Leaving Your Pets at Home: Use Chewy Auto Feeder

Traveling with your pets can be a great experience, but sometimes, some adventures are made only for the hoomans. In that case, you have to leave your fur-babies at home. We get that it can be stressful to be away from them, even just for a day. The best thing you can do is make sure they have a cozy place to rest and are well fed. That’s where the Chewy auto feeder comes into play.

With an automatic feeder, rest assured that your dog won’t be left hungry – provided you leave them with enough food. Some of these Chewy dog and cat feeders even come with a timer to keep your pets’ feeding schedule even when you’re away. Some also have an automated recognition system to feed each dog. We’ll discuss the advantage of each function later on.

Use this article as a checklist before leaving your pets alone at home. You’ll also find our recommendation on some of the best Chewy programmable pet feeder products within it. Our goal is to help you achieve some peace of mind before you go. Take a glance at the Table of Content below and click on the topic you’re interested in, or simply scroll and read through one by one.

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Things to Prepare

There are many reasons pet owners leave their dogs or cats alone at home. And trust us; no matter how difficult it is, sometimes it’s best to let them stay home in the comfort of their own space rather than traveling. Perhaps the nature of the trip makes it difficult to take them with you. Or it’s the distance that’s not suitable for them. Whichever it is, there are things you need to provide them before you leave.

A comfortable spot to rest

When they’re home alone, your pets will most likely sleep and rest. Hence, it’s crucial to provide them a cozy spot for it. A cushioned dog or cat bed will do. And perhaps a blanket they can drag around in case it gets colder. Their usual corner in the living room may be enough. But if your four-legged friend’s favorite spot is your lap, it’s best to arrange something that will resemble the warmth and comfort they usually get from you.

Pick a shirt you often wear (nothing too fancy since your pets may shed all over it) and leave it on their bed or a cozy surface your pets may sleep on. This provides them with your scent, which may also help with separation anxiety.

Secure place to do the zoomies

The times your pooch or kitty doesn’t spend on resting are likely to be spent playing or running around. The ideal scenario is to give them secure access to your backyard. But if that’s not possible, a square space indoor will do; as long as it’s free of furniture and decorations, they can topple and break. Keep in mind that even though they’re usually well-behaved when you’re around, they may get anxious and use your furniture to release their frustration. And by “use,” we mean scratch, bite, or even defecate.

Consider getting a dog fence to give them boundaries. However, some dogs may not react well to confinement if they’re not used to it. To make sure this won’t happen, try using the fence before you leave and let them adjust to it for a while.

Another thing you may consider is a crate. We put this recommendation last because it’s not an ideal solution. Unless you can afford a huge crate where they can still do the zoomies, leaving your dog alone in their crate may actually cause more anxiety. It’s a small confined space without much comfort. But it’s better than leaving them alone in an insecure area.

Toys and activities to keep them entertained

Doing the zoomies may only last for a few minutes. After that, your pets may get bored and probably start thinking of chewing on the sofa cushion. Make sure you leave them with their favorite toys. If they love watching TV, it’s not a bad idea to leave the TV on for them. Some YouTube channels even provide videos with music for pets!

Enough food, snacks, and water

Last but definitely not least is sustenance. Many pet owners think they know exactly what “enough” means. But it can be tricky. Should you leave the same amount of food you usually feed them? Should you leave a little extra, just in case? But what if they eat all of them at once? This is why we recommend all pet owners use automated feeders like a Chewy auto feeder.

With a Chewy programmable pet feeder that’s most suitable for you and your pets, you can actually have the best version of “enough”. Not too much for the nonstop eaters but not too little for the others. On that note, let us reveal our handpicked selections of the best Chewy auto feeder.

What is the best pet feeder?

The best Chewy cat feeder or dog feeder varies depending on your pet’s habits and preferences. It also depends on how many pets you’re feeding.

“If you free feed your cat and want to keep things simple, a gravity feeder should work for you pretty well. If you need to feed your cat at various intervals while you’re away, an automated or timed cat feeder may be the way to go. For multi-cat homes where different cats eat different foods, high-tech microchips or collar-activated feeders might be exactly what you need. Or, try a slow feeder to help your hungry kitty eat more slowly if she eats too fast.”

By Chewy

How do gravity pet feeders work?

“Gravity pet feeders work by dropping food into the food bowl as it’s depleted. They usually feature an elevated food storage container that holds the food and keeps it fresh and dry, plus a bowl attachment that holds kibble portions for eating.”

By Chewy

Our Recommended Chewy Auto Feeder Products

Now that you have your checklist, it’s time to find out which one of the many Chewy programmable pet feeder products is suitable for you and your canine. After browsing through each option, we’ve handpicked the following five products:

Pawple Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder

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We start our list of the best Chewy auto feeder products with Pawple Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder. It holds 20 cups of kibble, more than enough to feed your fur babies for the weekend. Simply set the time and portion on the feeder’s LCD panel, and you’re good to go. It lets you set up to four meals per day, from two teaspoons to four and a half cups per serving.

Though it’s not the bestselling Chewy programmable pet feeder, more and more pet owners are switching to this product for its top features. First of all, it runs on USB power (or three D-cell batteries). Second, you can record your voice that will automatically play as a meal call. Now your pets know when it’s time to eat!

PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Programmable Dog & Cat Feeder

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Being one of the leading pet products industry brands, it should be no surprise that PetSafe is on our list. Its Chewy programmable pet feeder is a high-quality product made of stainless steel, unlike others that mostly use plastic. On top of that, PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Programmable Dog & Cat Feeder is particularly special for its large capacity: 24 cups.

This feeder comes with an LCD screen to navigate programming and portion control easily. Each feeding time can be set to up to 5 cups. And instead of dispensing all at once, it goes over a 15-minute period, making it great for reducing gulping that may lead to bloating.

Arf Pets Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder

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Feeding your pets on time while providing comfort for separation anxiety is what Arf Pets Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder is all about. This Chewy programmable pet feeder comes with a voice recording option. With it, you get to record your personal meal call to let your puppers know it’s time to eat.

The feeder’s dispenser holds 18 cups of kibbles. More than enough to leave them on a weekend getaway. Each set time dispenses up to 10 x 24ml portions of food. What’s more, its magnetic lock lid helps prevent your naughty little buddy from digging in for more.

PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder

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Next on our list is what we think is the best Chewy slow-feeder dog bowl. Not only it’s programmable, but the bowl is also divided into five servings of one cup each. The bowl rotates to one serving as scheduled while the rest is covered. With PetSafe Eatwell 5-Meal Automatic Dog & Cat Feeder, your foodie fur-baby won’t be able to eat the whole thing at once!

What we love about this Chewy auto feeder is its flat design. It’s not easy to tip over as it sits nicely on the floor. Put a non-slip rug underneath it (not included), and it will stay firm without any risk of slippage.

SureFeed Microchip Small Dog & Cat Feeder

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Don’t know how to ration because of one hungry little puppy or kitty? SureFeed Microchip Small Dog & Cat Feeder is the answer. After all, it’s our best Chewy auto feeder. With an RFID collar tag included in each purchase, each pooch has its own feeder. No smooching off each other! Here’s how it works: the feeder’s built-in sensor will automatically open the lid as the tag on the designated canine approaches. Other tags, even from the same product, will not.

Besides avoiding one hungry pal eating his buddy’s food, this recognition system also helps if your pets are on a particular diet. Your purchase includes two bowls – one round and one split bowl – a mat, and the collar tag.

How to Choose the Best Chewy Auto Feeder

Still unsure which of these Chewy cat feeder and dog feeder products to pick? Here are some of the product’s main features you can consider.

Capacity

How many kibbles and water will your pet need? Add about a third of that to the feeder’s capacity. Too much means the last bits won’t be as fresh. And too little means – well – hungry doggos and kitties. A third more is about right.

Instead of buying double the capacity because you have two pets, we recommend getting two feeders. Better yet, if each comes with a recognition system, each pet has its own feeder.

Installation

The best Chewy auto feeder comes with easy and quick installation, yet not that easy to uninstall. The former is important for the “hooman,” and the latter is more for the pets.

Dogs who love extra zoomies may topple their own feeder off, leaving them with a mess on the floor. Whether the feeder comes with a programmable schedule or not, it won’t matter anymore.

Durability

Besides making sure that the feeder is long-lasting, durability is also crucial for the same reason as installation. A flimsy feeder is likely to be tipped over. So, when choosing a Chew programmable pet feeder, look at its material. The sturdier it is, the better.

Extra Features

Set Timer

The must-have feature you need from the best Chewy slow feeder dog bowl or cat bowl is a timer. You cannot always trust your four-legged babies when it comes to portion control. Set a timer that connects to whichever feeding system the feeder provides, and you won’t have overeating issues. Some Chewy cat feeder or dog feeder products are equipped with a built-in timer, while others come with an app where you can set the timers on your phone.

Recognition System

Some Chewy programmable pet feeder products come with an RFID sensor that opens up only for a specific microchip. This type of product usually comes with a collar or collar tag with a built-in microchip that works with their sensor. It works best for owners with many pets.

Gravity Feeding

Gravity pet feeders work by dropping food into the bowl as it’s depleted. This helps eliminate empty bowl whining when you’re home while providing peace of mind when you’re away. But there’s a drawback: it allows for a constant food supply. Therefore, it’s not the most appropriate Chewy cat feeder or dog feeder for a pooch who overeats or needs to lose weight.

Mobile App

A Chewy auto feeder with its own app makes it easier for pet owners who’d like to control the feeding even when they’re away. If you have the time, this is a great choice. Combine it with a monitoring camera – if the feeder doesn’t already come with it – and it’s like you’ve never left.