kitty fed twice a day? or free for all?

[icicle]

do you guys just put out a bowl of measured food in the morning, and leave it at that?

or set out the measured food twice a day?

why do you do it the way you do?

i've heard different opinions about it, and i'm wondering what peoples experiences were.. and why they ended doing it how they do. i'm rethinking my feeding schedule.

:)

[rabid_child]

You should ALWAYS measure your pet's food! Whether the cat is allowed to nibble throughout the day, you need to measure the amount given in a day. You are feeding your CAT not feeding your BOWL.

If its the type of cat who will wolf all the food down immediately, then giving it at several intervals throughout the day would be the better option. If the cat comes and goes and takes a few bites at a time, its fine to leave the food bowl out all the time (with the measured crunchies in it!)

I have four cats. They all get measured amounts of dry/canned food twice daily, otherwise one would eat too much and the others would get none.

[meatless]

We do not measure. We leave their bowls down all day but put them up between 11 pm and 7 am. They get a spoonful of soft food in the morning, which is when they do the most eating. Otherwise they graze throughout the day. Pesto's a little chubby, but my boys are a normal weight. They just eat when they're hungry and they get lots of exercise running around our three story house.

I'm not anti-measuring or anything, but I just don't know if it would work in our household.

[hazardbliss]

My cats used to eat dry food free choice, but they became overweight, so now I regulate their food. They each get about a can and a half of wet food a day (they are naturally large, muscular cats, about 14 pounds each) -- a third in the morning, a third in the afternoon, and the other third at night. I do this for a couple of reasons, one being weight control, but mainly I do it because small meals throughout the day help dissolve crystals in the bladder, and wet food (especially with broth added) helps keep the urinary tract strong by keeping them hydrated.

[Michael]

Unless the cat had a weight problem I wouldn't restrict it by only feeding it a certain amount per day or at certain times of day.

[MollyGoat]

I disagree that you have to measure. If your cat is overweight, then maybe, but you don't necessarily need to measure.

Our cat was getting a little overweight, so we switched her from free-feeding to eating unlimited amounts twice per day. She got down to a normal weight on that. Now we feed her a mix of weight loss and regular food 3 to 4 times a day, and she is maintaining her healthy weight. There's no need for us to measure at this point.

My kitten is growing like a weed so we give him food whenever he asks for it--about 5 times a day. We can't leave it out or my cat would pig out on the kitten food. When he's a bit older we will put him on the same schedule as my cat.

My mom's cats, on the other hand, do need their food measured, because they will scarf down whatever you give them and they get fat. So they get 1/2 cup a day or something like that.

Our cats don't get wet food except on special occasions, mostly because it really, really, really grosses me out. But we have a water fountain and two other bowls of water out for them that we change daily, and they seem to drink plenty of water, more than other cats I've had.

[kpickell]

I leave food down all the time for my own cat who has always maintained a healthy weight.

My foster cats who are slightly overweight get fed once in the morning, 1/2 c each. They can take as long as they want to eat it, but it's always a measured amount.

[spud]

My ferals have two tins between four of them, and as many biscuits as they want. We feed them at night because their food is less likely to get flyblown then. My indoor cat is picky and likes a breakfast, tea and supper of a small portion of tinned food and he eats biscuits when he feels like it.

[Kusinagi]

My five cats get fed once in the morning, once in the evening. They're outside cats now, but it was the same when they were inside cats. Non-measured.

They get fed in a large large bowl, and a little on the bottom steps of my porch in case one gets pushed out of the bowl, they can eat on the steps.

[savewilbur]

We feed one of our cats canned fooded twice a day. The other we just leave a bowl of dry food out for all of the time. He's a "responsible eater" so there aren't weight issue problems.

[punkmommy]

I feed Nacho 2x's a day. He gets a measured amount at both times and he usually inhales his food. He tries to steal people food too. I measure Aidan's food as well and feed him 2x's a day, but the vet still says he's slightly overweight :rolleyes: I think he's just muscular ( he's 85lbs, german shep/rotti mix ).

[rabid_child]

My ferals have two tins between four of them, and as many biscuits as they want. We feed them at night because their food is less likely to get flyblown then. My indoor cat is picky and likes a breakfast, tea and supper of a small portion of tinned food and he eats biscuits when he feels like it.

This is the best description of cat feeding I've ever read! :D

[kpickell]

Dogs I wouldn't leave food down for different reasons. Constant access to food for a dog can lead them to think that they're the breadwinners in the family.

[Gracie]

I leave dry food out for my 2 kitties all the time. I use a measuring scoop, so I have a pretty good idea how much they're eating, and will know if one is not eating as much. But they both do ok with self-feeding.

I used to have a picky cat who was somewhat underweight, so I fed her a bit of canned food morning and night. She loved the canned food so much, she began to wake me up earlier & earlier each morning, begging for her "treat". Never, ever, ever again will I feed a cat something yummy in the mornings!

[meatless]

I used to have a picky cat who was somewhat underweight, so I fed her a bit of canned food morning and night. She loved the canned food so much, she began to wake me up earlier & earlier each morning, begging for her "treat". Never, ever, ever again will I feed a cat something yummy in the mornings!


Our Chewy (in my avatar) tries to pull that on us. :lol: He has the screechiest, raspiest little cry ever, and he uses it every morning to make sure his daddy doesn't forget to give him his "special food!"

[punkmommy]

My animals have come to think that knocking down the baseball bat leaning against the wall on my side of the bed gets me up to feed them. They have me trained so well :lol:

[vggiegirl]

Now, in my house, my big boy *cough 21 lbs* will eat everyone's food. I don't know how in the world I could stop that...I'm afraid he'll eat the girls' measured food, so at least with the free for all method I know they are getting some food.

I don't know what else to do to help him lose weight :( He's a binger like his mama ;)

[rabid_child]

Now, in my house, my big boy *cough 21 lbs* will eat everyone's food. I don't know how in the world I could stop that...I'm afraid he'll eat the girls' measured food, so at least with the free for all method I know they are getting some food.

I don't know what else to do to help him lose weight :( He's a binger like his mama ;)

Well, right now, you're doing nothing to help him lose weight, so you definitely have plenty of things left to try. By allowing a cat to remain so fat, you're seriously causing a health threat, inviting things like arthritis and diabetes.

With my cats, they all get fed at the same time, and when they walk away from their food, they're done eating and it gets picked up. If they come looking for it again later, I'll put their bowl back down again (y'know, if I'm around), but by now they basically know that they eat when they're fed or they wait til the next meal. If you're concerned about the smaller cats getting enough to eat, just be sure to give them lots of treats during the day to make up for the calories.

Several vets I've worked with (as well as Hill's Nutritional Counsellors -- a service they offer for vet hospitals) have said that canned food is better than dry for weight loss. For one thing, its more water, less calories for the same amount of food, and another is that it tends to be lower in carbs, which, as carnivores, cats are not so accustomed to eating. Some cats do fine with the carbs, but those who have a tendency to be overweight do better NOT eating dry food.

[vggiegirl]

Well, right now, you're doing nothing to help him lose weight, so you definitely have plenty of things left to try. By allowing a cat to remain so fat, you're seriously causing a health threat, inviting things like arthritis and diabetes.

With my cats, they all get fed at the same time, and when they walk away from their food, they're done eating and it gets picked up. If they come looking for it again later, I'll put their bowl back down again (y'know, if I'm around), but by now they basically know that they eat when they're fed or they wait til the next meal. If you're concerned about the smaller cats getting enough to eat, just be sure to give them lots of treats during the day to make up for the calories.

Several vets I've worked with (as well as Hill's Nutritional Counsellors -- a service they offer for vet hospitals) have said that canned food is better than dry for weight loss. For one thing, its more water, less calories for the same amount of food, and another is that it tends to be lower in carbs, which, as carnivores, cats are not so accustomed to eating. Some cats do fine with the carbs, but those who have a tendency to be overweight do better NOT eating dry food.

Thanks Rabid. Like you said, you put the bowl back down when you are around. What if you aren't going to be home? For instance in the summer, bf and I go away for the weekend a lot, So I purchased the gravity feeder and water dealy.
Maybe if I try the eat now or too bad method and start on a friday, they will have time to adjust during the weekend so that when Monday comes and the food is empty all day, it won't be so bad.

I've also worried about wet food only being bad for kitty teeth (Harp and Guinness (fatty) are 2, Amber is 5). Am I being over worriesome?

[bumble]

Spud! That was the funniest description..I was laughing so hard!

Anyway,I have had oodles of kitties my whole life.Thye are healthy,fit and strong.
We have always done a free-for all with dry food.Twice or so times a week we do tuna oil,or wet food treats.We add yeast to that.

Free for all seems to work best.Then you cat has his own choice.Cats are not idiots.
The more they know it's there for them,the less stressed.It also makes it easy to go away for a night..or on vaction,someone just comes over to re-fill the bowl.

I do free-for -all feeding for my dog,too.No problems at all!

:)

[bumble]

veggiegrl,Cats are supposed to be easy.And they are,if you just leave the food out.
Whats this theary?Eat or starve,while teaching them to eat on a schedule?

To me that is harsh and unfair to thier little lives.I promise you,free for all fedding is relaxing for you and your cats..Then you can enjoy a weekend away without worry.
I just leave big bowl all over with water and food.

:)I hope you reconcider the timed-feeding idea.. :)

[thebelovedtree]

But if her cats have become overweight on a free feeding schedule isn't it better to teach them to eat on a schedule and maintain a healthy weight. All of our cats free feed but if they became overweight things would have to change. Its not going to be very relaxing for anyone if her cats become diabetic, etc.

[vggiegirl]

But if her cats have become overweight on a free feeding schedule isn't it better to teach them to eat on a schedule and maintain a healthy weight. All of our cats free feed but if they became overweight things would have to change. Its not going to be very relaxing for anyone if her cats become diabetic, etc.

:yes: My Guinness was heavier than a Rotweiller pup I met the other day. That's pretty bad :no:

[carnelian]

My 6 kitties get a measured amount of canned food every morning, and I keep multiple bowls of dry food out at all times. Each cat is a good weight for his/her size. :yes:

[VegKitten84]

Shrooms will not shut up if his food dish gets below half full. It's free for all.