Cat Feeder Gravity vs Automatic: Which One Suits Your Cat?
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The short answer
A gravity cat feeder refills the bowl as your cat eats, so the cat decides how much it gets. An automatic feeder releases a set portion at set times. Choose automatic if weight matters or you want timed meals. A gravity feeder only suits a cat that stays at a healthy weight with food always out.
What is a gravity cat feeder?
It's a food hopper over a bowl. Petmate, which makes them, says its Replendish feeder uses gravity to refill the bowl as the pet eats. That model holds up to 5 lb of dry food, and its page lists no batteries, plug or timer.
The simplicity is both the appeal and the catch. Petmate says gravity feeders aren't ideal for portion control and can't schedule meals.
How do gravity and automatic feeders compare?
| Gravity feeder | Automatic feeder | |
|---|---|---|
| How food comes out | Refills as the cat eats | A set portion at set times |
| Portion control | None built in | About 6 to 10 g per portion on most models |
| Power | None needed | Mains, usually with backup batteries |
| Wet food | No, dry food only | Only on wet-food trays; most hoppers are dry only |
| Several cats | Any cat can eat | Any cat can eat, unless it reads a chip or tag |
| Upkeep | Top up and wash | Batteries, desiccant and washing |
Portion figures come from PETLIBRO, VOLUAS and PETKIT. PETLIBRO, for example, suggests a new desiccant bag every two weeks in its Granary. For what that upkeep costs, see the running costs of an automatic feeder.
Which is better for a cat's weight?
Automatic, in most cases. Cornell's Feline Health Center names free feeding as a major cause of feline obesity and recommends set mealtimes the owner controls. It also says free feeding can lead to overeating and weight gain.
The AAHA's 2021 guidelines list free-choice feeding as something that can undermine a feeding plan. They call automated feeders useful to control food access and amount.
A 2022 study of 23 overweight cats in multi-cat homes backs that up: in that study, cats fed from a pet-separating automatic feeder were more likely to reach a healthy body condition than cats fed from bowls.
When does a gravity feeder make sense?
- Your cat keeps a healthy weight with food always available, and your vet agrees.
- Your cat eats dry food only.
- You want nothing to charge or program.
Even then, a bowl that always looks full hides how much was eaten. Cornell says loss of appetite can harm an adult cat within 24 hours, so watch how fast the hopper empties.
Can two cats share a gravity feeder?
Not well. A shared bowl that never empties gives no control over who eats what, so one cat can take more than its share. The AAFP's feeding consensus recommends several feeding stations, out of sight of each other.
International Cat Care also advises against feeding cats from bowls placed side by side. A diet cat in a shared home calls for two selective feeders, one for it and one for the others. Sure Petcare says its SureFeed lid stays shut for any pet whose chip or tag isn't registered.
See feeders that open only for registered cats (7 feeders)
When is an automatic feeder the better pick?
- Your cat is overweight or on a vet-set diet. See portion sizes in grams and how to set them.
- You want meals at fixed times while you're out. See how long a feeder can cover while you travel.
- You feed wet food, which calls for a wet-food tray such as PETLIBRO's cooled Polar.
Simple timed feeders stay close to gravity-feeder simplicity: no app, just buttons or a dial on the feeder.
| Feeder and price | Portion size | Meals a day | Capacity | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VOLUAS Automatic Feeder (4 L) $41.79amazon.com price as of Oct 15, 10:26 PM UTCAmazon | About 6 g | Up to 4 | 4 L | Mains with battery backup |
| IMIPAW 6-Meal Programmable Feeder (3 L) $29.99amazon.com price as of Oct 15, 10:26 PM UTCAmazon | About 7 g | Up to 6 | 3 L | Mains with battery backup |
| PETLIBRO Granary Automatic Feeder (3 L) $56.69amazon.com price as of Oct 15, 10:26 PM UTCAmazon | Not stated by the brand | Up to 6 | 3 L | Mains with battery backup |
| oneisall 5 L Feeder for 2 Cats $49.99amazon.com price as of Oct 15, 10:26 PM UTCAmazon | About 10 g | Up to 6 | 5 L | Mains with battery backup |
| Nityers QQ21 8 L Feeder $55.99amazon.com price as of Oct 15, 10:26 PM UTCAmazon | Not stated by the brand | Up to 6 | 8 L | Mains with battery backup |
The VOLUAS Automatic Feeder 4 L is one example. It drops portions of about 6 to 7 g up to four times a day. You set it on an LCD with no app, and three D batteries act as backup.
To narrow it down, filter every checked feeder by food, power and app or see our picks for each feeding need. If water is a worry too, see feeders paired with water fountains.
Questions owners ask
Gravity feeder or automatic feeder: which is better?
An automatic feeder is the better choice when portion control matters; a gravity feeder only suits cats that keep a healthy weight with constant access to food. Petmate, which makes gravity feeders, says they refill the bowl as the cat eats and aren't ideal for portion control. Cornell's Feline Health Center names free feeding as a major cause of feline obesity and recommends set mealtimes. A gravity feeder is simpler, with no power or electronics, but it can't schedule meals.
Sources: Petmate; Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine; Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Will an automatic feeder help my cat lose weight?
It can help, but only alongside a vet-set calorie target. The AAHA's 2021 nutrition guidelines call automated feeders useful for controlling food access and amount, and a small 2022 study found cats in multi-cat homes were more likely to reach a healthy body condition with pet-separating automatic feeders than with bowls. The feeder doesn't decide how much to feed: Cornell advises vet-supervised loss of about 1 to 2 percent of body weight per week, as crash diets risk liver disease.
Sources: American Animal Hospital Association (PDF hosted by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association); PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine); Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Sources
- Petmate 5 lb. Stainless Steel Replendish Feeder, Petmate
- Are Gravity Feeders Good for Cats? Pros and Cons of Using Gravity Feeders, Petmate
- Obesity, Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- How often should you feed your cat?, Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Anorexia, Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (Cline et al., JAAHA 2021;57:153-178), American Animal Hospital Association (PDF hosted by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association)
- Evaluation of a pet-separating automatic feeder and high-frequency meal feeding for weight loss in multi-cat households (Witzel-Rollins et al., J Feline Med Surg 2022), PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- What Is the Amount in One Feeding Portion?, PETLIBRO
- Granary Automatic Cat Feeder with WiFi App Control (PLAF103), PETLIBRO
- Granary Automatic Feeder (PLAF005/PLAF006) User Manual, PETLIBRO
- Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder, PETLIBRO
- FAQ, VOLUAS
- VOLUAS Automatic Pet Feeder User Guide, VOLUAS
- VOLUAS Automatic Feeder 4L, VOLUAS
- Fresh Element Solo, PETKIT
- 6-Meal Programmable Food Dispenser, IMIPAW
- oneisall 5L Automatic Cat Feeder for 2 Cats, oneisall
- QQ21 Basic 8L Automatic Pet Feeder, Nityers
- SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder, Sure Petcare
- Feline feeding programs: addressing behavioural needs to improve feline health and wellbeing (Sadek et al., J Feline Med Surg 2018;20:1049-1055), AAFP consensus statement, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (PMC)
- Multi-cat households, International Cat Care