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Cat Mate C500 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder with Ice Packs vs Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder with Scale (3.6 L)
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Cat Mate C500 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder with Ice Packs ranks higher (#3 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on pet-proof build. Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder with Scale (3.6 L) wins on reliable dispensing, app & scheduling, power backup & alerts.
The biggest complaint about the Cat Mate C500 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder with Ice Packs is ice packs don't keep wet food cold long; for the Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder with Scale (3.6 L) it's stops working or loses power. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Cat Mate C500 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder with Ice Packs | Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder with Scale (3.6 L) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in automatic pet feeders | #3 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | Programmable feeder | Wi-Fi feeder |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 11% | 17% |
| Overall score | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| Reliable dispensing | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| App & scheduling | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| Power backup & alerts | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Easy cleaning | 4.5 | — |
| Pet-proof build | 3.5 | 3.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $60 · $$ $60–150 · $$$ over $150. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Cat Mate C500 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder with Ice Packs
- Ice packs don't keep wet food cold long
The Spruce Pets found the ice packs lasted overnight but not 24 hours. CNN says they barely lasted four hours on warmer days. WIRED found the packs weren't very cold by morning and called the wet-food temperature unsafe. Amazon owners also say the ice packs don't stay cold long.
- Timer resets or meals get missed
Amazon's summary says some owners report the timer randomly clearing settings and changing times. A Spruce Pets tester warns to watch a.m./p.m. carefully to avoid a missed meal.
- Deep bowls; battery-only
WIRED found the bowls deep and narrow, so its cats couldn't reach all the food, and it lists the C500 under Do Not Recommend. The Spruce Pets' only con is that it runs on batteries only, with no plug.
Source: WIRED, The Spruce Pets
Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder with Scale (3.6 L)
- Stops working or loses power
Wirecutter notes owner complaints that the machine disconnects from power for no apparent reason or stops working after a few months. Amazon's summary calls reliability mixed, with some owners reporting functionality issues.
- Silent during power outages
On its three D-cell backup batteries it disconnects from Wi-Fi by design. In Wirecutter's test it kept feeding, but didn't log the meals or send any alert.
Source: Wirecutter - App less intuitive; weak for multi-pet homes
Wirecutter found scheduling less intuitive than on Petlibro and Petkit, and it wasn't clear how to recalibrate for new kibble. WIRED says its intake tracking can't tell which of two cats ate.
Source: Wirecutter, WIRED
Who should pick which
Pick the Cat Mate C500 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder with Ice Packs if
Timed meals of dry food or a short wet-food delay
Homes without a handy outlet
People who don't want an app
Skip it if: You'll leave wet food in it for a full day; You want remote control or alerts; Your cat struggles with deep, narrow bowls
Pick the Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder with Scale (3.6 L) if
Pets on a strict diet
Tracking how much a single pet actually eats
Cats and small dogs on kibble
Skip it if: You need outage alerts while away; You have several pets sharing one bowl; You want a proven long-term track record
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