Heading Off Weight Gain

Monty is nearing 14lbs at 1yr and while I realize he is just going to be a bigger cat than Si overall (based on his frame) I want to head this off at the pass before he packs on anymore weight.  Si is actually down in weight (from 13.6 at his last vet visit in March '14 to 12.8 as of July '14) since we adopted Monty from all the chasing, rough-housing & playing that two boys do.

Monty, although being larger in stature, has visually progressed just like Si did.  In a way they both appeared to get 'fat' before slimming back down.   I pretty much free fed them both up to 1yr old but have always tried to feed a rotation of higher end wet like NV Chicken, Tiki Chicken, and since Si has always been a "gravy hound" the Friskies chicken shreds a couple of times a week.  Once in a while I have surprised them with the Tiki Cat Sardine Cutlets.  They have additionally been supplemented with the Nature's Variety chicken kibble (rotating Wellness Core chicken kibble at times).

They currently split a 5.5oz can of one the above foods 3x per day with a 1/4c of kibble each 2x per day just left out.  Although Si seems to regulate himself, Monty being a kitten will eat his kibble & Si's leftovers.

I know each cat is different, and of course I'll speak to our vet once we're back in TX in the Fall, but what are your nutritional thoughts on changing to the following rotation which are all much lower in carbs/calories to see if I can get Monty's weight headed in a downward direction?  I can still feel his ribs, but you can easily feel that there is a slight layer of fat over them ---

Nature's Variety Instinct Grain-Free Venison, Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Chicken in Chicken Consomme, Weruva Paw Lickin' Chicken in Gravy (to keep the gravy hound happy) and Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Sliced Cowboy Cookout.

I'm guessing I will have to bite the bullet of their howling protests & drop their feedings to 2x per day (morning and evening), and of course, cut back the chicken kibble to 1/8c each.  I do realize the kibble is not really even necessary, but if we're going to be gone, or working, I have somehow felt compelled to leave them a snack.

All thoughts are appreciated!

I also forgot to add that their exercise routine includes 3-5x per day playing with 'da Bird and it's various attachments, in the evening we get out the laser to chase until they get bored, and they also rough-house/chase each other various times throughout the day.

If you're splitting a 5.5 ounce can of food between them 3 times a day in addition to kibble I think you are probably feeding a little too much. The general rule of thumb for adult cats is 15 to 20 calories per pound of ideal weight. If the calories are not listed on the label they are usually on the food's website.

Thanks Denise .. I felt it was approaching time to back off the free feeding of Monty, even on better quality foods. 

I hope cutting back to 2 meals a day, on lower overall calorie foods, and really backing off the kibble will start showing slow results back downward.  

I never thought a lot about it as neither of them ever finishes their 1/2 of the 5.5oz can.   Ten or twenty bites and they are on about their day.  The feline only vet we established back in March did tell us that, structurally, Monty was going to be a big boy.  And to not be surprised if he ended up considerably larger than Si.  But she stated in the 11-12lb range.   He was at 11.3 back in March and just seemingly shot up in weight these last few months with no change in diet.   Although we didn't really speak about it with her then, I guess that is when I should have begun the tapering back.