Why I like it:
As I explored smart pet feeders, I struggled to find one that wouldn't heap extra servings into a bowl when my cat hadn't finished eating what was there in the first place. But PawSync's secret weapon is a built-in scale with three major benefits: precise portion control, food intake tracking and the ability to skip a scheduled meal if enough food remains.
When setting up the PawSync, you'll need to calibrate the scale based on the food you're using. You start by finding the Calorie Content on your pet food's nutritional label, usually on the side or back. After filling the feeder tank, PawSync measures out a few servings to determine the serving size it can provide. While it varies based on the food I'm using, PawSync dispenses as little as 9 grams per portion.
Because PawSync can track how much food is in the bowl better than a pet cam, it can skip meals -- hence my extra feedings to account for times when he eats 4 grams of food just after a skipped feeding time. It can also dispense fewer portions or spread out multiple portions in a single feeding, but my single-portion meals don't really work with those features.
One of my favorite PawSync app features is the feeder tank indicator, which tells you roughly how long until your next refill. Refilling the Wi-Fi pet feeder is easy, although it took me a few times to realize I can just reset the fill meter instead of recalibrating the whole thing. I also like that the PawSync app lets you know when to clean the feeder and change the desiccant. But it would be nice to toggle these on and off or adjust their timing.
Who is this for:
In my experience, an automatic pet feeder isn't about making it easier for me. Instead, it's a way to give my cat the food he wants most without worrying if he can keep it down. While it has a side effect of simplifying the work for my pet sitter while I'm out of town or enabling spontaneous overnight trips -- that's more of a bonus.
Who shouldn't get it:
Although PawSync works for cats and small dogs, it supports only 4mm- to 15 mm-sized kibble, which is smaller than an American dime. (The manual has a ruler to help you check.) This means it's not as suitable for large kibble typically eaten by large dog breeds. It's also a bit more expensive than similar feeders.
-John Carlsen