If you want to stop one cat eating another cat’s food, start with a feeder that opens only for the assigned cat. This is called selective access.
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Which microchip feeder should you choose?
- Best starting point for most homes: SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder. It takes wet or dry food and has a gradual training mode that may suit a nervous cat.
- Best enclosed design for a persistent food thief: Closer Pets MiBowl CP500. Consider it for prescription or restricted food, or a slower cat’s wet food, but check the entrance and chip first.
- Best for portion weighing and feeding records: SureFeed Connect. It records feeding but does not dispense food, and its app features need a compatible Hub.
Exactly three feeders in this guide work with compatible implanted microchips. The PETLIBRO RFID and Cat Mate timed feeders covered later are alternatives, not microchip feeders.
The three implanted-microchip feeders compared
| Decision | SureFeed | MiBowl CP500 | SureFeed Connect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Most homes; nervous cats | Stronger rear and side protection | Portion weighing and feeding records |
| Implanted chip | Yes, if compatible | Yes, ISO or AVID 15-digit | Yes, if compatible |
| Rear and sides | Open rear; cover sold separately | More enclosed | Open rear; cover sold separately |
| Training | Gradual lid stages | Bowl familiarisation and longer-open setting | Gradual lid stages |
| Wet food | Yes; covered, not chilled | Yes; covered, not chilled | Yes; covered, not chilled |
| App and weighing | No | No | Yes; does not dispense |
| Extras | Four C batteries; optional rear cover | Four C batteries | Four C batteries; compatible Hub; optional rear cover |
| Main reason not to choose | Persistent cat may reach from behind | Enclosed position may not suit every cat | Extra cost and setup if records are not useful |
The three true microchip feeders
1. SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder: best starting point for most homes
Verdict: choose the standard SureFeed when you want a straightforward wet-or-dry feeder with implanted-chip access and gradual lid training.
Choose it if: one cat’s food needs protection and a nervous cat may benefit from the lid being introduced in stages.
What you need: the feeder, four C batteries and, only if another cat is likely to reach in from behind, the separately sold rear cover.
Nervous cat and food thief: what to know: SureFeed’s training mode introduces lid movement gradually. The lid protects the bowl opening when it is closed, but the rear remains open while the assigned cat eats. Strong rear theft may need the cover or a separate feeding area.
Check before buying: use the Sure Petcare chip-number checker, make sure there is room for the 32 cm-deep feeder, and include the batteries and any rear cover in your setup.
Sure Petcare says it stores up to 32 identities, includes a collar tag as a fallback and has a removable 400 ml bowl for wet or dry food.
Do not choose it if: a determined second cat can approach from behind and you do not want to add a rear cover or change the feeding position.
2. Closer Pets MiBowl CP500: best enclosed design for a determined food thief
Verdict: MiBowl is the stronger starting point when rear or side access is the main problem.
Choose it if: you need to protect prescription or restricted food, or stop a quicker cat taking a slower cat’s wet food.
What you need: one protected feeder assigned to the cat whose food needs protection, plus four C batteries. If both cats need controlled access to different food, each needs an appropriate separate setup.
Check before buying: confirm the cat has a compatible ISO or AVID 15-digit chip, or can use the supplied ID disc. Check that the 15.5 cm entrance and enclosed eating position will suit the cat, and check the return terms in case the cat will not tolerate it.
Closer Pets says the rear and sides enclose its removable wet-or-dry bowl. It stores up to ten authorised pets, includes an ID disc and lists the bowl as dishwasher-safe. Training starts by moving the cat’s familiar bowl into the feeder; a training setting can then keep the lid open longer.
Do not choose it if: the cat dislikes putting its head into an enclosed space or the entrance gives you concern. More enclosure does not guarantee that every cat will feel comfortable or that food theft becomes impossible.
3. SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect: best for portion weighing and feeding records
Verdict: choose Connect only if you will use its portion weighing and feeding history; it does not dispense meals.
Choose it if: you want to record how much, how often and how long the assigned cat eats, while still serving wet or dry food yourself.
What you need: the feeder, a compatible Sure Petcare Hub unless the package is confirmed to include one, four C batteries and, only if stronger rear protection is needed, the separate rear cover.
Check before buying: the Amazon route below is for the feeder only and does not include the Hub. Confirm chip compatibility and make sure the extra hardware and app setup are worthwhile for you.
Sure Petcare says its scales guide the portion placed in the 400 ml bowl and its app records feeding amount, frequency and duration. The owner still fills the bowl, and the cat can return to it. A change in the records may be worth noticing, but the feeder cannot explain or diagnose it.
Do not choose it if: you only need selective access. The standard model solves that job with fewer connected parts.
If you do not need an implanted-microchip feeder
PETLIBRO One RFID: collar-tag alternative for scheduled dry food
Does not read your cat’s implanted microchip. It can still be useful when one collar-tolerant cat needs selective access and scheduled dry meals from the same feeder. It uses the supplied brand-specific tag, works with dry kibble only and needs mains power for Wi-Fi. One feeder pairs with one tag.
The Amazon.co.uk offer checked was a US import, so the UK manufacturer route is the clearer next step.
Cat Mate C500: timer-only alternative for wet or dry food
Does not read your cat’s implanted microchip. It can still be useful when the problem is meal timing and any pet may eat from the open compartment. It presents one meal immediately and four more on a timer, takes wet or dry food and runs on three AA batteries. Its ice packs help keep wet food cooler but do not refrigerate it.
If timing is your main need, compare more options in the UK automatic cat feeder guide.
Questions to settle before you buy
Will the feeder read my cat’s chip?
Check the actual chip number before buying. Use Sure Petcare’s compatibility checker for SureFeed or Connect. MiBowl specifies ISO or AVID 15-digit chips. All three include a compatible tag or disc as a fallback, but the cat would then need to wear it.
How do I help a nervous cat learn to use one?
Use the model’s training process and move on only when the cat eats comfortably. SureFeed and Connect introduce lid movement in stages. MiBowl starts with the familiar bowl outside and can keep the lid open longer. Put the feeder somewhere quiet where another cat cannot block the entrance or exit. If the cat stops eating or its appetite changes, PDSA advises seeking veterinary help.
Can another cat still steal food?
Yes. The lid must stay open while the assigned cat eats. Another cat may crowd it or approach from behind. MiBowl gives more rear-and-side enclosure; SureFeed and Connect have an optional rear cover. None can make theft impossible. In some homes, separate feeding stations are less stressful; International Cat Care recommends multiple food and water stations in multi-cat homes.
Which choices take wet food?
SureFeed, MiBowl, Connect and the Cat Mate C500 take wet food. A lid or ice pack may cover it or keep it cooler, but does not refrigerate it. Follow the food maker’s storage guidance and clean food-contact parts as directed.
Does SureFeed Connect dispense food?
No. You fill the bowl yourself. Connect weighs portions and records feeding; it does not release meals at set times.
Do I need one feeder per cat?
Protect the food that needs controlled access. One feeder can recognise several authorised cats, but they all reach the same bowl. If two cats need different protected diets or portions, they normally need separate access arrangements. A feeder does not set a clinical diet: discuss prescription food, insulin, medication and calorie changes with the cat’s vet.
What extras should I allow for?
The two SureFeed models and MiBowl need four C batteries. The C500 needs three AA batteries. SureFeed’s rear cover is separate, and Connect needs a compatible Hub for app features. Check replacement bowls, lids, batteries, warranty and returns before buying.
Return to the SureFeed verdict, the more enclosed MiBowl verdict or the Connect verdict.
How this comparison was researched
We compared access method, chip support, wet/dry compatibility, training, theft resistance, power, required extras and current UK buying routes. Product claims come from manufacturer pages and manuals checked on 11 August 2026. We did not use retailer ratings as performance evidence. Stock, sellers and return terms can change, so recheck the exact listing before ordering.
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