plastic that’s safe and hygienic.

When you need to add food, the reservoir needs to be tilted out and turned upside down. Reviewers said that it tends to lift out easily and spill. Some reviewers said they had issues with the food getting stuck as well.

Buyer’s Guide: What to Look for in an Outdoor Cat Feeder

There’s a lot to consider when you’re shopping for an automatic cat feeder, especially for outdoor cats. Here’s what you should look for:

Size

You should pay attention to the size of the cat feeder itself and its storage capacity. Overall capacity varies, but it’s important to consider if you want a lot of time between refills. However, if you have just one or two outdoor cats, getting a large feeder could mean that your food is no longer fresh. If you’re working with limited space outside, you should consider the feeder’s footprints and whether it will fit where you want.

Features

This list covers everything from high-tech feeders for outdoor use to simple models with basic gravity feeding. If you want a high-tech model, consider the power supply. If you don’t have a handy place to plug in a feeder outside and keep the power cord safe, it’s best to go with a battery-powered model. If you do choose electric power, make sure there’s a battery backup to ensure the cats will be fed if you’re away and there’s a power outage.

Another feature to consider is how hygienic and easy to clean the feeder is. Plastic and stainless steel are generally dishwasher safe and hygienic, but some cats may prefer stainless steel to plastic. You should also consider how you control the feeder. Some have the option of a smartphone app that you can use to control portions while you’re not home.

Ease of Use

All electronic feeders have different programmable features, so it’s difficult to know in advance if it’s easy to operate. You may need to download, install, and set up a smartphone app, pair devices, program schedules, and more, so read reviews to see how challenging the setup is.

Conclusion

Automatic cat feeders for outdoor cats are a handy way to keep your indoor/outdoor cats or feral colony fed, no matter how busy you get. Our top pick is the Yuposl Automatic Cat Feeder, which offers over 180 days of use per session. The value option is the Van Ness Automatic Cat Feeder, which relies on gravity. The premium pick is the PAPIFEED Smart Automatic Cat Feeder, an app-controlled WiFi cat feeder that can set up 30 meals per day with different meal portions.

• Related read: 10 DIY Automatic Cat Feeders You Can Make Today (with Pictures)

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Featured Photo Credit: Kylbabka, Shutterstock