Quick answer: Automatic feeders for wet food use individually sealed tray carousels or cooling compartments to prevent spoilage — less common than dry food feeders but they do exist.
Wet food spoils at room temperature within 2-4 hours. Standard hoppers that work for dry kibble allow wet food to dry out and spoil. Wet food feeders use tray carousels where each meal stays sealed until its programmed time, or cooling compartments that extend safe exposure time.
These hold 4-6 individual meal trays on a rotating disc. Each tray has a cover that rotates away at the set meal time. They're simple and reliable but limit you to pre-portioned meals and specific tray sizes that may not match your cat's exact portion needs.
Maximum hours between meals (wet food shouldn't sit out more than 2 hours after dispensing), tray capacity versus your cat's meal size, ease of cleaning, and whether replacement trays are available. Most are dishwasher safe — confirm before purchasing.
Wet food automatic feeders work well for 2-4 scheduled meals per day. For cats that need many small meals or owners away more than 12 hours, a dry food feeder is usually more practical.