when can I stop free-feeding my kittens?

any advice on when i could start a regular feeding schedule as opposed to free-feeding?

my kittens are 16wks and eat dry only. i would like them to be a proper weight.

they weigh 4-5 lbs each right now.

thanks

I stopped at around six months when I noticed one was taking advantage of the ever present food bowl. Now I feed canned food twice a day and put a small bowl of dry food down when I go to bed so they don't swarm me first thing AM.

I never stopped free-feeding my Ginger, and she is a very thin 9 lbs. at 14 months old, so I think it depends on the kittens/cats.

I wish I could get Ginger to fatten up a litle bit!!

I would stop the free-feeding when they are neutered/spayed. Or if they look like they are gaining a little too much weight. Right now they seem to be about the right size for their ages.

In normal medium size cats (that would weigh about 10-12 or 13 lbs when grown), you can figure about a pound per month of age - so 4 months old and 4-5 lbs is fine.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

I would stop the free-feeding when they are neutered/spayed.

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LOL! Not with pediatric spays. My shelter does spay neuter if the kitten is at least 8 weeks and 2 lbs. Eve was just old enough and heavy enough to be spayed. She's healthy and eats like a horse, but her body is growing too fast for her healthy fat supplies to keep up, so she's on the skinny side.

I stop free feeding when I notice a drop in activity level.
Usually between 9 and 13 months depending on the kitten.