Free-choice feeding

Free-choice feeding, also called ad libitum feeding, means leaving food permanently available so the animal regulates its own intake, and it is mainly practical with dry food, which keeps safely in the bowl. The method can genuinely suit certain animals that self-regulate well, such as some grazing cats, and certain situations such as a lactating mother whose needs are high. The serious limitation is that many dogs and cats do not regulate intake reliably, so constant access tends to promote overeating and excess weight, the most common nutritional disorder in companion animals (WSAVA, 2021). Two further drawbacks are easy to overlook. Free access makes it much harder to track how much an animal is actually eating, which in turn delays the detection of a reduced appetite, often one of the earliest signs of illness. And in a multi-pet household it becomes impossible to know who is eating what, undermining any individual [portion control](/glossary/portion-control). For these reasons [rationing](/glossary/portion-control) is generally preferred, especially for neutered, inactive, or overweight animals, and for cats living strictly indoors on an [indoor diet](/glossary/indoor-diet). If free-choice feeding is nonetheless chosen, a sensible discipline is to weigh out a measured daily amount and weigh back what remains, so consumption can still be estimated, paired with heightened vigilance over weight and body condition and a readiness to switch to controlled portions if weight starts to climb. For more on feeding methods, see the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary).

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