Pros & Cons
Mixes wet food to order instead of refrigerating like other systems
Fantastic freeze-dried-to-wet food results with customizable moisture levels
High capacity compared to other smart wet food dispensers (up to a week of meals)
Extra bowl insert makes cleaning easy
Intuitive Neakasa app controls
Results from other dry pet food types aren't as consistent
Exclusively using freeze-dried food is more expensive than canned food
Dialing in the right moisture levels takes patience
Minor scheduling glitch noted during the review period
Overview and Design
Managing a wet-food diet for a cat can be complicated, requiring fresh servings and careful timing. Traditional automatic wet food dispensers either require freezer packs or hold only limited amounts of food.
Although wet cat food is often inconvenient, it remains a common choice for keeping pets healthy. Most refrigerated models on the market hold only enough for a single day.
The Neakasa Riko addresses this by rehydrating food meal by meal. It stores freeze-dried food and water separately, grinding and soaking the ingredients before serving.
How the Neakasa Riko Operates
The Neakasa Riko features an 80-ounce water tank on the right-hand side and a retractable feeding bowl positioned beneath the food hopper. A built-in grinder and water jets allow food to sit and rehydrate before the cat eats.
While targeted at freeze-dried food, the unit may also work for air-dried and baked cat food, though it is not recommended for extruded kibble.
Finding the best water-to-food ratio requires some initial testing, but the unit can also dispense water separately if needed.
The storage tanks are easily removable for cleaning. For safety, the unit will not operate without the food hopper lid in place, and a compartment is included for desiccant packs to maintain freshness.
The device includes two dishwasher-safe stainless steel bowl inserts. The food dispenser scale is calibrated with the bowl removed, making swaps quick and seamless.
The starter kit also supplies cleaning accessories, while an optional rechargeable battery pack is available to provide up to seven days of backup power.
App Controls and Features
The Neakasa app is intuitive, providing daily feeding history, manual and scheduled controls, and estimated food and water levels from its main tab.
A mealtime chime serves as a helpful reminder for pets once the food has finished rehydrating.
A small display shows the feeder status, time, or custom icons. Users can also configure a Do Not Disturb schedule for nighttime sounds and display lights.
The feeder does not integrate with major smart home platforms, focusing instead on local scheduling and intake monitoring.
Performance and Testing
Testing indicates that adjusting the water-to-food ratio is essential to ensure proper consistency and palatability.
Finding the sweet spot in water volume helps pets consume meals quickly before food can sit out and spoil.
The safety retraction threshold requires at least 10 grams of uneaten food to trigger, meaning it may not work effectively for very small portion sizes.
Users should verify that the feeder meets their pet's needs before leaving the device unattended for multiple meals.
Scheduled feedings allow approximately 20 minutes for water to soak in properly.
Once empty, the bowl remains extended to allow pets to finish any remaining morsels and to simplify cleaning.
Value and Conclusion
Priced at $240, the Neakasa Riko fills a unique niche for owners wanting to incorporate freeze-dried foods into a cat's diet.
However, freeze-dried cat food can be significantly more expensive per daily serving compared to traditional canned food or standard kibble.
Standard dry kibble remains a much cheaper per-serving option than specialized freeze-dried alternatives.
Competing refrigeration-based feeders offer alternatives for traditional canned food, though they come with their own limitations.
The Neakasa Riko is a convenient smart feeder that holds up to 10 days of meals and handles both dry and freeze-dried pet food effectively.
It provides a compelling long-term option without requiring expensive subscription fees.
Overall, while the Riko excels at managing rehydrated meals, running it exclusively on freeze-dried food will increase pet care expenses.
Score breakdown
Scored out of 10Price & Release Date
Neakasa Riko Automatic Cat Feeder
