Automatic Pet Feeder with HD Camera — 4L, 2-Way Audio, App-Controlled

The point isn't replacing yourself. The point is that 6pm happens whether you're home or stuck in traffic, and your dog or your cat doesn't care which. The feeder fires on schedule. You get to watch.

The PawCam automatic pet feeder is a 4-litre dry-food dispenser with an integrated HD camera, two-way audio, and an app on your phone. Set the feeding schedule once. The feeder portions and drops food into one or two stainless-steel bowls, on time, every time. From the app, you can watch your pet eat, talk to them, hear them, and trigger an extra portion if they're looking sad. It's mains-powered with battery backup so a power cut at 4am doesn't mean a hungry pet at 7am.

Two colour options at the top of the page — White or Black. Both are functionally identical. The Black version disappears into a dark kitchen; the White version fits a Scandi-leaning interior. Same camera, same capacity, same app.

Why this, not just a timer feeder

A simple timer feeder drops food on schedule and that's it. A separate pet camera lets you watch but does nothing about feeding. PawCam combines both into one unit — and the integration is the actual benefit.

	PawCam	Basic timer feeder	Separate camera + feeder
Scheduled feeding	Yes — up to 4 meals/day	Yes	Depends on feeder
Watch your pet eat	Yes — built-in HD camera	No	Yes — but separate device
Talk to your pet remotely	Yes — 2-way audio	No	Yes — through camera
Trigger an extra meal manually	Yes — one tap in the app	Some — limited	Depends on feeder
Power-cut backup	Yes — AA batteries	Some — depends on model	Depends on feeder
Sockets used	One	One	Two
Typical UK price	£139.95	£40-80	£200+ combined

How to set it up

1. Plug it in. Fill the hopper with dry food. Place the unit somewhere stable, ideally near a corner so the bowls have room. Connect the AC adapter, lift the lockable lid, fill with dry kibble (works with any standard dry food size; very small kibble or freeze-dried treats may not portion accurately).
2. Download the app and pair with Wi-Fi. The app QR code is in the box. Scan it, create an account, and follow the in-app pairing flow. Make sure your phone is on a 2.4GHz network during pairing — once paired, you can switch back to 5GHz for normal phone use.
3. Set your meal schedule. In the app, set up to four meals per day with portion sizes per meal. Test-fire the first meal manually to confirm portion size matches your kibble. Pop the AA batteries in the back compartment for power-cut backup. Done — the feeder runs from there.

Total setup time: about ten minutes for someone confident with smart-home apps, fifteen to twenty for someone less so. The pairing step is where most issues happen — almost always Wi-Fi-related, which is why the compatibility check above sits where it does.

Where this earns its keep

Long working days. You leave the house at 7am, you're back at 7pm. Two meals a day, on schedule, while you're at the office. You watch the noon feed from your desk, say hello, get on with the afternoon. The pet doesn't notice the difference between 12pm-you-at-home and 12pm-you-at-the-office — they hear you, they eat, they nap.

Weekends away. Up to a 3-4 day trip with a 4L hopper. The pet eats on schedule. You check in once a day from the cottage. If you're worried, you trigger an extra portion from the app. If something looks off — they're not eating, they're hiding — you call a neighbour to check. Most of the time everything's fine, and you're glad you can see for yourself.

The unreliable feeding human in the household. Some households have one person who reliably feeds the pet on time and one who forgets. The feeder removes that as a relationship issue. Doesn't matter who's home — the feeder feeds.

Calorie-controlled diets. If your pet needs measured portions for weight management, the feeder is more accurate than scoops and more reliable than humans. Set the gram weight per meal, and that's what gets dispensed.

Frequently asked

My Wi-Fi router is dual-band — will the feeder work?

Yes, but you may need to set up the feeder on the 2.4GHz band specifically. Most modern dual-band routers broadcast both 2.4GHz and 5GHz under the same Wi-Fi name, and your phone connects to whichever is stronger — usually 5GHz. The feeder can't see 5GHz networks, so during the pairing process, your phone needs to be on the 2.4GHz band. The easiest workaround: temporarily disable 5GHz in your router admin during pairing (10 minutes), then re-enable it. Once the feeder is paired, it stays on 2.4GHz and your phone can go back to 5GHz for normal use. If you're not comfortable with router settings, ask your internet provider's helpline — they'll talk you through it in five minutes.

What happens if there's a power cut while I'm away?

The AA battery backup keeps the feeding schedule running. The camera and Wi-Fi go offline (those need mains power), but the feed mechanism continues to fire on time, every time, until mains power returns. Battery life on backup is roughly 24-72 hours of normal scheduled operation depending on number of meals per day. The camera comes back online automatically when mains is restored. The feeding never stops.

Can I use it for two pets?

Yes — that's why there are two bowls and a splitter. Set the splitter to direct food into both bowls equally, and both pets eat at the same time from their own bowl. Works well for two cats, or for households where the food and water are best kept side-by-side. If your pets have meaningfully different portion sizes (e.g. an 8kg cat and a 4kg cat), one will get a bit more than they need and one a bit less — but for most multi-pet households, equal portions are fine.

Does it work with wet food?

No. This is a dry-food feeder only. The hopper is sized and mechanised for kibble — it can't dispense wet food, freeze-dried raw, or chunks larger than typical dry kibble. If you feed wet food primarily, this isn't the right product.

Where is the camera footage stored?

Live video streams to your phone via the app — viewing is real-time, not recorded by default. The app may offer optional cloud recording subscriptions through the supplier's platform; this is opt-in and not required for the feeder to work. If you'd rather not stream video at all, the camera can be physically obstructed or the feeder can be operated in app-control-only mode (camera off). The buyer is the data controller for any footage that includes household members; for full UK GDPR position, see the supplier's privacy policy via the app.

Can my pet knock it over or chew through it?

The unit is bottom-heavy and stable on a flat surface — most cats and dogs won't tip it. The food hopper has a lockable lid, so even a determined cat can't lever it open and self-serve. The cable is the most chewable component: route it behind furniture or use a cable cover if your pet is a known cable-chewer. The feeder body is ABS plastic — sturdy, but not indestructible against a determined large dog. For aggressive chewers, place the feeder somewhere they can't reach the cable.

How loud is it when it dispenses?

Audible — about the volume of a coffee grinder running for 2-3 seconds. Most pets associate the sound with food after the first day or two and come running. If your cat is anxious, expect a few flinches early on; this typically settles within a week as the sound becomes a positive cue (food is coming). Not loud enough to bother humans in the same room.

Black or White — which should I pick?

Functionally identical. The Black version disappears more in dark kitchens and against dark cabinetry; the White version fits a Scandi/minimalist interior and shows less dust visually. White is the more popular choice in the UK by a small margin. Both ship in the same timeframe.

Free worldwide tracked delivery. 30-day no-quibble return on unused units — if the Wi-Fi setup fails, the camera doesn't suit, or it's not what you expected, send it back. UK consumer-rights statutory protections apply on top of our return policy.