Automatic Pet Feeders · Comparison

PetSafe Smart Feed vs Cat Mate C500

PetSafe Smart Feed vs Cat Mate C500: we break down the real differences, strengths, tradeoffs, and which one fits your situation.

BuyOnceRight Research Desk
Updated October 16, 2026
3 min read

PSPetSafe Smart

PetSafe Smart

PetSafe Smart Feed

Check price

CMCat Mate

Cat Mate

Cat Mate C500

Check price

On this page

Quick verdict

Both are credible options, the right choice depends on which strengths matter more to you. If still torn, the buying guide linked below walks through the decision step by step.

The details

Head-to-head

The differences that actually change the buying decision.

PetSafe Smart Feed versus Cat Mate C500
Attribute	PSPetSafe Smart PetSafe Smart FeedCheck price	CMCat Mate Cat Mate C500Check price
The Short Answer	Buy the PetSafe Smart Feed if you feed dry food, want remote alerts and scheduling, and need capacity for a week or more without refilling.	Buy the Cat Mate C500 if you feed wet food on a schedule, want a lower price, and don't need remote monitoring or more than about a day between refills.
Where They Match	Reliability: Both dispensed on schedule consistently in testing, with no missed feedings under normal conditions.	Build quality: Neither feeder felt flimsy or cheaply made at its respective price point.
Where PetSafe Wins	Capacity: 24 cups versus 5 meals isn't a close comparison for any trip or schedule longer than a day or two.	Connectivity: Remote alerts, low-food warnings, and schedule changes from anywhere are unique to the PetSafe in this comparison.
Where Cat Mate Wins	Wet food: This is the clearest differentiator.	The Cat Mate C500 handles wet food safely; the PetSafe Smart Feed cannot dispense it at all.
Who Should Buy Each	PetSafe Smart Feed on Amazon	See full breakdown below.
See Also	PetSafe Smart Feed Review - full PetSafe review Cat Mate C500 Review - full Cat Mate review Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Wet Food - full wet-food category	See full breakdown below.
Frequently Asked Questions	Cat Mate C500 Review: The Best Budget Feeder for Wet or Dry FoodAutomatic Pet Feeders · Review Petlibro Granary Camera Feeder Review: AI Recognition for Multi-Cat HomesAutomatic Pet Feeders · Review B	See full breakdown below.

Decide

Which should you buy?

Choose the PetSafe Smart Feed if…

Buy the PetSafe Smart Feed if you feed dry food, want remote alerts and scheduling, and need capacity for a week or more without refilling.
Connectivity: Remote alerts, low-food warnings, and schedule changes from anywhere are unique to the PetSafe in this comparison.
Wet food: This is the clearest differentiator. The Cat Mate C500 handles wet food safely; the PetSafe Smart Feed cannot dispense it at all.

Check price on Amazon

Choose the Cat Mate C500 if…

Buy the Cat Mate C500 if you feed wet food on a schedule, want a lower price, and don't need remote monitoring or more than about a day between refills.
Wet food: This is the clearest differentiator. The Cat Mate C500 handles wet food safely; the PetSafe Smart Feed cannot dispense it at all.
Price: At roughly a third of the PetSafe's cost, the Cat Mate delivers reliable scheduled feeding for budget-conscious households.

Check price on Amazon

The Short Answer

Buy the PetSafe Smart Feed if you feed dry food, want remote alerts and scheduling, and need capacity for a week or more without refilling.

Buy the Cat Mate C500 if you feed wet food on a schedule, want a lower price, and don't need remote monitoring or more than about a day between refills.

Where They Match

Reliability: Both dispensed on schedule consistently in testing, with no missed feedings under normal conditions.

Build quality: Neither feeder felt flimsy or cheaply made at its respective price point.

Where PetSafe Wins

Capacity: 24 cups versus 5 meals isn't a close comparison for any trip or schedule longer than a day or two.

Connectivity: Remote alerts, low-food warnings, and schedule changes from anywhere are unique to the PetSafe in this comparison.

Portion precision: 1/8-cup increments beat the Cat Mate's reliance on manual pre-measuring for consistency across many feedings.

Where Cat Mate Wins

Wet food: This is the clearest differentiator.

The Cat Mate C500 handles wet food safely; the PetSafe Smart Feed cannot dispense it at all.

Price: At roughly a third of the PetSafe's cost, the Cat Mate delivers reliable scheduled feeding for budget-conscious households.

Who Should Buy Each

PetSafe Smart Feed on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Cat Mate C500 Review: The Best Budget Feeder for Wet or Dry FoodAutomatic Pet Feeders · Review Petlibro Granary Camera Feeder Review: AI Recognition for Multi-Cat HomesAutomatic Pet Feeders · Review Best Automatic Pet Feeders for Multi-Pet HouseholdsAutomatic Pet Feeders · List Our editorial team researches and writes every review independently.

Answers

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for wet food, PetSafe or Cat Mate?

The Cat Mate C500, clearly. Its sealed, ice-pack-cooled compartments are purpose-built for wet food. The PetSafe Smart Feed's auger mechanism can only move dry kibble and will jam on wet food entirely.

Which holds more food, PetSafe or Cat Mate?

The PetSafe Smart Feed by a wide margin. Its 24-cup hopper holds close to 6 pounds of dry kibble, enough for a single cat for weeks. The Cat Mate C500 holds 5 total meals before it needs refilling, typically covering a bit over one day.

Is the PetSafe Smart Feed worth three times the price of the Cat Mate C500?

For households that want Wi-Fi remote alerts, large unattended capacity, and fine dry-food portion control, yes. For a household feeding wet food, or one on a tight budget with a predictable at-home schedule, the Cat Mate C500 delivers most of what's actually needed at a third of the cost.

Can I use the Cat Mate C500 for vacations?

For short trips of a day or two, yes, especially for wet food. For anything longer, its 5-meal capacity runs out well before a typical week-long trip, making the PetSafe Smart Feed's larger hopper the better fit for extended time away.

Keep researching