Not all automatic cat feeders are created equal. They cover practically every form and almost any price you can think of, but that doesn’t mean that some of the cheaper models aren’t just as good. In fact, the Cat Mate is one of the most low tech cat feeders that you’ll find, but it still manages to serve cat owners very well.

Where Does It Excel?

For such a simple automated feeder, this offering from Cat Mate truly succeeds in several ways. It’s easy to think that these are all the same, but that is not the case. There are far too many good things to say about this automated feeder, but we can hit a few of the highlights here and dive in.

Simplicity

Simplicity is the key with this feeder. There aren’t any complicated digital timers to set up. If you can work a kitchen timer you can work this one. That simplicity makes this the most easy to use automatic feeder on the market right now. It does come with a problem, but we’ll get into that later. It takes just ten seconds to program.

 

The Price

For a lot of automatic cat feeders, you are going to be paying over $200. That isn’t the case here. The price tag can be a big selling point for a lot of people. This automatic cat feeder is available for under $25, making it more affordable than ever to get your cat on a schedule with feedings.

 

Easy To Clean

Anyone with a cat knows that they can make a mess, even when they’re just eating dry food. That is why Cat Mate ensured that the bowl is made to be dishwasher safe. Many cat feeders are hard to take apart and clean, but this only requires taking out the bowl and throwing it in the dishwasher.

 

Requires Only One AA Battery

Rather than taking an AC adapter or several D batteries to power it, this cat feeder only takes a single AA battery. That makes it easy to power and it will even last for a long time with that one battery. You won’t have to replace the batteries except once every few months.

 

Does It Have Any Drawbacks?

There are usually plenty of drawbacks to certain cat feeders, but there are, in truth, only three things that customers have reported as “cons” when it comes to this specific model.

Only Works With Dry Food

This automatic cat feeder can only work with dry food. Unfortunately, that is the case with almost every pet feeder that you are going to come across. It is possible that if you cool the food enough it will stay good, but most people like to give their cats wet food in person anyway.

 

Only One Feeding Per Day

This cat feeder is only capable of handling one feeding per day, unless you reset it after the initial feeding. Should you only want to give them one large feeding a day, though, it can be set up to twenty four hours in advance.

 

Crafty Cats Can Break It

The battery compartment doesn’t have much protection, which won’t usually be a problem, but some cats might find a way to break it and not be fed. As long as you have a cat that isn’t prone to messing with things, though, you shouldn’t have a problem with it. The timer doesn’t have much protection either, so the same problem could come up.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  “How many feedings can this handle each day?”

The timer can handle as many feedings a day as you like, although it can only be programmed for one at a time.

  “Does this work for a dog?”

This can work for some small dogs, although it is primarily intended for use with cats.

 “How long do the batteries last?”

The batteries only need to be replaced once every six months, due to the fact that there are so few moving parts.

  “Can a metal bowl be used, instead of plastic?”

There are no alternative bowls that can be used. This can be a problem for cats with issues with plastic, but most owners aren’t going to have a problem.

  “Can replacement bowls be purchased?”

Replacement bowls can be purchased directly through the manufacturers, although they aren’t going to be available through most retailers.

 

The Final Verdict

Overall, there are many more technologically advanced models on the market right now. If you have a single cat that needs a specific feeding time, this is a great option for you. For cat owners, the ability to feed your cats on a schedule is never easy, which is why this is so important. If you have grown tired of looking at the expensive automatic feeders out there, have a good look at this one. You might be surprised with what it has to offer you.