It can be reliable for two cats as long as you choose a model that dispenses to both bowls at the same instant and uses a proper splitter that you can center. That simultaneous drop is what cuts off the sprint to the other bowl. Works great.
Look for a feeder with a straight auger path and a reasonably wide chute so medium kibble does not bridge. A tight hopper lid with a gasket plus a desiccant pack helps keep kibble dry so it slides instead of clumping. Anti jam detection is a nice bonus but the simplest prevention is keeping the hopper at least one third full. Apps that log feeding history and send low bin alerts are common now although the low bin sensor can be conservative if the window gets dusty so wipe it now and then.
Set it up while you are home and weigh a few test meals on a kitchen scale to calibrate real portions. Nudge the splitter so both bowls land the same amount and watch a few cycles to confirm. If one cat hoovers food, add a slow feed insert or a small divider in front of that bowl. Do a quick power cut test to confirm the battery backup keeps the schedule, then you are set.
