Is free feeding better than scheduled feeding cats
Meal Feeding vs. Free Feeding Cats: What's Best?
Meal feeding means you're providing food to your cat only at specific meal times during the day. Both canned and dry foods can be fed in this manner.
Advantages:Food intake can be closely monitored, which means it will be easy to tell if your cat has had a change in appetite. In addition, if you have the joy of amultiple cat household, all cats will have access to food without one being dominant over the others one cat could be eating all the food and gaining too much weight, and the other cat(s) could be missing out on the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Disadvantages.Cats might beg for food between meals. Your cat cannot control how much she eats at a certain time. However, if you are following your veterinarian's advice with proper amounts and regular feeding, you can rest easy that she is indeed getting the right amount of food and nutrients.
The bottom line.While kittens should be fed up to three times a day, once a cat becomes an adult (at about one year of age) feeding once or twice a day is just fine, says theCornell Feline Health Center. In fact, feeding just once-a-day should be acceptable for the majority of cats. "Once cats reach adulthood, once a day feeding is fine as long as they are healthy and have no disease problems suggesting a reason to feed differently," Cornell reports. Again, always check with your vet before deciding on a feeding regimen.
If you have multiple cats, ideally each cat should have their own food and water station in a quiet, low-traffic place where the cat likes to spend time,The Cat Doctorsadvises. That's because cats are solitary eaters they prefer to be alone when they eat.
Scheduled vs Free-Feeding Cats (Whats the Difference?)
All cats need to eat, so you would think the process of feeding them would be simplebut youd be wrong there. First, you have to choose between a multitude of food options (canned or dry, premium vs grocery store brand, etc.). Once you settle on a diet, youre faced with another dilemma: should you feed your cat on a schedule or free-feed?
In this article, well look at the details, pros, and cons of each feeding method (schedule or free-feed). Well discuss the overall consensus of most veterinary authorities, along with some exceptions to that rule. Look for a summary of our findings in a handy chart at the end of the article.
Overview of Scheduled Feeding:
How it Works
Scheduled feeding is also known as meal feeding. In this feeding method, you start by calculating the total amount of food your cat should be eating each day. The most specific way to do this is to ask your vet for a recommended daily calorie intake.
Subtract any treats you feed from your cats calorie count, and whats left should all come from their diet. Youll find calories per cup or calories per can listed on the packaging of your cats food. Use this information to determine how many cups or cans of food they should be eating each day.
Once you have your amount, divide it into equal portions to be offered at scheduled meal times. For example, if your cat needs 1/2 cup of food each day, you might offer 1/4 cup at two mealsmorning and evening. You could also just feed the full 1/2 cup once per day.
The key is that your cat gets only the measured amount of food at a scheduled meal time.
What its Good for
The primary advantage of this type of feeding is that your cats calorie intake is controlled. You dont have to rely on your cat to only eat their fill and no more to keep from gaining weight. If your cat needs to lose weight, this method allows you to keep careful track of how much theyre eating.
Scheduled feeding also makes it easier to see if your cat happens to stop eating or has decreased food intake. Your cat is more likely to finish their whole meal without leaving food behind to attract ants and other pests.
- You control how much your cat eats
- Ideal for weight loss and portion control
- Less food left behind to attract pests
- Easier to monitor your cats food intake
- Someone has to be around to feed the cat on a schedule
- Demanding cats may make a nuisance of themselves by asking for more food
Overview of Free-Feeding:
How it Works
Free-feeding is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of offering food only at certain times, your cat always has access to something to eat. You may just keep a full food bowl around, or use an automatic feeder. Your cat has the option to eat their fill at any point or to graze periodically throughout the day.
Free-feeding canned food is not advised because this type of diet shouldnt be left uneaten and unrefrigerated for too long or it may spoil (and will certainly attract flies.)
For successful free-feeding, your cat will need to exercise a certain amount of self-control by eating only what they need and no more. Otherwise, theres a very real possibility that the cat will overeat, leading to obesity and all its accompanying health concerns. Youll also need to pay careful attention to ensure the food is switched out before it gets stale, moldy, or full of bugs.
What its Good For
The primary appeal of free-feeding is its convenience. Cats can be left alone for long periods because you dont have to worry about getting home to feed them. Its also a good method for picky or shy cats who may prefer to eat at odd hours, such as when everyone in the house is asleep.
Multi-cat households may find free-feeding allows each cat to eat on their own time, without competition for the bowl. Young kittens may need to eat multiple times per day, which can be tricky to accomplish by scheduled feeding if youre away from home for long hours.
If youre trying to get your cat to gain weight, such as when theyre recovering from an illness, free-feeding may be suggested. However, free-feeding also makes it harder to gauge how much or if your cat is even eating.
- Easier for those with busy schedules
- May be preferable for cats who need to gain weight or kittens who eat frequently
- Shy cats can eat on their own time
- May be less stressful for multi-cat households
- Cant be done with canned food
- Overeating is common
- Hard to tell whether or not your cat is eating
Which Feeding Method Is More Cost Effective?
This answer depends somewhat on how much food your cat eats if you allow free feeding. In general, scheduled feeding is not only more cost-effective but easier to budget for as well. With scheduled feeding, your cat eats a consistent amount of food, making it easier to calculate how long a bag or case of food lasts.
Say you need one bag of cat food per month. Your monthly cat food budget is easy to calculate and should stay consistent. On the other hand, free-feeding makes it hard to judge how long a portion of food will last.
You also run a higher chance of wasting food with meal feeding, given the increased risk of pests invading the food or it growing moldy while waiting to be eaten.
Which Feeding Method Do Vets Prefer?
Based on the information we found, it seems that most vets prefer scheduled feeding over free-feeding. Scheduled feeding makes it easier to control the cats calories and prevent overeating and obesity. Cats who are on a diet especially need to eat on a schedule.
If youre struggling to meal-feed your cat due to time constraints or other difficulties, talk to your vet. They can help you work out the best feeding option to keep your cat healthy and keep you from getting stressed.
Options for Modified Scheduled Feeding
If you really want to feed your cat on your schedule but also have a busy school or work schedule, you have a couple of options.
First, you can offer your cats entire measured food portion once a day and just leave it out for them to eat at will. This allows the kitty some control over when and how much they eat at a time, while still keeping their total intake measured. Plus, you only need to be home to do this once per day.
Another option is to use a timed automatic feeder. These machines release a pre-measured portion of food at selected meal times. Again, you dont have to be there for mealtimes, you just have to keep the feeder full and set to the correct times and amounts.
| When to Schedule Feed | When to Free-Feed |
| When youre home at consistent times | When your schedule is unpredictable |
| When your cat needs to lose weight | When you have multiple cats |
| When you have a household pest problem | When you have a picky eater |
| When your cat eats canned food | When your cat eats dry food |
| When youre on a strict budget | When your cat needs to gain weight |
Conclusion
For most cats and owners, scheduled feeding is the better method because it allows more control over how much the kitty eats. While it offers less flexibility than free feeding, it is the preferred choice for preventing overeating and obesity. If your schedule makes free feeding a necessity, consider one of the modified methods we suggested. Keep a close eye on your cats weight when free-feeding, and be aware your vet may recommend you switch to scheduled feeding should your kitty become overweight.
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Featured Image Credit: Left Milles-Studio, Shutterstock; Right Jaromir Chalabala, Shutterstock
Is Free Feeding Cats the Best Method? Vet-Approved Pros & Cons
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreHow and when you feed your cat is almost as important as what you feed them. Indeed, your cat relies on you to determine when, what, and how they eat, which impacts their well-being and health on many levels. For example, obesity is a common problem in indoor cats, and this condition, although multifactorial, may be linked to the way they are fed.
But figuring out how to feed your feline companion can be a real headache. Is free feeding the way to go, or should you stick to giving out meals at set times? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as each cat has their own distinct preferences and needs. That said, its best to know the good and bad sides of each feeding method so you can make an informed decision.
In this article, well outline the pros and cons of the free feeding method, as well as portion controlled feeding, and give you some tips along the way to keep your feline friend as healthy and happy as can be.
Is the Free Feeding Method the Best?
Many experts express varying opinions on the free feeding method. While some argue that it can be suitable for certain cats, others caution against it due to the risk of obesity and potential behavioral problems in multi-cat households. This is why you should consult with your vet to get personalized advice based on your cats specific needs, lifestyle, and circumstances.
Your veterinarian should be able to provide you with valuable insights into whether free feeding aligns with your cats health goals and how to mitigate associated risks if you choose this approach.
With that in mind, lets dive into the pros and cons of the free feeding method.
Pros of Free Feeding
The free feeding method, also known as ad libitum feeding, simply means that you fill their bowl with food and leave it available all day. Only dry foods should be fed this way, for obvious reasons: wet foods can spoil quickly if left out throughout the day. This way of feeding may be particularly appealing to busy owners and to cats who do not have any particular health problems.
Lets see the advantages of this method in more detail:
1. Convenience for Busy Cat Parents
Free feeding allows cat parents to skip a strict feeding schedule. This flexibility may be particularly appealing to those with busy lifestyles or unpredictable work schedules. Your cat can eat several small meals per day on their schedule, which also tends to align with a cats natural preferences. Either way, the key to free feeding success is placing the correct amount of dry food for just one day at a time in the bowl.
2. Cats Seem to Prefer This Method
When given the choice, most cats tend to choose to eat several small meals per day, at their own pace. Although cats are not typically considered grazers, some studies suggest that allowing your cat to graze and eat many small, frequent meals throughout the day allows them to eat in a manner closest to what is natural to them 1.
Cons of Free Feeding
Despite the evident time-saving perks and alignment with cat preferences, the free feeding method comes with significant drawbacks:
1. Risk of Obesity
One of the main concerns associated with the free feeding method is the risk of your cat gaining weight or even becoming obese. Indeed, the problem with free feeding is that it is difficult to monitor portions and effectively regulate your cats food intake. Even if you measure their daily portion correctly, your cat may gulp it all down in the morning and then complain all day because their bowl is empty, potentially coaxing more food from you!
Besides, it can be difficult to gauge changes in your cats appetite, especially if you have multiple cats to keep track of. That said, not all free-fed cats automatically become overweight. Cats that are at a healthy weight may be able to graze all day without gaining excess weight, particularly if you monitor their body condition.
It is also possible to reduce the risk of obesity by giving your cat many opportunities to exercise, which can be done through enrichment of their environment.
2. Increased Anxiety
Like us, cats find comfort in routine. Feeding your feline companion at set, regular times is a good way to help them feel safe and comfortable, which in turn can help reduce their stress and anxiety. Conversely, the free feeding method is a little more chaotic in the sense that the cat does what they want and manages their own feeding schedule.
This may be perfect for some more independent cats, but anxious kitties may benefit from the security and predictability of a set-time meal routine.
3. Difficulty Monitoring Health Issues
Scheduled feeding may allow pet owners to monitor their cats eating habits closely. Changes in appetite, frequency of consumption, or the sudden refusal of food can be early indicators of health issues. With free feeding, these signs may go unnoticed for a longer period.
4. Increased Risk of Food Spoilage
Leaving food out for long periods increases the risk of spoilage, especially during hot, humid summer days. This risk is reduced by avoiding giving your cat wet food, but even dry food can end up becoming unappetizing after a while.
5. May Increase Conflict and Aggression in Multi-Cat Households
In multi-cat homes, more dominant cats may bully the others and eat all the food. And unless you have cameras to help you monitor whats going on with your cats when youre not home, it can be hard to know if all your cats are eating well.
Portion Controlled Feeding
Portion-controlled feeding is basically the opposite of free feeding. It means you give your cat food only at specific mealtimes during the day. Both wet and dry foods can be served this way.
This can be done in two different ways:
- Fill their bowl and remove it after about 20 minutes
- Measure out a portion of food at each meal and let your cat eat at their own pace
Pros of Portion Controlled Feeding
With portion controlled feeding, food intake can be closely monitored, meaning it will be easy to tell if your cat has a change in appetite. In addition, it may reduce the risk of aggression and conflicts in households with multiple cats.
This feeding method is also mandatory for cats who must follow a special diet or who need to take medication at mealtimes.
Cons of Portion-Controlled Feeding
Some more greedy cats may start meowing and begging for food between meals. This can lead some cat parents to give them more food because they think their cat is hungry.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended to discuss with your veterinarian a feeding plan adapted to the specific needs of your feline friend. This way you ensure that your adorable but gluttonous cat gets the right amount of food every day.
Tips for Implementing the Best Feeding Method for Your Cat
First, talk to your veterinarian for suggestions based on your cats age, breed, and lifestyle. Then, you should base your decision on your cats health, not just your convenience.
Consider the following tips for implementing the best feeding method for your cat:
- Take note of your cats eating habits and preferences. Some cats thrive on a structured routine and may prefer scheduled meals, while others enjoy the freedom to graze freely throughout the day, while still maintaining a healthy weight. Observing your cats natural tendencies can help you determine which feeding method is best for them.
- Keep an eye on your cats body condition. Run your hands over their body regularly to feel for any changes in weight or body shape. If you notice any weight loss or gain, adjust their diet accordingly and consult your veterinarian.
- Encourage your cats natural behaviors, such as predation, foraging, and play, by incorporating puzzle feeders into their routine.
- If you have more than one cat, consider setting up separate feeding stations to minimize the risk of conflict.
- Regardless of the feeding method you choose, be sure to keep your cats food bowls clean. The accumulation of saliva and crumbs can create an unappealing mix for your feline friend, while also creating an inviting environment for bacteria and microbes.
Conclusion
The best feeding method for your cat is one that suits their individual needs and lifestyle. Some cats manage to regulate their food intake without problem, while others may wolf down the entire contents in one sitting. Each method has its pros and cons, and the ideal approach depends largely on your cats personality, overall health, and lifestyle.
By paying attention to your cats signals and working with your vet, you will be able to create an ideal feeding routine that will allow your feline friend not only to eat well but also to thrive in all aspects.
Featured Image Credit: Patrick, Foto_Shutterstock
