Cat rescue, and getting obese!

[joeul7]

when she came to my house at first she was really thin, now she looks kindda fat, I normally fill her bowl everytime it looks empty or everytime she comes crying to me that is empty even during the night, if I dont get up and feed her she will hop on my pillow or run across my pillow to make me to get up, and to me she looks now heaveir than most cats I see, now picture that running across your pillow, any ideas? should i feed her only during the day?

[Karen]

How long have you had her? Has she been to the vet? If she's a recent rescue and not spayed, she may be pregnant. If you have had for a while, and she is spayed, you should definitely not feed her every time she meows for it. Check the food for recommended daily amount, and stick to that, no matter how much she pesters you!

[Barbara]

I recommend fixed feeding times. We also had a boy (a very thin one, Filou) who walked all over you when he wanted breakfast (at 3am) but he did that mainly with my husband who got up. When he was alone with me I pretended to sleep (you really have to do that convincingly) and in the second night he usually let me sleep.
With our next generation we did not feed them during the night from the beginning and they learned well

[krazyaboutkatz]

Hi and welcome to PT. Several smaller feedings throughout the day are much better than only one large feeding. She may not like it at first but she'll learn. If she hasn't been to the vet I would get her checked out. She could have worms or as Karen said she could also be pregnant if she hasn't been spayed. Please keep us updated about her. Good luck.

[Freedom]

Free feeding often leads to over weight pets. It is not a recommended feeding style.

I put food out 3 times a day. It should be gone in about 20 minutes. After that, pick it up and don't put any more down till the next feeding time.

My vet told me twice a day; I replied that my cats haven't read your books! I did try twice daily but the pitiful meows were too much.

My Sparkle wakes me up in the mornings to eat. If I don't move fast enough, she clears the night table: lamp, clock - radio, book, glasses, everything goes crashing to the floor! So be happy yours just runs across the pillow!

[phesina]

I recommend fixed feeding times. We also had a boy (a very thin one, Filou) who walked all over you when he wanted breakfast (at 3am) but he did that mainly with my husband who got up. When he was alone with me I pretended to sleep (you really have to do that convincingly) and in the second night he usually let me sleep.
With our next generation we did not feed them during the night from the beginning and they learned well

Sydney starts working on me between 4:00-4:30am. The "decided upon by me" time is 5:00am. No matter how convincingly I pretended to sleep, he wasn't having any of that. Now, if I REALLY need to sleep some more, I have to shut him in the bathroom. (I can't just shut him in the bedroom, because he can push that door open.) The others are all patient and don't make me feed them before I get up at my own pace.