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The PETLIBRO Granary Dual Camera Feeder: My 8-Week Trial for Peace of Mind
Is the combination of 5G WiFi, dual bowls, and a live camera the ultimate solution for anxious pet parents with multiple cats? A brutally honest, long-term review.
The confession: I used to have what my partner called “Feeder Phantom Anxiety.” I’d be at work, on a date, or even just running errands, and a sudden, cold dread would hit: Did the automatic feeder work? Is my greedy cat, Leo, eating all the food? Is my timid cat, Luna, getting anything at all? I’d find myself mentally replaying the portion settings, worrying about jams, and ultimately calling my neighbor in a panic to check. It was unsustainable.
For years, “smart” feeders were glorified timers. You set them and prayed. The PETLIBRO Granary Dual Feeder with Camera promises something different: not just automation, but verification. It combines a reliable two-bowl dispensing system with a 1080P camera and, most intriguingly, 5G WiFi support—addressing the biggest headache of smart home pet gear.
I decided to run an uncompromising 8-week trial. This isn’t a specs rundown. It’s the story of whether this device actually cured my anxiety or just gave me new, tech-related things to worry about.
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The Core Features: Beyond the Marketing Hype
1. The 5G/2.4G Dual-Band WiFi Miracle
This was the feature that made me pull the trigger. Most smart pet gadgets are stuck in 2015, requiring a dedicated 2.4GHz network. If you have a modern mesh router (like Google Nest or Eero) that merges bands, setup can be a nightmare of splitting networks and troubleshooting. The PETLIBRO Granary supports both 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands. The setup was shockingly simple: plug it in, open the app, select my home WiFi (the one, unified network), and it connected instantly. This alone saved an hour of frustration and is a massive quality-of-life upgrade for tech-savvy households.
2. The 1080P Camera: Your Remote Eyes
The camera is positioned low on the front, giving a perfect, wide-angle 145° view of both food bowls and the immediate floor area. The video quality is genuinely good—clear enough to see individual kibble pieces and the expressions on your pets’ faces. The Infrared Night Vision kicks in automatically. At 2 AM, I could clearly see Luna cautiously approaching for a midnight snack. This isn’t a grainy, useless feed; it’s a functional monitoring tool.
3. The Dual Tray System: Fairness for Two
Having two cats with different eating styles (one scarfs, one nibbles) meant a single-bowl feeder was a recipe for conflict. The Granary has a clever, adjustable meal splitter that drops food simultaneously into two separate stainless steel bowls. This was a game-changer. Leo could no longer block the food chute and hoard everything. Both cats learned they had their own designated spot, reducing mealtime stress significantly.
The low-profile camera and clean interface. The 5G support means no more network headaches.
Living With the Feeder: A Diary of Peace (and Some Annoyances)
Week 1: The Setup & Skepticism
Unboxing was straightforward. The unit feels sturdy, not cheap. The 5L (approx. 21-cup) transparent hopper is huge. Setting up the app (PETLIBRO) and connecting to WiFi was, as mentioned, blissfully easy. The first scheduled feeding was a tense moment. Both cats were intrigued by the whirring sound and the pre-recorded “meal call.” I watched, heart in throat, via the live camera from my phone at the office. The food dropped into both bowls evenly. Leo rushed his; Luna took her time. First victory: visual confirmation.
Weeks 2-4: Building Trust & Routine
The “Motion Detection” alerts became my new normal. An alert would ping my phone: “Movement detected.” I’d tap it and instantly see which cat was at the bowl, what they were doing, and if any food remained. The ability to remotely dispense a “snack” via the app became a fun way to interact with them. The two-way audio is decent—they could hear me, though they mostly just looked confused. The important part: my “Feeder Phantom Anxiety” attacks dropped by 90%.
Weeks 5-8: The Nitty-Gritty Realities
This is where long-term reviews matter. The stainless steel bowls are fantastic—easy to clean, no plastic smell. The internal infrared sensor reliably notified me when food in the hopper was low. I learned the food splitter isn’t always a perfect 50/50 geometric split—sometimes one bowl gets a few more pieces—but it’s close enough to prevent bullying. The major con? The power cord location at the back is vulnerable to a determined, curious pet. I had to use a cord concealer to prevent unplugging.
The “Peace of Mind” Features That Actually Matter
Visual Verification: This is the core value proposition. No more guessing. I could see Leo and Luna eating side-by-side. I could see if a bowl was kicked over. I could see if the hopper was empty. This visual proof is psychologically powerful.
Smart Alerts: Beyond motion, the app can alert you if the feeder jams or if the food level is low. These aren’t gimmicks; they’re practical failsafes.
SD Card Slot (but bring your own): You can insert a microSD card for continuous local recording. No cloud subscription fees. This is a huge pro for privacy-conscious users, though you need to supply the card.
The app view: live video, two-way audio, and portion controls all in one place. This is what calm looks like.
The Honest Pros & Cons
What Truly Excelled
- Dual-Band WiFi: Flawless setup on modern networks. A massive, often overlooked win.
- Camera Utility: High-quality, reliable video feed that actually solves a problem (anxiety), not just a “nice-to-have.”
- Dual-Bowl Design: Essential for multi-pet homes. Promotes peaceful, simultaneous feeding.
- Hygienic Materials: Stainless steel bowls and a cleanable design are a must for pet health.
- Power Backup: Runs on USB-C power with 3x D-cell batteries as backup. No single point of power failure.
The Trade-Offs & Quirks
- No Included SD Card: For local recording, you must purchase a microSD card separately. A minor cost, but an extra step.
- Imperfect Food Split: The divider is adjustable but doesn’t guarantee mathematically perfect portions every single time. It’s “fair,” not “exact.”
- Cord Vulnerability: The placement of the DC power port makes it a target for curious pets. Requires strategic cord management.
- App Dependency: To get the full value (video, alerts), you need a smartphone and a stable internet connection. It’s a “smart” device, with all that entails.
- Premium Price: You pay for the camera and advanced features. It’s an investment.
How It Stacks Up: Is the Camera Worth the Extra Cost?
Let’s be practical. Is the PETLIBRO Granary Camera edition better than a basic timer feeder or even a standard “smart” feeder? This comparison is based on real use, not just specs.
| Feature / Concern | 🏆 PETLIBRO Granary (Camera) | 🔄 Standard Smart Feeder | ⏳ Basic Timer Feeder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peace of Mind | Maximum. See it happen live. Verify both pets eat. | Low. You get a “dispensed” notification, but no proof. | None. Pure hope-based feeding. |
| Multi-Pet Fairness | Engineered for it. Dual bowls dispense simultaneously. | Problematic. Single bowl leads to competition. | Chaotic. One bowl, free-for-all. |
| Connectivity & Setup | Modern & Easy. 5G/2.4G support. Works with mesh networks. | Often Frustrating. Usually 2.4G only, incompatible with many modern routers. | N/A. No WiFi, just buttons. |
| Problem Detection | Proactive. Alerts for jam, low food, motion. You can see the issue. | Reactive. May alert only after a jam happens, with no visual context. | None. You discover the problem when you get home. |
| Interaction | High. Live view, two-way audio, remote snack dispensing. | Minimal. Schedule changes via app only. | None. Set it and forget it (literally). |
| Best For | Anxious owners, multi-pet homes, frequent travelers, tech-friendly households. | Single pets with reliable eaters, simple scheduling needs. | Very budget-conscious owners with one, non-finicky pet. |
Frequently Asked Questions (From One Worried Owner to Another)
It can, but you need to provide your own microSD card (not included). Without a card, it only streams live video when you open the app. With a card inserted, you can set it to record continuously or only during motion events, creating a searchable timeline of footage.
The portion size is set by “portions,” where one portion is roughly 5-10 grams (varies by kibble size/shape). It’s consistent for timing, but not a precise gram scale. For weight management diets requiring exact grams, you should still weigh meals manually. For general scheduled feeding, it’s very reliable.
The feeder will still dispense food at its scheduled times using its internal clock. You will lose remote access, live video, and alerts until the internet is restored. The battery backup (3x D-cells) will keep the clock and dispensing mechanism running during a power outage.
It depends on your pet! My cats were initially puzzled. However, the pre-recorded “Meal Call” feature (you can record your own voice saying “Dinnertime!”) is incredibly effective at summoning them. The live audio is more for you to listen in on the room than for them to hear you regularly.
It’s designed for dry kibble only. Large, oddly shaped kibble or pieces of freeze-dried food might cause occasional jams. It cannot handle wet food, gravy, or any moist substance, as this would clog the mechanism and create a hygiene disaster.
I wipe the stainless steel bowls daily (easy). The food hopper and dispensing mechanism should be given a thorough clean every 2-3 weeks to prevent dust and old oil from kibble building up. The unit is designed to be disassembled without tools for cleaning.
Final Verdict: Who Should Buy This?
The PETLIBRO Granary Dual Feeder with Camera isn’t for everyone. It’s a premium solution for a specific set of problems. If you see yourself below, it might be your holy grail:
✅ Buy it if: You have multiple pets, suffer from “feeder anxiety,” travel frequently, have a modern WiFi setup, and value visual proof over blind trust.
❌ Skip it if: You have a single, non-finicky pet, are on a tight budget, don’t care for smart home tech, or need surgical precision for medical weight management.
Gallery: A Closer Look
A Final Personal Note: After 8 weeks, the PETLIBRO Granary hasn’t just automated feeding; it’s automated worry. I no longer have that pit in my stomach when I’m away from home. I can check in, see two happy cats eating peacefully, and go about my day. That intangible peace of mind, for me, has made the investment completely worthwhile. It’s not a perfect product (no product is), but it brilliantly solves the specific problems it sets out to fix.
Disclaimer: I am a passionate pet owner, not a veterinarian. The information in this article is based on research and personal experience. Always consult your vet before changing your pet’s diet or medication.
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