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CNET reviewer David Watsky tested Neakasa’s Riko automatic feeder for a month. The device grinds and rehydrates stored freeze-dried food meal by meal, offering an alternative to feeders that chill prepared wet food. The review praised its app and capacity but found that results vary with other food types and that dialing in moisture levels takes patience.
CNET reviewer David Watsky spent a month testing the Neakasa Riko, an automatic feeder that grinds and rehydrates freeze-dried food when it is time to serve a meal. The review found it could make wet-style feeding more manageable without refrigerating prepared portions, while noting that food compatibility and moisture settings require care.
The Riko stores freeze-dried food and water separately. At feeding time, it grinds the food, adds water through jets, and lets the mixture sit in a retractable bowl to rehydrate. Its water tank holds 80 ounces, and CNET described its food capacity as enough for up to a week of meals, depending on feeding needs. That could reduce how often an owner has to refill the unit, though it does not remove the need to clean it or check food and water levels.
Watsky reported that the device worked best with freeze-dried food and produced results he described as particularly good when the moisture level was customized. He said finding the right water-to-food ratio took patience. Neakasa says the Riko may also work with air-dried and baked food, but does not recommend extruded kibble. In Watsky’s test of his cat’s regular kibble, the unit did not grind it; the cat accepted the softened food, but the reviewer was not ready to rely on the feeder for the entire feeding routine.
The review also highlighted app controls for scheduling and manual feeds, feeding history, reminders and estimated food and water levels. The unit includes removable storage tanks and two dishwasher-safe stainless-steel bowl inserts. Watsky reported a minor scheduling glitch during his test. He also noted that his review unit appeared to be an early production model and did not include a cleaning brush found in other kits.
A Different Approach to Wet Feeding
Wet food is generally harder to automate than dry kibble because prepared portions cannot simply be left out indefinitely. Many automatic wet-food systems use freezer packs or refrigeration, which can limit capacity or require frequent attention. The Riko takes a different approach: it stores dry ingredients and adds water at serving time, rather than keeping a prepared wet meal chilled.
For owners whose cats accept freeze-dried food, this setup may offer more flexibility when they are away from home. But the review does not establish that it suits every cat or every feeding plan. The reviewer’s mixed results with regular kibble show why buyers should check the manufacturer’s food guidance and test the meal texture before depending on the device. CNET also noted that relying exclusively on freeze-dried food can cost more than canned food.
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How the Riko Prepares Meals
Watsky’s review was based on one month of use with his cat. He described having previously relied on wet food after the cat experienced a health scare, then later returning the cat to dry food with a smart feeder. That experience shaped his assessment of the practical problem: wet food needs to be served fresh, while chilled dispensers can have limited capacity.
The Riko is controlled through Neakasa’s app using built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Alongside scheduled and manual feeding, its settings include calibration, a child lock, reminders and a deep-cleaning option. The device also has a display and a mealtime chime. Watsky found the app fairly intuitive and said the chime could help alert a pet that food is ready after rehydrating. Neakasa markets the feeder for cats, and the review says it can also work for small dogs.
“The Neakasa Riko is a smart cat feeder that rehydrates food meal by meal.”
— David Watsky, CNET reviewer
Food Fit and Reliability Questions
The review does not establish how consistently the Riko performs across different brands, shapes or formulations of freeze-dried food. Watsky said results with other dry foods were less consistent, and his trial with regular kibble was limited; the cat’s acceptance of softened kibble does not show that it will work reliably for other pets or food types. Owners will need to confirm compatibility and tune moisture settings for their own feeding routine.
The source also reports a minor scheduling glitch but does not give enough detail to determine how often it occurred or whether it was resolved in a later software update. Watsky did not test the optional rechargeable battery pack. Neakasa claims that pack can provide up to seven days of backup power, but that figure was not independently tested in this review. The article also does not provide a product price or a broader comparison of running costs.
Check Compatibility Before Relying on It
People considering the Riko should check Neakasa’s current food-compatibility instructions, then test the feeder with their pet before using it as the sole source of meals. The review suggests allowing time to adjust the water-to-food ratio and monitoring whether the pet eats the rehydrated portion. Buyers should also confirm the current app and scheduling performance, since the reported glitch was observed during the reviewer’s test and its later status is not specified.
Further testing across more foods, pets and longer periods would help establish how well the system works beyond this one-month review. The review does not report a new product launch or a confirmed change to the device; its development is an evaluation of a different method for automating wet-style feeding.
Key Questions
How does the Neakasa Riko make wet-style food?
It stores freeze-dried food and water separately, then grinds the food and adds water when a meal is dispensed. The mixture sits in the bowl to rehydrate before the pet eats.
Does the Riko work with regular kibble?
Neakasa does not recommend using it with extruded kibble. CNET reviewer David Watsky tried the unit with his cat’s regular food and found that it did not grind it, although his cat accepted the softened texture during the test.
What did the CNET review find were the main advantages?
Watsky praised its results with freeze-dried food, app controls, removable tanks and two dishwasher-safe stainless-steel bowl inserts. The review also described the food capacity as sufficient for up to a week of meals, depending on use.
What limitations did the review report?
The reviewer said adjusting moisture levels took patience, results with other dry foods were less consistent, and freeze-dried food may cost more than canned food. He also reported a minor scheduling glitch during testing.
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