Your pet’s breakfast schedule doesn’t always line up with your alarm. If you’ve ever been nudged awake by a hungry dog—or found your cat loudly demanding food before sunrise—you can probably see the appeal of an automatic feeder.
A programmable feeder serves meals at set times, including those you’d rather spend asleep. It can also help you measure portions, offer a lunchtime snack while you’re out, and keep spare kibble away from curious paws.
Finding a dependable one takes some care, though. A feeder needs to release the right amount of food consistently and be straightforward to program. Otherwise, it can become another gadget that needs babysitting.
Below are five programmable pet feeders to consider for your household. None can promise an end to early-morning meowing or a cold nose against your cheek, but the right one could make feeding time a little easier.
