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The Spruce Pets calls it the most impressive feeder it has ever tested, with the best app, 24-hour battery backup and a schedule stored on the device. WIRED found no real faults beyond the plastic bowl. The catches are a $299 price, a big footprint, and a bowl that isn't dishwasher-safe.
Top complaints
- Expensive and bulky
The Spruce Pets says the high price and large size may be too much for many owners, and it takes up a lot of space.
Source: The Spruce Pets - Plastic bowl, not dishwasher-safe
Both The Spruce Pets and WIRED dislike the plastic bowl. The Spruce Pets says it can't go in the dishwasher, and glass ($30) or stainless ($20, per WIRED) inserts cost extra.
Source: The Spruce Pets, WIRED - Needs an insert for larger kibble
The Spruce Pets says anything other than small, round kibble will likely need the included hopper insert, which cuts capacity from 32 to 25 cups.
Source: The Spruce Pets
What owners love
- Best app tested; works offline
The Spruce Pets rated its app the most useful of any feeder, with push notifications, food-level checks and CSV export. The schedule is stored on the feeder, so it keeps running offline. WIRED calls the app intuitive with flexible schedules by day of week.
Source: The Spruce Pets, WIRED - Accurate timing and portions
The Spruce Pets gave it especially high marks for timer accuracy and portion control, with 1/4- or 1/8-cup dispensers and a gravity mode that tops up every six hours. WIRED says it has worked perfectly.
Source: The Spruce Pets, WIRED - Hard to knock over, chew-resistant cord
Hit with a 10-pound sandbag in The Spruce Pets' lab, it didn't budge. The power cable is chew-resistant, and there's a 90-day in-home trial with an 18-month warranty.
Source: The Spruce Pets
- You're on a budget
- Counter or floor space is tight
- You want a dishwasher-safe metal bowl out of the box
- Owners who want the most dependable app feeder
- Big-capacity storage for cats or small dogs
- Sharing feeding data with a vet
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- The Spruce Pets: Best upgrade (updated 2026-09-24): the most impressive feeder it has tested, with the best app; cons are a plastic bowl that isn't dishwasher-safe and its size.
- WIRED: Easy-to-use dry feeder: sleek with an intuitive app and low-food alerts; the only fault is the plastic bowl.