Need to switch from free-feeding to schedule feeding

Hi, I have 3 cats who have always been free-fed dry food, with canned food every now and then for a treat.

Youngest cat, Ella, just turned 1 year old, took her to the vet and she is very overweight. The vet said we can't free feed anymore, which means all the cats in the house have to go on a schedule.

Since I have never schedule fed, I have some questions. The last week we have tried this with dry food - measuring food for the day for each of them into their own bowls and putting it out twice a day - morning and evening. The problem is, they just don't seem very interested in eating during meal times - they will chow for a few minutes and walk away. But at the end of the day, all three have not gotten the amount the package recommends (two to mantain weight, and one to lose weight). I am concerned with the older two cats, who are both at or even slightly underweight, that they get enough nutrition.

Should I switch to wet food (I am concerned with the cost of this, so I would prefer dry if possible)? Is it ok to just feed them once a day, or does it need to be twice? Should I moisten up their dry food so it is more appealing?

Any advice on schedule feeding is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Laura

Adding wet food would be a good thing.. One it has more moisture which is alround good for cats... Two on ave oz for oz wet has half the calories

I measure free feed : this means I measure out half a days food in the am and put it in the bowl and then half in the pm... they have a measured amount of food avail all the time just no adding food just cause it is low

DO NOT moisten dry food this can cause a bacteria bloom and that could make your cats sick ...

May I ask what brand and type you are using ... ie brand x wt control

If they were eating too much to begin with they should be eating ok if you are timing the feedings. I still 'free feed' mine but I measure the food for the day first and if they eat it, its gone and they wait until the next feeding for food. Mine self regulate between them and if Bumper is being a little piggy (which he has a habit of doing) they will smack him away from the food bowl

IMO you should be feeding the canned food every day rather then once in awhile.

We feed dry for breakfast and canned for supper. Willing to bet your cats will lose some weight if you feed more canned and cut back on the dry.

Do not wet the dry food - it will spoil if left out all day. I would offer dry for 15 mins - then take it up. And feed canned for the next meal. They will learn quickly to eat when food is offered.

Thanks for your response. We feed the Iams indoor weight control. The problem with control free-feeding is that Ella would eat all of it. She is more of a grazer, so she would eat hers AND the food for the boys if I left their individual bowls out all day. I like the idea of doing dry food in the morning and wet food at night. And just leaving the food out 15 minutes and then putting it away. I guess I just have to figure out how much of each to feed.

One wt control is IMHO an oxymoron... Why ?? It is HIGHER in Grain and carbs than reg or adult indoor foods ... This means kitty is likely eating more and not digesting as much ...

I feed wet twice a day but do like and have done the one in am and one in pm routine ...

How much are you feeding ?And how much should the cats weigh??

If I were you I would slowly wean them off the dry and just do two wet feedings per day. That's what I do and it works great.

It's gone within about 10 minutes of me putting it on their plate-- I like it much better than leaving out dry all day long.

I'm with everyone who has recommended a wet over dry diet. Kibble causes weight gain, diabetes and a host of other ailments (google "Dangers of Dry Foods").

Canned foods generally have a higher percentage of edible protein, so putting your cats on a canned diet will help them lose weight as well as give them more energy, which will also facilitate weight loss. A win-win.

Go for grain-, veggie-, fruit- and fish-free as much as possible. It might cost a bit more, but the improved nutrition will help reduce or eliminate potentially costly vet visits down the road.

Good luck!