Automatic Cat Feeder for 2 Cats: Dual Bowls or One Each?

What do vets recommend for feeding two cats?

Feed them apart. The AAFP's feeding consensus says feeding plans should include several feeding stations that are visually separated. It adds that cats prefer to eat small, frequent meals alone.

International Cat Care advises against bowls placed side by side. It suggests a visual barrier, such as different rooms or different heights, and a microchip feeder for each cat. Its feeding guide says the ideal is 2 or 3 feeding and watering areas for each cat.

For the water side, see how to set up a feeder with a water fountain.

Can two cats share one automatic feeder?

Yes, if they eat the same food and neither steals. A dual-bowl dispenser splits each meal into two bowls, but none of these identify which cat is eating.

• The oneisall 5 L Feeder for 2 Cats gives both bowls the same portion, up to 6 meals a day. oneisall says it has no Wi-Fi.
• PETLIBRO's dual-tray Granary uses a meal splitter set to divide each meal equally. It schedules up to 10 meals through a Wi-Fi app.
• The VOLUAS Smart Feeder for 2 Pets splits meals into two bowls, up to 4 meals a day, with no app.

oneisall, PETLIBRO and VOLUAS all say these models take dry food only.

How do I feed two cats different food automatically?

Use two selective feeders, one for each diet. Register only the diet cat on the first and fill it with the diet food. Register the other cats on the second, with their regular food, so the diet cat can't eat theirs either.

A selective feeder only keeps out pets that aren't registered on it. Every cat you register can open it, so one feeder can't split two diets. Sure Petcare's manual recommends each pet has its own feeder for correct control of individual diets.

Hybrids add timed meals behind a lid, but some pair with only one pet:

• The PETLIBRO One RFID syncs with one collar tag. PETLIBRO says to keep its feeders at least 10 inches apart.
• The PawsPik Microchip Pet Feeder pairs with one pet's ISO microchip or tag.
• The HoneyGuardian SF35 opens for a collar tag and schedules up to 10 meals. HoneyGuardian doesn't say how many tags one feeder can hold.
• PapaPaw's DietMatch recognises cats by face and takes dry or wet food. PapaPaw doesn't say how many cats it supports.

See feeders that open only for registered cats (7 feeders)

A small 2022 study of 23 overweight cats in multi-cat homes points the same way: in that study, cats fed from pet-separating automatic feeders were more likely to reach a healthy body condition than cats fed from bowls.

Weighing the two most common tag and chip options? Read SureFeed vs PETLIBRO One RFID. To check whether a feeder can read your cat's chip, see microchip vs collar-tag feeders.

Can one microchip feeder serve several cats?

Yes, if they all eat the same food. One SureFeed stores up to 32 pets, and its lid stays closed for any animal it hasn't learned. No feeder is a perfect lock, though: Sure Petcare adds that it can't guarantee this in every case.

Every registered cat can open it, so it won't keep a diet cat's food apart. That makes it a good second feeder for the cats on regular food, beside one registered only to the diet cat. You still fill it by hand, because Sure Petcare's manual says it has no timer.

Comparing chip feeders for several cats? SureFeed vs ePawDen covers how many pets each one handles.

How do I set up feeders for two or more cats?

1. Place the feeders apart

   International Cat Care suggests separate rooms or levels. PETLIBRO says its RFID feeders need at least 10 inches between them.

2. Start with the lids open

   Sure Petcare says all pets should eat from their feeders in the open position before training starts.

3. Train at the slowest cat's pace

   Move to the next lid stage only when every cat is happy with it, Sure Petcare advises.

4. Watch who eats what

   Until the later training stages, cats can eat from each other's feeders. Sure Petcare says to keep managing each pet's intake.

Which setup should you choose?

Timed dispenser

oneisall 5 L Feeder for 2 Cats

Why it fits: two cats on the same dry food, with no app to set up.

Pets it can register

Up to 2, all able to open it

Food

Dry

Capacity

5 L

Portion size

About 10 g

Meals a day

Up to 6

$49.99amazon.com price as of Oct 15, 10:26 PM UTCSee it on Amazon

Timed + registered pets only

PETLIBRO One RFID Pet Feeder

Why it fits: timed dry meals behind a lid that opens for one cat's tag.

Recognises your cat by

Collar tag

Microchip standard

Doesn't read implanted chips

Pets it can register

1 pet, so one feeder per cat

Food

Dry

Capacity

3 L

$139.99amazon.com price as of Oct 15, 10:26 PM UTCSee it on Amazon

Timed + registered pets only

PawsPik Microchip Pet Feeder

Why it fits: timed dry meals for one cat, using its ISO microchip or the included tag.

Recognises your cat by

Implanted microchip or Collar tag

Microchip standard

15-digit ISO (FDX-B) only

Food

Dry

Capacity

3.85 L

Portion size

About 10 g

$249.99amazon.com price as of Oct 15, 10:26 PM UTCSee it on Amazon

Registered pets only

SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder

Why it fits: several cats on the same food sharing one feeder, next to a separate feeder for a diet cat.

Recognises your cat by

Implanted microchip or Collar tag

Microchip standard

All ID microchips, the brand says

Pets it can register

Up to 32, all able to open it

Food

Dry, Wet

Capacity

0.4 L

$169.99amazon.com price as of Oct 15, 10:26 PM UTCSee it on Amazon

For picks by need, see the best automatic cat feeders.