Cat Mate

Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Feeder

Ranked #5 in Automatic Pet Feeders

564 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Maximum simplicity equals maximum longevity. The default answer for scheduled wet food, limited only by coarse portions and an exposed first meal.

Consolidated from 11 independent outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

8 positive sources
3 mixed sources

See the sources

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Pros & cons

✓ Battery-powered with nothing that phones home or needs firmware updates
✓ Twin ice packs keep wet food fresh
✓ Five rotating compartments with a simple digital timer
✓ Same basic mechanism sold and refined for years - essentially nothing to fail

✗ Coarse portion precision
✗ First meal sits exposed

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 6 articles, 4 video reviews and 1 community source

8 positive sources

DontPickit DP_Pets · reviewer · Sept 2025

Recommended Because: The Cat Mate C500 is one of the few timed automatic pet feeders that works with both wet and dry food. Its five compartments and included ice packs help maintain freshness, while its strong ease-of-use score (15/20) makes it a budget-friendly yet reliable option for single or multiple cats. A solid choice if you want a simple, dependable feeder that handles diverse feeding needs.

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CurrentProductReviews CurrentProductReviews · 4K subscribers · Dec 2025

The Cat Mate C500 Feeder’s features are designed with the needs of both pets and their owners in mind, making it a noteworthy option for those looking to enhance their pet feeding routine.

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Thesprucepets Article

Cat owners who are likely to find this feeder useful include anyone who is sick of their cat waking them up and would rather their cat adjust to waiting by the feeder for its scheduled mealtime. It could also be useful for scheduling a food serving if you will be at work late. It's also easy to clean, as the top cover and food tray are dishwasher-safe.

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Mommy Churvs Mommy Churvs · 3.9K subscribers · May 2021

Its a good buy! Grab one at @Chewy.com. Enjoy watching!

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Closer Pets Closer Pets · channel

This automatic cat food dispenser from Closer Pets will serve meals at various preprogrammed times throughout the day, so you can wake up fresh after a well-earned lie-in, with the knowledge that your pet got their breakfast when they expected it.

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Purrfect Picks Purrfect Picks · 58 subscribers · Sept 2024

Whether you’re at work, school or out with friends, the Cat Mate C500 makes sure your cat is happy, fed, and on schedule! No more worries about missing feeding times.

Watch F Facebook Barb Fritsche · owner

Reliable Cat Mate C500 automatic pet feeder with a digital timer. This unit has a five-meal capacity rotating tray. It includes the instruction manual and is battery-operated.

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Reviewed Sarah Zorn · reviewer · Mar 2019

Our favorite automatic pet feeders are the WOpet SmartFeeder and the Cat Mate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder .

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3 mixed sources

Reviews & Top Picks Article

The buttons are tamper-proof, so your cat shouldn’t accidentally set them, but they’re also quite fragile and easily broken; broken buttons can easily render the automatic feeder useless. It’s also worth noting that the first of the five meals is not timed, and is essentially an open bowl. If you live in a hot climate, expect the ice packs to thaw after a few hours, too, so you may struggle to keep wet food fresh for the promised 24 hours.

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Business Insider Janelle Leeson, Julie Liu, DVM · reviewer · Mar 2026

Because wet food can grow bacteria when stored above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, I recommend this feeder for a single day of wet food feedings, but it may not keep wet food safe for overnight or multi-day use. If your house is particularly warm, that freshness window will be even shorter.

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SmartCatFeeding SmartCatFeeding Team · reviewer · Apr 2026

This is a massive benefit for cats prone to urinary issues who desperately need the moisture from canned diets. The digital programmable timer allows you to set four meals (plus one open immediately), giving you excellent portion accuracy throughout the day.

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