Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder Review

Feeding your pets is one thing, but feeding cats their favorite wet food is a whole other game. Wet food is often fish-based and has pâté, chunks, shreds, or gravy that can make things both stinky and messy. Then I was presented with the Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder, which meant that I would only deal with wet food every three days and the machine would take care of the rest. Of course, I was more than happy to give it a go. This feeder uses innovation and smart technology to remotely schedule and deliver dinner to your cat. We put it to the test—twice actually—to see if it delivers.

What is the Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder?

The Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder is an innovative device designed to keep your cat's wet food fresh while you’re away. Using advanced semiconductor cooling technology, it reduces the food temperature from an average of 73°F to below 50°F, keeping wet food cool for up to 72 hours. This feeder is ideal for those who want convenience and reliability, and it can store three meals. The feeder also has an insect-proof design, easy-to-clean BPA-free parts, and a 12-hour backup battery to maintain feeding schedules during power outages. Additional cat-proof features include an anti-chew cord and an anti-pinch sensor to protect paws and noses.

The feeder syncs with a smart app for scheduling and monitoring feedings. You can set custom feeding routines for your cat: selecting what time you want the feeder to open and close (within a four-hour window) and how often to feed. You can also repeat schedules to make setup even quicker.

However, note that the Polar Feeder is not recommended for raw food due to the lack of an airtight seal and the need for lower temperatures to ensure food safety.

How we tested the Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder

When the Polar Feeder arrived, I linked it to my home’s Wifi and plugged it in. I placed it between my living room and kitchen near a corner so it was out of our main walkway but still near where my cats were used to being fed. I set the feeding schedule on my phone for about 10 minutes later so I could verify that the feeder would open. As expected, the opening in the lid slid to the side to expose my cat’s wet food, and a cute little chime rang.

I left the feeder on its own until the next day, which was when I noticed a rotten smell. I checked that the feeder had opened at the right time on the app, but the logging showed that my cats didn’t spend much time near it. Based on the amount of food left, they hadn’t even eaten their food. I left the food for a few more hours to see how dinnertime went. At this point, the food was warm, the Polar feeder was blowing out hot air, and the food was quite stinky. I tossed everything, cleaned the rotating meal plate and reached out to the company.

Fast forward a week or two later and I tested out a second Polar Feeder that worked much, much better. Aside from changing the actual machine, I moved the Polar to an open space in a different room. The upside was that the feeder had enough space for the air vent, the downside is that my cats were confused and reluctant to eat in this new space. Ultimately, the Polar worked incredibly well, opening and closing according to the feeding schedule and keeping the wet food at a fresh temperature.

What we liked about the Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder

You can feed your cats from anywhere

The Polar Wet Food Feeder makes it possible for busy pet owners who may not always be home to feed their pets as usual. The app allows you to schedule and monitor feedings remotely, so you can maintain your cat’s routine even when you're away, whether you plan to be or not.

It’s easy to set up

New smart devices can range from easy to frustrating setups; thankfully the Polar Wet Food Feeder is the former. Once you unbox the feeder, you only need to take a few steps to have it up and working. You’ll plug the power cord into an outlet, download the PetLibro app, connect to Wifi, and lastly, set up your device’s feeding schedule. I didn’t have any hiccups either time I went through the setup process, which is saying something!

It logs when your cat is nearby

While the Polar Feeder has a handful of great features on the Petlibro app, one of my favorites is its logging. The log will show you when your cat came to the feeder and how long it stayed. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that your cat actually ate, but it’s helpful to see if your cat responds to the feeding schedule. Another drawback is if you have multiple pets; the log doesn’t indicate which pet was nearby.

What we didn’t like about Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder

It needs a lot of space

The Polar Feeder needs at least 12 inches of space on all sides, so it isn’t something you can tuck into a tight corner. You’ll want to ensure the space above the feeder is clear, both for the lid to pop up so you can clean or refill, and so that the fan properly works. Basically, this means you need a few feet of space for the feeder, which not every home has available. As most pet owners know, cats are particular and love routine, so having them adjust to a new dinnertime location might come with its own struggles.

You can’t manually control the temperature

According to the brand, the Polar Feeder “reduces ambient temperature by approximately 23 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on an average room temperature of 73 degrees Fahrenheit, Polar cools to under 50 degrees.” There are two downsides here: one is that the food may fluctuate in temperature depending on your home and where you place the Polar machine. Second, if your cat is picky about their wet food, they might not like it this chilly.

Some cats may find it intimidating

My cats are very shy, so introducing a change to their dinner routine is always a gamble. They were both curious about the Polar Feeder, but the mealtime chime that rang was enough to send them into another room. Based on the logs, my cats were only near the feeder for a few seconds at a time. Even when I set the schedule to run while I was out of the house, my cats seemed uninterested. Maybe they were willing to bet that I’d be home later and they’d rather eat then.

It only stores three meals

The Polar Feeder has many perks, but it is not a replacement for a cat sitter for a work trip or vacation. You’ll still need someone to intervene. The Polar Feeder has three rotating meal slots, so it only provides three meals. This could last anywhere from one day to a whole weekend depending on your cat’s age and appetite, but if you want to use Polar Feeder beyond those three meals, you’re going to need someone to refill it. We should also note that using the feeder for multiple animals may be confusing.

Should you buy the Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder?

Maybe, it depends on your priorities

The Petlibro Polar Wet Food Feeder is convenient and practical, but it can only go as far as presenting your cat(s) with food. The feeder could be a fantastic solution to feeding your cats on time if you have work commitments, travel, or an unpredictable schedule. But if your pets aren’t willing to eat from it, you’re back to square one. The Polar Feeder’s perks really lie in its smart features: app compatibility, scheduled feedings, and being able to provide meals while you’re out of the house. If you're not sold on the Polar or would prefer a dry cat food feeder, the Petlibro Space is still one of our favorite options.