How to Stop a Cat From Free Feeding

"Free feeding" means allowing your cat to eat whenever she chooses. A portion of food is available at all times and your cat can eat or snack at will. For some cat owners this is a practical feeding method, especially if the food provided is dry. For pet owners who provide canned food or who have obese or finicky cats, free feeding can lead to problems. It may be necessary to switch to a timed or portion-controlled feeding method.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat food
  • Cat bowl
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Instructions

    • 1

      Plan a feeding schedule for your cat. Adult cats can eat 1 to 2 times per day as recommended by Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Pick a specific time of day when you will feed your cat and stick to it.

    • 2

      Determine the amount of food your cat should eat per day. Commercial brands of cat food include recommended daily portions on their labels.

    • 3

      Divide the daily recommended amount of food by the number of times that you plan to feed your cat. This is how much you should feed your cat at each meal.

    • 4

      Feed your cat. Wait until the exact time on your cat feeding schedule. Fill your cat's bowl with the appropriate portion size of food.

    • 5

      Remove the cat food after 30 minutes, regardless of how much or little your pet has eaten.