Image: petsafe
It’s been just over a year since people began to realize that quarantine was a long-haul thing — cueing a spike in pet adoptions through most of spring and summer of 2020. Anyone who got a cat during quarantine has a new item on their to-do list this relatively normal summer: Figuring out how to take care of said cat during post-quarantine vacations.
An automatic pet feeder is a must for the weekend trips that are short enough to not require hiring a whole pet sitter. These smart dispensers ensure that your cat is keeping up with its regularly programmed portions — not simply gorging on a mountain of food left by you.
Amazon and Walmart have a few highly-rated automatic pet feeders on sale as of May 11:
One of the internet’s most trusted WiFi-enabled pet feeders is on sale for just over $130 at Walmart, beating Amazon’s current price of $169.95. The PetSafe Smart Feeder holds up to 24 cups of food (which could last for up to a month, depending on how much your pets eat) and releases said food in portions at mealtimes.
Up to 12 feedings can be scheduled throughout the day at 15-minute intervals — and after each meal is complete, a voice notification will let you know that your pet has been fed. Mealtimes and a “feed now” option outside of the routine can be set in the app.
This particular WOPET sits at its “sale price” of $89.99 most every single day. So while we can ignore the first $40 discount, the extra 15% off coupon is notable: It gets the WOPET 6L down to $74.99, a price point it hasn’t dropped below since the holidays.
Up to 15 regularly scheduled meals with customizable portions (in grams) can be set through the app, and those feedings can be tweaked remotely when you’re not home. The GOPET can also record a voice message as a little comfort boost for your pet when they’re home alone.
A more expensive WOPET model also sees a 15% coupon that brings its $139 MSRP down to $119.99.
Skipping an app altogether may be less stressful for some households. PetSafe’s 6-meal feeder ditches WiFi but is still programmable through buttons on the lid. Six separated containers hold portions of different food (like a special breakfast mix, meals for two animals, or treats) that release as scheduled by you. The tray is dishwasher safe.