Delving into the topic of feline nutrition can be overwhelming with all the trends, new “super” ingredients, and headline grabbing stories out there continually inundating our news feeds. While added information can always be helpful, cat parents rarely ponder how choosing a particular feeding schedule can affect our four-legged companions. In an effort to simplify the choice and help you decide on how to nourish your cat, our latest post will examine the pros and cons of both free and scheduled feeding methods.
Free Feeding
Just as the name suggests, a pure free-feeding method is truly free of restriction. This means both the quantity and timing of food intake is left to the whim of the cat. The ”ad libitum,” or free feeding method, simply means the bowl is filled and made available to the cat all day.
Pros
Convenience - With us bipeds living seemingly busier and busier lives, peace of mind is incredibly valuable. Placing the feeding bowl in sight and making sure to keep it filled with food is about as simple as it gets! Using the free-feeding method allows cats to be left home alone for longer time periods than being constrained by scheduled feeding times.
Cat Preference - Our feline companions are known for their strong independence. One of the best ways to nurture self-autonomy is to provide a feline control over when and how much they eat. Much like nursing kittens have food availability throughout the day, free-feeding offers a biologically driven form of nutrition.
Cons
Obesity Risk - Cats who are particularly food driven can consume excess calories and be prone to obesity. In a multi-cat home, dominant cats can also eat more than their share.
Anxious Kitty - Another challenge that can present in a household with multiple cats is a nervous or timid feline who shies away from eating, risking malnourishment.
Food Spoilage - It goes without saying that food left out at room temperature that isn’t consumed relatively soon is prey to going bad or tempting unwanted eaters (bugs or rodents). And we all know that finicky felines will turn up their noses if the meal is just a little off…
Scheduled Feeding
Providing structure and routine in both the timing and quantity of meals provided to your cat.
Pros
Multiple Levels of Control - The total control over all aspects of a cat’s nutrition through scheduled feeding gives a feline parent the ability to monitor intake, provide any prescribed medication at mealtime, and address any weight concerns.
Building a Relationship - Take for example the bond between a mother and child which is strengthened by feeding, a similar level of trust is fostered by scheduled feeding of a cat. Perhaps no better trust exists than that formed through providing nourishment consistently.
Cons
Possible tension with your cat - If you’re not familiar with facing a cat hesitant or refusing to eat, consider yourself lucky. While feeding highly palatable recipes from RAWZ can certainly help, the stress of feeling a rushed need to eat may certainly reduce a cat’s appetite.
Time constraint - Balancing busy lives in today’s frenetic world can be a challenge, making the thought of needing to add multiple appointments to the schedule daunting.
FAQs
What if I have multiple cats?
While we all like to think that our multi-cat homes are feline utopias where perfect equality and tranquility exist, in reality, cats naturally seek dominance hierarchies. This can create a situation where free-fed groups can see undernourishment and obesity among the same group of domestic cats, or “Clowder.”
Are feeding methods a one-size fits all choice?
Whether it is changes in pet age, cat parent lifestyle, or changing health status, our dynamic lifestyles can create the need to alter feeding schedules. Also, individual cats may respond well to different feeding methods. If change needs to take place to ensure proper nutrition, gradual transition is advised as stress can greatly impact feline appetite.
Remember the Goal…
Improving cats' lives is always our top priority, and we do our part by creating minimally processed recipes to help nourish RAWZ cats. By selecting the feeding method that works best for you and your cat matched with solid nutrition, hopefully it’s years of content purrs ahead…
