← Smart pet devices
PetKit
PetKit Fresh Element Solo
- HACS component
- Cloud required
- Wi-Fi
Prices verified November 2026
Our verdict
The cheapest properly app-controlled feeder in this set: 3-litre hopper, 304 stainless steel bowl, up to ten scheduled meals and a backup battery for power cuts (the mains adapter is not always included). UK street prices have been around £40 to £60. The small hopper suits a single small pet on dry food, not a multi-cat home.
What can Home Assistant control on the PetKit Fresh Element Solo?
| Control | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Feeder status | Sensors (community integration) | Food level and feeding status reported by the integration |
PetKit's feeders work through community Home Assistant integrations on GitHub (for example the HACS 'Petkit Smart Devices' integration), which authenticate against PetKit's cloud with your account. Nothing is local, and using the same login in the app and in Home Assistant is a common failure, so share the feeder to a second account for Home Assistant.
Specs
| bowl | 304 stainless steel |
|---|---|
| capacity | 3 L |
How does the PetKit Fresh Element Solo compare?
| Product | From | Protocol | Local control | Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PetKit Fresh Element Solo (this product) | — | Wi-Fi | Cloud | HACS |
| Litter-Robot 4 | £699 | Wi-Fi | Cloud | Native |
| SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect | £155 | Wi-Fi | Cloud | Native |
| SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap Connect | £140 | Wi-Fi | Cloud | Native |
Frequently asked questions
- Does the PetKit Fresh Element Solo work with Home Assistant locally?
- Partly. The PetKit Fresh Element Solo connects to Home Assistant through a community integration installed through HACS, which relies on the PetKit cloud. It works in Home Assistant, but commands go via the internet and stop working during an outage of your connection or the PetKit service.
- Which protocol does the PetKit Fresh Element Solo use, and do I need a hub?
- The PetKit Fresh Element Solo uses Wi-Fi. To pair it with Home Assistant you need no hub — it joins your Wi-Fi network directly. PetKit's own hub is not required when you integrate through a community integration installed through HACS.
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