Do you "free feed" your cats?

nano

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This is just a survey poll for general information.


By free feed, I mean that a bowl of food is always available and filled up regularly.

By scheduled meal, I mean a bowl of food is provided and then picked up later (so food is only available during certain times -- not a continuous supply).
 

arlyn

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We have always free fed.
I've only ever had one cat with weight issues, and that stemmed from a boyfriend who showed his love with canned food...to the tune of 3, 6 ounce cans a day.
 

talon

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Actually we keep dry food out at all times, and they get canned food twice a day.
 

rosehawke

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I've always free-fed my animals, although I s'pose right now I should have put "other," as the dog (Pekingese) is on a restricted diet since she went from 9# to 11.5
pounds! This is since she's been spayed. She gets back problems occasionally (somewhat common with the breed) and does not need to be carrying extra weight around. I always free-fed my cats, and never had a problem with it, but I never had any weight issues with them either.
 

maverick_kitten

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Originally Posted by Talon

Actually we keep dry food out at all times, and they get canned food twice a day.


i do the same. checked 'other' because this wasnt an option on the poll.
 

satu

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I free feed my cats but I also have to control Valtteri's weight so I have been counting the amount carefully lately.
 

arlyn

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I guess I should have put other as well. The cats are free fed, my dog is fed once a day.
If I'm going to be gone all day, I break his meal up into two feedings, one before I leave, and one when I get home.

He's not really fat, but he's a big dog and could stand to lose a few pounds, and I can see him becoming a chub monster if free fed.

I don't free feed newcomers, they stay secluded from the rest of the pack, and I monitor their intake.
 

dicknleah

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This is where cats are so different from dogs. yes, I free feed my cats but If I tried that with the dogs they would eat until they explode and would also weight about 500lbs each.
 

luvmysphynx

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I free feed all the time and then give additional soft food at dinner time. Sphynx eat more then cats with hair, so they are always hungry!!
 

arlyn

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Originally Posted by Luvmysphynx

I free feed all the time and then give additional soft food at dinner time. Sphynx eat more then cats with hair, so they are always hungry!!
You know, I actually always wondered if the breed ate more to maintain body heat.
Seems as though they do.
 

bigorangemenace

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I free feed. my cat elliot is a big boy at 16 lbs but he is also just a large cat body structure wise. if I had only him I might give him scheduled meals, but I have a kitten who is pretty skinny (5lbs at 10months) so I leave the food out so she can eat whenever she wants. My mom's cat is old and gets wet food, and when he is finished eating my cats usually come by and scrounge for whats left (even though my mom usually gives them some of their own) :p they are little piggies when it comes to wet food
 

rosehawke

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Originally Posted by dicknleah

This is where cats are so different from dogs. yes, I free feed my cats but If I tried that with the dogs they would eat until they explode and would also weight about 500lbs each.
Slightly OT: I wonder if it depends on the breed or individual animal? Kellie was fine, and would just eat what she wanted, nibbling throughout the day. I'm thinking if I get her a light food I may be able to go back to free-feeding since it won't have as man K-calories per same amount of bulk.

Of course that's not to say she doesn't surf the kitchen floor constantly (we call it "snurfling") then and now
 

pat

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I free feed some of my guys, Tyler (hyper-T, calcium oxalate crystals, early crf, ?early diabetic) gets frequent meals of canned food, Patrick(crf and hyper-t) always has crunchies available and gets wet food as often as he asks..and if he doesn't and isn't eating, he gets assist-fed.
 

j171978

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We usually fill up their food dish around 6:00 in the evening. If it takes them all night to eat it then that's ok. Like this morning there was still food in the bowl I don't take it away I just don't give them any more until six.
 

gilly

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Originally Posted by Talon

Actually we keep dry food out at all times, and they get canned food twice a day.
I voted other... cos I do that ^ as well. I am at work during weekdays so normally I am out from 7.30am to 7pm depending. But, after Guin has eaten his wet food in the morning, I take bowl away and clean it etc so that it is not sitting about all day long.
 

sharky

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I voted other.. since I measure out the amount for the free feed for one cat who eats dry, wet is on demand... Kandie is feed on demand with me measure the ounces to ensure she gets enough
 

ctcat

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If by free feed you mean leaving food down all the time....I used to leave food down for my 7 cats and now I wished I didn't. I have overweight, crf, senior, megacolon kitties here and all require different food. It is so hard to break them of always having food in front of them.
 
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