I'm not sure I can agree with this. I free-feed a measured amount each day with wet feedings in morning and evening. Since I changed to grain-free dry food, Bijou has trimmed down beautifully. He was at 18.5 lbs when he went for his yearly visit in August and although I haven't weighed him since then, it's easy to see that he has slimmed down considerably and looks better.Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45
It would depend on if you free feed the dry or not. If not, then both are about equal.
For a long time I only fed dry and it was a set amount - not free feeding and the cats maintained their weight.
Now we feed wet and dry - measured amount of dry in morning; canned at nite. Its easier to feed a certain portion to maintain any cat's weight. With free feeding you have no real control.
Technically you are right of course. I'm one of those that consider putting down food for noshing on during the day to be free-feeding. Measuring the amount of dry food is naturally better.Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45
If you are measuring the dry food its not "free fed"Free feeding IMO means you are filling the bowl up as they eat - could be once a day, could be 2-3 times.
You just gave me some encouragement. I can definitely agree that the carbohydrates in dry food cause unnecessary weight gain. I have 2 indoor cats and they're both overweight in spite of feeding significantly less food than reccommended by the manufacturer or even the standard rule of 25 to 30 calories per pound of body weight. Spotty weighs 17.5 pounds and Rosie is 12.5 pounds. This is a lot more than what they weighed when I picked them up at the shelter back in 2003, Spotty was only about 10 pounds, Rosie about 8. I could tell any vet, no, I don't free feed my cats, I measure their food so why are they getting fat? Carbohydrates. Their bodies don't handle them too well, I've read that cats saliva is deficient in amalyse which helps to break carbs down. It's hard to get a cat that likes dry food to eat canned exclusively.Originally Posted by Yosemite
I'm not sure I can agree with this. I free-feed a measured amount each day with wet feedings in morning and evening. Since I changed to grain-free dry food, Bijou has trimmed down beautifully. He was at 18.5 lbs when he went for his yearly visit in August and although I haven't weighed him since then, it's easy to see that he has slimmed down considerably and looks better.
This has been my experience as well.Originally Posted by Yosemite
I'm not sure I can agree with this. I free-feed a measured amount each day with wet feedings in morning and evening. Since I changed to grain-free dry food, Bijou has trimmed down beautifully. He was at 18.5 lbs when he went for his yearly visit in August and although I haven't weighed him since then, it's easy to see that he has slimmed down considerably and looks better.