Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder Review: A Peek at the Perks
by Ysolt Usigan
Updated on May 06, 2024
A common occurrence in any household with a cat is that dreaded early wakeup time when your fur baby meows or makes noise in an effort to remind you to feed them.
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A simple solution to consider is investing in an automatic cat feeder, so you don’t have to get up as early as your hungry kitty. If that’s not enough to convince you to get on the automatic feeding bandwagon, know that auto cat feeders provide many other perks.
We take a closer look at the benefits of auto pet feeders, plus put an automatic cat feeder from Petlibro to the test.
Automatic Cat Feeder Benefits
Besides the obvious—not having to get up to put food in your cat’s bowl—another huge benefit of automatic pet feeders is proper weight management, because you can specify the right portion to dispense at the right intervals. Perhaps your vet has suggested that your cat be fed smaller meals throughout the day or a certain amount? An automatic cat feeder can help keep you on track. Petlibro, for instance, offers automatic feeders that let you customize not only your pet’s feeding schedule, but also provide multiple portion settings to choose from per meal.
You may want to consider getting an automatic cat feeder if:
- You travel a lot or are home at inconsistent times.
- Your cat needs weight management and perfectly portioned meals.
- You’d rather sleep in than wake up to feed your cat.
- Your cat needs to feed constantly throughout the day (like, snacking) versus one to two big meals per day.
What Is Petlibro?
Founded in 2019, Petlibro is a company that creates automatic pet feeders and water fountains for both cats and dogs. With a mission to have pet owners connect with pets using trustworthy products, the company has designed items that can be ordered online, simply integrated into the lives of pet owners and their beloved pets, and quickly improve their day to day and health. Their designs are perfect for minimalists who are practical, but also love gadgets that look sleek and streamlined.
Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder Features
Petlibro currently offers several types of auto pet feeders that range in capacity (3-, 4- or 6-liter), price ($59.99-$89.99), and features. They automatically dispense food on your desired schedule, portion out the food, and are partially dishwasher safe.
With the Granary Automatic Pet Feeder (pictured above), every part of the feeder—from storage to dispensing—is sealed to prevent loss of moisture, keep every bite fresh, and to keep your cat’s food safe from pests, bacteria, and mold. There is a transparent window so you can see when the food level is getting low. You can also record your voice to call your pet for mealtime. If you’re worried that your cat will try to play with the feeder, rest assured that infrared sensors will automatically stop the feeder when an obstruction is detected.
If you’re looking for a feeder with WiFi capabilities, the 4L WiFi Automatic Pet Feeder offers remote app control, allowing you to feed your pet from your phone.
Putting the Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder to the Test
Upon receiving one of Petlibro’s automatic cat feeders (we tried out the 4L WiFi Automatic Pet Feeder), we were relieved to find that the product didn’t overwhelm us. Not only did it come simply boxed (that means, there wasn’t too much packaging to dig into or get rid of), setting it up took seconds. Though instruction manuals were provided, we did not need them to piece the minimal number of parts together to get things started.
We did have to charge the feeder—which came with a USB cord—before use. Adding food to the auto feeder was also pretty easy to do and intuitive.
Once the setup was complete, it was time to test! Before we dive in, it’s important to note that each of our two cats had very different reactions.
Franklin’s reaction: The minute there was a promise of food, Franklin was in. Curious during the setup phase, he was ready once we poured in the food. As soon as the food came out of the machine, he chowed down.
Eleanor’s reaction: Eleanor was skeptical from start to finish, and hours later, she still hadn’t taken a bite of food from the feeder. During setup, she watched, but never got too close. She’s not a fan of technology mixing with her food, as it turns out.
Things We Like About the Auto Cat Feeder
The best feature about the Petlibro automatic cat feeder that has made us pretty stoked is that we don’t have to wake up early to feed our cats. We can finally sleep in! (They usually wake us up if we don’t feed them by 7 a.m.) Other features we like include:
- The feeding timer is easy to program.
- You can also use your phone to program from anywhere (with WiFi models).
- It can also record your voice so you can call your pet over when it’s time.
- It’s easy to clean the removable bowl.
Things to Consider
The biggest thing to consider about this auto pet feeder is that some cats are just particular. The idea of an automatic anything may not interest them or may spook them. Also, if your cat eats wet food or a combination of wet food with dry food, this is not good for everyday use, as it only dispenses kibble.
Petlibro Automatic Cat Feeder: Our Verdict
After reviewing all of the bells and whistles of Petlibro’s auto cat feeder and matching it up with the needs of pet owners and pets, our verdict is: if you can splurge, it will enrich your life with convenience. Could you scoop less food into your pet’s bowl every morning or give them little bites throughout the day to control their weight and overeating, sure. But would you want to do that or even have the time to do that? Probably not. Let’s face it, we’re all so busy and having one less thing to worry about could be worth the spend.