PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog vs Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal
Both made our Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Cats on Diets shortlist, at #1 and #3. Here's how they differ and who each one suits.
- BuyOnceRight Research Desk
- Updated
- 4 min read
Quick verdict
Choose the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder if you want 24-cup hopper covers most single-cat trips of two weeks or more without a refill. Choose the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder if you'd rather have pre-portioning each of the 5 compartments by hand guarantees exact serving sizes, no auger drift possible. 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.
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Our ranking | #1 of 6 in Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Cats on Diets | #3 of 6 in Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Cats on Diets |
| Pick label | Top pick | |
| Brand | PetSafe | Cat Mate |
| Key features | 24-cup / 6L hopper capacity; Wi-Fi app control with low-food alerts; Backup batteries maintain schedule through power outages | 5 individual pre-portioned compartments; Digital timer with an initial feed plus 4 scheduled meals; Included ice packs keep wet food cold for hours |
| Biggest strength | 24-cup hopper covers most single-cat trips of two weeks or more without a refill | Pre-portioning each of the 5 compartments by hand guarantees exact serving sizes, no auger drift possible |
| Main trade-off | No camera, so alerts confirm dispensing but not that the pet actually ate | Caps out at 5 meals total before it needs refilling and resetting |
| Best for | vacations | cats on diets |
Which should you buy?
#1 pick · Top pick
Choose the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder if…
- 24-cup hopper covers most single-cat trips of two weeks or more without a refill
- Backup batteries mean a power blip doesn't silently break the whole schedule
- Low-food and completed-feeding alerts land directly on your phone while traveling
Best for: vacations
Prefer the alternative? See the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder section.
#3 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 PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder section.
Pros and cons of each
PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder
Pros
- 24-cup hopper covers most single-cat trips of two weeks or more without a refill
- Backup batteries mean a power blip doesn't silently break the whole schedule
- Low-food and completed-feeding alerts land directly on your phone while traveling
Cons
- No camera, so alerts confirm dispensing but not that the pet actually ate
- Requires a stable home Wi-Fi connection for remote alerts to work
- Large housing takes up more counter space than a compact non-connected feeder
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
PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder vs Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder: 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 24-cup hopper covers most single-cat trips of two weeks or more without a refill. Choose the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder if you'd rather have pre-portioning each of the 5 compartments by hand guarantees exact serving sizes, no auger drift possible. 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 24-cup hopper covers most single-cat trips of two weeks or more without a refill, while 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. The trade-offs differ too: the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder's main caveat is that no camera, so alerts confirm dispensing but not that the pet actually ate, and the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder's is that caps out at 5 meals total before it needs refilling and resetting.
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 alerts confirm dispensing but not that the pet actually ate is a deal-breaker for you.
Who should buy the Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder instead of the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder?
The Cat Mate C500 Digital 5-Meal Automatic Feeder suits cats on diets, while the PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder is best for vacations.