The pros and cons of automatic feeders

The pros and cons of automatic feeders

Automatic feeders can be a lifesaver in certain situations, but they’re not the perfect solution for every pet’s dietary needs.

Pros

Scheduled Meal Times: Dispense food at scheduled times, so you never have to worry about overfeeding a pet who tricks family members into getting a second dinner!
Size and Frequency Management: You can provide smaller, proportioned meals as required by your veterinarian’s recommendations. This could be essential for managing certain health conditions especially when everyone’s at work or school through the day.
Weight-Reduction Plan: For pets who are overweight or obese, automatic feeders can be a part of a weight-loss plan. The feeder can be programmed to dispense the perfect amount of food at planned times through the day.
Microchip Technology: Automatic feeders with microchip technology separates pets without the need to physically separate them in different rooms! These feeders will only open for a registered pet, identified by a collar tag microchip. This stops pets from stealing each other’s food, ensures that prescription food is consumed by the right pet, and prevents a pet with food sensitivities from gobbling up allergy-causing foods.

Cons

Drained batteries may cause missed meals, leaving pets hungry and frustrated until you’re available to resolve the problem.
Automatic feeders may startle sensitive pets, keeping them from feeding even when they’re hungry.
Cleaning more complicated automatic feeders can be difficult. You may need to disassemble the unit to thoroughly clean it.
Some feeders overfeed, even by just a few kibbles, which adds up over time. If your goal is weight reduction for your pet, be sure the feeder you choose uses pre-measured amounts or is accurately dispensing food; otherwise, your efforts for calorie control may backfire.
Most automatic feeders are designed for use with kibble, so if your pet fancies wet food, it’s not an ideal option.
And finally, automatic food dispensers are no substitute for human interaction. Our pets need love, affection, play time and snuggles to live a full and happy life.

Before choosing an automatic pet feeder, investigate the different features to see if it will meet both your and your pet’s needs.