Petlibro's AI Feeder Knows Which Cat Ate What
Smart feeders were once simple machines: load kibble, set a timer, walk away. Petlibro's new Granary 2 series is betting cat parents want more than that. Building on the brand's Granary line, the new lineup uses a built-in scale and, on higher-end models, an AI camera to track not just how much food was dispensed, but how much your cat actually ate, how fast, and when. In multi-cat homes, that distinction matters more than it sounds.
The Scale Is the Real Upgrade
The headline feature across the Granary 2 series isn't the camera; it's the built-in scale. Traditional automatic feeders can tell you a meal was released at 7 p.m., but they can't tell you whether your cat ate it, how much disappeared, or how long the bowl sat untouched. The Granary 2 measures food remaining in the tray, which lets it estimate actual intake rather than just dispensing volume. Over time, the companion app builds a picture of eating duration, feeding frequency, favorite eating times, and eating speed, with daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly views. For pet parents watching weight or portion sizes, those patterns could surface subtle appetite changes that would otherwise go unnoticed.
AI Cameras and Multi-Cat Recognition
The $189.99 Granary 2 Vision, which TechCrunch tested, adds a 1080p AI-powered camera capable of recognizing up to 10 cats. It only opens the feeder when the correct pet is recognized, and it automatically associates each meal with the right profile, useful when one cat is on a special diet or managing weight. The camera includes night vision, two-way audio, and a recordable message that plays from the feeder. The $199.99 Vision Duo targets multi-pet households with two separate dispensing chutes and bowls, while the $249.99 Granary 2 X uses AI recognition for individualized portioning based on specific dietary needs.
Feeding Modes and Subscription Caveats
The Granary 2 offers two primary feeding modes. Smart Refill Mode keeps the bowl supplied with smaller, fresh portions throughout the day while stopping once a daily food limit is reached, which suits grazers. Scheduled Mode gives traditional control over specific feeding times and portion sizes, plus a manual feeding button. The feeder sends instant alerts for low battery, low food levels, and food jams, and includes a rechargeable backup battery for power outages. The catch: certain health tracking features require a Petlibro Care subscription starting at $59.99 per year, and cloud recording on camera-equipped models requires a Video Cloud plan at $119.99 per year.
Key Takeaways
- Petlibro's Granary 2 series includes four models priced from $129.99 to $249.99, with the $189.99 Vision model adding AI camera recognition for up to 10 cats.
- The built-in scale measures food remaining in the tray, enabling intake tracking rather than just dispensing volume.
- Advanced health tracking requires a Petlibro Care subscription starting at $59.99 per year; cloud video recording costs $119.99 per year.
- For budget-conscious buyers, TechCrunch notes Pawsync's $79.99 feeder as the closest affordable comparison with a built-in scale.
Source: TechCrunch • 🇺🇸 San Francisco
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