While leaving out dry food so your cat can eat whenever he’s hungry may be convenient, “free feedingâ€Â? leads some cats to overeat, often out of boredom. The alternative is scheduled feeding: Two or three meals a day at set intervals is a good pattern. Feed your cat in the same place every time â€â€? a quiet spot that’s out of traffic routes and well away from the litter box, or your cat may refuse to eat there. Leave the food out for a set period of time (15 to 30 minutes), then remove the bowls.

Mealtime becomes more complicated when you have more than one cat, since their appetites and eating behavior will probably vary; they may even eat different foods. Use separate food and water bowls for each cat, set well apart, always placed in the same locations. Feed the slowest eater first and the fastest eater last. If one of your cats gulps down his share and immediately bulldozes his way into the neighboring bowl, discourage him, removing him from the room if necessary. Or, if you have a cat that doesn’t eat his entire portion in one go, cover his bowl with a plate, then uncover it later for him to finish (refrigerate the leftovers if the food is canned).