Are you away from home a lot during the day? Are you looking for a reliable way to feed your furry friend when you are at work? A lot of dog owners know the struggle of keeping a routine for their canine when they are busy during the week. That is why they look for technology that can help them out and keep their beloved companion happy. Introducing automatic pet feeders. They have been on the market for a while and they continue to be popular with dog owners that live busy lives. Their purpose is to dispense food at certain times in the day for your pup. The good news is that as technology is advancing, so are automatic pet feeders. There are some fantastic brands on the market that you can choose to feed your pooch when you are away.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
We have decided to review two of the most popular automatic pet feeders; Petnet SmarterFeeder and PetSafe Smart Feed. We are going to break it down and find out which one is going to be best for your canine.
1. The Design
First of all, let’s take a look at the design of each automatic pet feeder. The design matters since it is going to be out on display in your home every day. You will want it to match your home décor.
Petnet SmartFeeder’s Modern Design is Attractive
The design of the Petnet SmartFeeder is attractive, with a contemporary style that can complement a modern kitchen. It is chunky in style, but this does allow for around five to seven pounds of dry food storage. This is something that you want if you are away from home a lot and need to feed your dog or cat all day. The food container is removable so that it is easy to wash. The whole pet feed is 14.25 inches high and 9.20 inches wide. It is also 15.32 inches deep.
There is a pet-proof self-locking lid. You do not have to worry about your sneaky cat or dog busting into the food while you are gone! Plus, no air will get in and dry up your furry friend’s food. The makers say that this automatic pet feed is suitable for cats and dogs up to 60 pounds. Inside, there are food level sensors. This is going to alert you when it is running low on food. There is also a portion wheel that is able to control food amounts for your beloved companion. The bowl is dishwasher safe and it is made from aluminum for durability and style.
PetSafe Smart Feed’s Bulkier Design is More Pet-proof
The PetSafe Smart Feed appears bulkier in design but it is still suitable for a contemporary household. This definitely has a pet-proof design. So, you will not have to worry about your pooch sneaking into the smart feeder for some extra snacks during the day when you are out. We like that a lot of the parts are dishwasher safe. This includes the lid and round stainless-steel bowl. The plastic that is featured on this automatic pet feeder is BPA free for your pet’s health. The PetSafe Smart Feed can hold around 24 cups of dry food in the container. This is a good amount for your cat or dog when you are away from home all day.
2. Smartphone Programmed Pet Feeding
Both of these automatic pet feeders are able to connect to your smartphone. This keeps you in the loop with your dog’s feeding when you are outside of the home. They support Android and iOS devices. But let’s take a closer look at the smartphone programmed feeding.
Petnet SmartFeeder Makes Great Recommendations
Of course, with an automatic pet feeder, you can expect it to be controlled by your smartphone. Indeed, this is what happens with Petnet SmartFeeder. You can decide everything food related for your pooch without having to do it manually later on. You can choose your pet’s daily feeding times, which can be at any minute or hour of the day.
The feeder also makes recommendations to you if you are not sure when to feed your pet or how much. But you are in control to decide what you want to do.
PetSafe Smart Feed’s Slow Feed Option is Awesome!
You are able to personalize your dog or cat’s meals using the PetSafe Smart Feed. This includes being able to schedule up to 12 meals. There is also a Feed Now option from your app that lets you create additional feeding times. A feature we love about this automatic pet feeder is that there is a slow feed option. So, if your dog or cat is guilty of chowing down their food quickly, they will not be able to do this.
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live Now3. Is it Alexa Enabled?
If you use a lot of Amazon Alexa features, you may be wondering if either of these smart pet feeders are compatible. This can make feeding your cat or dog a lot easier and more convenient. So, let’s find out.
Petnet SmartFeeder is Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Nest Cam
There is good news; the Petnet SmartFeeder is compatible with Amazon Alexa! This means that you can use voice commands to dispense the food for your beloved companion. You can also ask for updates on when they were last fed, as well as find out how much food is left. The Petnet SmartFeeder also works with Google Assistant and Nest Cam.
PetSafe Smart Feed Works with your Amazon Echo
The PetSafe Smart Feed is also Alexa enabled so that you can speak to your Amazon Echo and feed your pet. This is a great feature that can make your life easier and give you the answers you need quickly. Plus, it is ideal for giving your dog or cat an extra snack during the day.
4. The Type of Food
Some automatic pet feeders will only take a certain type of food. The shape and size of the food can also play a part in whether an automatic pet feeder is going to work for your furry friend. Let’s take a look at what the Petnet SmartFeeder and PetSafe Smart Feed can handle.
Petnet SmartFeeder Can Only Handle Dry Food
Your dog or cat can receive personalized meal portions to suit their activity levels and weight. An automatic pet feeder does not just continue to drop food all the time; it will stop when it has reached its specific portion size. You can adjust all of this through the Petnet app on your mobile device. You can tell the technology the breed, weight, age and activity level and they can give you a recommended portion sizes if you are not sure what to feed your pet.
This automatic pet feeder is able to hold dry foods. This includes around 2.5 cups of dry food in the bowl, as well as dispensing around 1/16 to 1 ½ cups of food. The biscuit based foods should be around 1/8 to 5/8 inches in diameter.
PetSafe Smart Feed May Work with Semi-moist Food
The PetSafe Smart Feed is able to work with dry biscuit-based foods. In addition, it may be possible that it will work with semi-moist food. But it is best to try this out first before relying on it. There can be portions of 1/8 cup to 4 cups per meal. This is something you can control via the app. If you do choose the slow feed option, this dispenses the desired amount of food over 15 minutes, as opposed to all at once.
5. Real Time Alerts
Real time alerts on an automatic pet feeder keep you in the loop when you are away from home. The idea is, push notifications are sent to your mobile device so that you can see information when you are at work or away for the day. They can offer you peace of mind and know food has been dispensed for your dog or cat, as well as whether they are eating their dinner.
Petnet SmartFeeder Cleaning Notifications are Very Useful
The real time alerts are great on the Petnet SmartFeeder. You can always know that your furry friend has been fed since you will receive alerts on your mobile device. In addition, you will even get a notification when you should clean the automatic pet feeder.
Other alerts sent to your mobile device include when the automatic pet feeder is running low on food and when you need to fill it up again.
PetSafe Smart Feed will Tell you When Food is Low but not When a Meal was Finished
The PetSafe Smart Feed sends alerts to your mobile device so that you know what is going on. For example, if your automatic pet feeder is running low on food, you will be alerted so that you can put in 24 more cups of biscuits for your cat or dog. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell with this automatic pet feeder whether they have finished their meal. This will be something you will only see when you get home.
6. Emergency Backup Battery
Most automatic pet feeders work with the help of electricity from a power outlet in your home. But some models also offer an emergency backup battery. This means that if for some reason there is no electricity, for example a power cut, the automatic pet feeder will still function. If there is a power shortage and the pet feeder does not have a backup battery it will fail to feed your beloved companion when you are gone. You will not know about it either. So, let’s check if the Petnet SmartFeeder and the PetSafe Smart Feed have this feature.
Petnet SmartFeeder’s Backup Battery will work for 7 Hours
The Petnet SmartFeeder has a backup battery to save you in case you are away from home and your pet is hungry. If the power or internet cuts out, the Petnet SmartFeeder uses the backup battery and its memory of your pet’s food schedule to dispense food. The backup battery will work for around seven hours. This should cover you if you are away for the day on a trip or are at the office.
PetSafe Smart Feed’s Battery Backup Requires Four D Cell Alkaline Batteries
We love that the PetSafe Smart Feed has a battery backup. This can give you peace of mind in the event that there is a power cut or the Wi-Fi signal suddenly drops in your home. You will know that your furry friend has been fed and that they are happy. It requires four D cell alkaline batteries as a backup. You will have to supply these to make sure that your furry friend is fed if the power or Wi-Fi goes down.
The Verdict – Who is the Winner?
We like the design of both the Petnet SmartFeeder and the PetSafe Smart Feed. They are contemporary yet practical, storing a good amount of food for your dog or cat. Plus, they have self-locking mechanisms that mean your pet cannot bust into the food when you are gone. It will be your decision on the design. So, choose one that matches your home! When it comes to smartphone programmed feeding, both automatic pet feeders give you control of scheduling. But the PetSafe Smart Feed offers some cool additional features we like. This includes a slow feed option and a feed now option. This gives you more control over when you feed your dog or cat. Both automatic pet feeders are Alexa enabled. This makes your life more convenient.
The Petnet SmartFeeder and the PetSafe Smart Feed are suitable for kibble and biscuit-based diets. If you have a larger dog, you may be better choosing the PetSafe Smart Feed. This is able to dispense up to 4 cups of food per meal. The Petnet SmartFeeder can only dispense up to 1 ½ cups of food for each scheduled meal. Again, the slow feed option is going to be beneficial if you have a pooch that eats too fast. It allows food to be dispensed over a 15-minute period.
The Petnet SmartFeeder wins when it comes to real time alerts. It sends more push notifications to your mobile device. Including when you should clean the automatic pet feeder and when you are running low on food. These are extra features that make your life easier. Both devices offer an emergency backup battery so you do not have to worry about power shortages.
So, who is our winner? We are impressed with both automatic pet feeders. They offer a lot of similar features. One of the deciding factors may be the size of your pet. If you have a smaller cat or dog, you may be better off with the Petnet SmartFeeder. If you have a larger pet or a dog that eats quickly, the PetSafe Smart Feed is designed with you in mind.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live Now
