As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, independent reviews and owner reports.
Quick verdict
Choose the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder if you want largest hopper capacity of any feeder in this price bracket. Choose the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder if you'd rather have one of the only budget-tier feeders that genuinely handles wet food thanks to included ice packs. Overall we rank the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder higher: #1 versus #3 in our Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Cats on Diets list.
Winner overall: PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder
PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder vs Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder compared
Every difference that matters, in one table.
Keep researching
- Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Cats on Diets
- PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder review
- Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder review
- All automatic pet feeders
Bottom line
Choose the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder if you want largest hopper capacity of any feeder in this price bracket. Choose the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder if you'd rather have one of the only budget-tier feeders that genuinely handles wet food thanks to included ice packs. Overall we rank the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder higher: #1 versus #3 in our Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Cats on Diets list.
PetSafe
Large 24-cup hopper covers a multi-pet household for a week or more between refills
- 24-cup / 6L hopper capacity
- Wi-Fi app control with up to 12 scheduled meals per day
- Portions from 1/8 cup to 4 cups
- Slow Feed setting spreads a meal over about 15 minutes
- Backup batteries keep the schedule running through a power outage
✓ Pros
- One of the only budget-tier feeders that genuinely handles wet food thanks to included ice packs
- Manual pre-measured compartments avoid the auger-accuracy drift of pricier hopper feeders
- Over a year of runtime on 3 AA batteries means minimal ongoing cost
✕ Cons
- No app or remote alerts, it's a standalone digital timer
- 5-meal capacity means more frequent refilling than a large dry-food hopper
- No camera, so there's no way to remotely confirm a meal dispensed
Best overallCat Mate
Purpose-built for wet food, not adapted from a kibble auger design
- 5 sealed compartments, each holding up to 3/4 lb of food
- Included ice packs sit beneath the compartments
- Digital timer with initial feed plus 4 scheduled meals
- Runs on 3 AA batteries for over a year of use
✓ Pros
- Purpose-built for wet food, not adapted from a kibble auger design
- Ice packs are the single biggest freshness advantage in this category for wet food
- 5 individually sealed compartments open only at their scheduled time, keeping the rest cold and covered
✕ Cons
- 5-meal limit means it needs refilling and re-icing more often than a large dry-food hopper
- Ice packs need to be refrozen between uses, adding a maintenance step
- No camera or app, so there's no remote confirmation a meal actually opened
FAQ
Common questions
Which is better, the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder or the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder?
Choose the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder if you want largest hopper capacity of any feeder in this price bracket. Choose the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder if you'd rather have one of the only budget-tier feeders that genuinely handles wet food thanks to included ice packs. Overall we rank the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder higher: #1 versus #3 in our Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Cats on Diets list.
What is the difference between the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder and the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder?
The PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder stands out because largest hopper capacity of any feeder in this price bracket, while the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder stands out because one of the only budget-tier feeders that genuinely handles wet food thanks to included ice packs. The trade-offs differ too: the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder's ma in caveat is that no camera, so there's no visual confirmation a pet actually ate, and the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder's is that no app or remote alerts, it's a standalone digital timer.
Is the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder worth it over the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder?
For most buyers, yes: it's our #1 pick. Consider the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder instead if no camera, so there's no visual confirmation a pet actually ate is a deal-breaker for you.
Keep researching
Related guides & comparisons
Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder
