7-8 mo old cats getting a pooch... Should I stop free feeding?

To my understanding I should free feed my cats until they are about a year old. They are about 7 -8 mo. old right now, and they were spayed at around 5 mo. They are on Nutro natural kitten kibbles. They don't seem to over eat, though it's hard to say since I fill up the bowl whenever it goes empty. But they don't seem to be glued to the food bowl, anyway. I know it's somewhat normal for cats to develop this pooch under the belly (toward the back legs) after a spay, but at the same time I'm really wanting to prevent them from getting obese. I have had obese cats in the past, and don't want that to happen to these ones.

Should I take this pooch as a sign that they are over eating, and start putting them on scheduled feedings at this point? If so, how much should they have each day? I don't want to follow directions on the package as I hear they allow far more than they really need, causing cats to get overweight. But maybe you can give a recommendation? I don't know their weights, but one seem to be a bigger cat, and the other one on the smaller side.

talkk with your vet ... it may be time to go to scheduled meals ... kitties this age eat 2-3 meals a day ... you may want to add in some wet if they eat all dry ... with the recent spay it could be the spay sway ... How much are you free feeding a cup each or 1/2 cup??

I would say yes. Our vet said to stop free feeding after we spayed or nuetered. She also said that around 6 months, that it was time to take them off kitten food as well. Maybe time to slowly transition? Talk with your vet about it though, they know best.

It sounds like it coudl be spay sway... Switching to meals isn't bad idea even if you do more than twice a day at first.

All the cats I've seen personally who get free fed dry food are overweight. I feed my cats half canned and half dry and do feed meals. I've never had a fat cat.

I've never given kitten food to 8 month old cats either.

Mika is as tiny as they come and she definitely has spay sway! If your cat isn't overweight and just has the "pouch" I wouldn't worry about it since you can't do much about it anyway.

As for taking them off kitten food, anytime after 9-10 months it is OK to take them off kitten.

I say talk to your vet, but my vet recommends switching to adult food right after they are fixed. I didn't listen with Jordan & Levi & they are slightly over weight. Isaac & Maggie I switched right away & Isaac is a perfect weight & Maggie is still growing, but not over weight at all.

I'd say switch to adult food (Nutro Natural Choice is fine) and also add canned food. A dry food only diet is a big contributor to obesity, and even "lite" dry food doesn't help that much. Canned food will help. A little "pooch" is nothing to worry about but you are correct to want to prevent obesity.