Petnet Smartfeeder: Robot Pet Feeder Meets Smartphone App With Mostly Good Results

WHEN I FIRST heard about the Petnet SmartFeeder, I bristled. How could something so basic as feeding a pet be in search of a smart solution? I deposit a half-cup of dry kibble in my dog’s bowl twice daily—done and done. Is no human endeavor sacred?

 

- Katherine Stevenson

Okay, maybe a tad dramatic. I can see that there are times when an automatic pet feeder makes sense: an unpredictable work schedule, say, or an impromptu invite, either of which could step on the toes of your pet’s meal time.

 

The SmartFeeder (which retails for $149) can dispense a precise measure of your dog or cat’s food at preset times of your choosing, and then let you monitor and revise the feedings via a companion app. Fido or Fluffy stays sated when your schedule is in flux.

How it works

To get started, you have to assemble the SmartFeeder by connecting five interlocking pieces that form a combination bowl-and-food-hopper (capable of storing approximately five pounds of food). Then you download the Petnet app (iOS or Android) to your smartphone; create an account and pet profile; and finally connect the feeder to app over Wi-Fi. An illustrated, step-by-step user’s guide walks you through the simple process.

Your pet profile consists of stats like age, weight, acitvity level, and some specifics about your pet’s food—you can pull data from an extensive list of common food brands within the app, or enter the info manually. While the SmartFeeder’s marketing copy implies a health coaching element, the “recommendations” the app offers are little more than the sort of info you’d find on your pet food’s packaging: ingredients, nutritional breakdown, and serving size.