I have always free fed my cats, and it worked fine til Patches got too fat,I think canned food was a big casue of that, he and Charlie would just gobble the food and I would have to keep giving them more til the others had finished or they would eat their food too! I don't know how Charlie didn't get fat, he still eats a ton. and now I don't keep the food out, it took a few days for them to get used to it but it was no problem really, they let you know when they are hungry, believe me! I am still having somewhat of a problem keeping them separate but I'm working on it, and I am really watching how much Patches has to eat.

Jen is this feeding them separately something you have always done?

my cats are so used to not being separate that they stop eating when I close the door, I come back and there they are, even Charlie, and the food is still in the dishes. every other day I have to give Emma a pill in with her food, so I have to watch that she is the one that finishes that dish, sometimes they have been known to switch.
still have "bugs" to work out but at least I am keeping Patches from the food. is not easy LOL