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Automatic Pet Feeders · Head-to-head

Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal vs Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic

Both made our Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Wet Food shortlist, at #1 and #3. Here's how they differ and who each one suits.

Quick verdict

Choose the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder if you want pre-portioning each of the 5 compartments by hand guarantees exact serving sizes, no auger drift possible. Choose the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder if you'd rather have handles wet and dry food. Overall we rank the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder higher: #1 versus #3 in our Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Wet Food list.

Winner overall: Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder

Side by side

Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder vs Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder compared

Every difference that matters, in one table.

Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder versus Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder
Attribute
Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder product photo
Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic FeederCheck price
Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder product photo
Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet FeederCheck price
Our ranking#1 of 5 in Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Wet Food#3 of 5 in Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Wet Food
Pick labelShortlisted
BrandCat MateCat Mate
Key features5 individual pre-portioned compartments; Digital timer with an initial feed plus 4 scheduled meals; Included ice packs keep wet food cold for hoursSee full details
Biggest strengthPre-portioning each of the 5 compartments by hand guarantees exact serving sizes, no auger drift possibleHandles wet and dry food
Main trade-offCaps out at 5 meals total before it needs refilling and resettingOnly three meals, one of them manual
Best forcats on dietscats on wet food during a day away
Decide

Which should you buy?

Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder

#1 pick

Choose the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder if…

  • Pre-portioning each of the 5 compartments by hand guarantees exact serving sizes, no auger drift possible
  • Ice packs make it genuinely usable for a wet-food weight-management diet, not just dry kibble
  • Lower price than an app-connected feeder for a single diet cat

Best for: cats on diets

Prefer the alternative? See the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder section.

Check price on AmazonFull details
Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder

#3 pick

Choose the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder if…

  • Handles wet and dry food
  • Ice pack helps keep wet food fresh
  • Runs about a year on AA batteries

Best for: cats on wet food during a day away

Prefer the alternative? See the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder section.

Check price on AmazonFull details
The trade-offs

Pros and cons of each

Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder

Pros

  • Pre-portioning each of the 5 compartments by hand guarantees exact serving sizes, no auger drift possible
  • Ice packs make it genuinely usable for a wet-food weight-management diet, not just dry kibble
  • Lower price than an app-connected feeder for a single diet cat

Cons

  • Caps out at 5 meals total before it needs refilling and resetting
  • No app, so there's no remote alert if a meal fails to dispense
  • Manual pre-measuring is more hands-on than an auger feeder's automatic portioning

Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder

Pros

  • Handles wet and dry food
  • Ice pack helps keep wet food fresh
  • Runs about a year on AA batteries
  • Dishwasher-safe bowl

Cons

  • Only three meals, one of them manual
  • Small portions for large dogs
  • Ice pack effectiveness drops in hot rooms
Answers

Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder vs Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder: common questions

Which is better, the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder or the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder?

Choose the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder if you want pre-portioning each of the 5 compartments by hand guarantees exact serving sizes, no auger drift possible. Choose the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder if you'd rather have handles wet and dry food. Overall we rank the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder higher: #1 versus #3 in our Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Wet Food list.

What is the difference between the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder and the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder?

The Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder stands out because pre-portioning each of the 5 compartments by hand guarantees exact serving sizes, no auger drift possible, while the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder stands out because handles wet and dry food. The trade-offs differ too: the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder's main caveat is that caps out at 5 meals total before it needs refilling and resetting, and the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder's is that only three meals, one of them manual.

Is the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder worth it over the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder?

For most buyers, yes: it's our #1 pick. Consider the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder instead if caps out at 5 meals total before it needs refilling and resetting is a deal-breaker for you.

Who should buy the Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder instead of the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder?

The Cat Mate C300 3-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder suits cats on wet food during a day away, while the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder is best for cats on diets.

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