Thread: Feeding Question

Greetings all,

I'm new to the forum, not quite as new to Maine Coons, but I've still got a lot to learn, but I've got a question specifically related to feeding.

Is it better with these big guys to leave food down for them all the time, or to feed them in the morning (or evening, or both) and let them eat for a specific amount of time?

Here's some background if you'd like it...

A couple of years ago, we adopted two Maine Coons that are retired show cats. Shortly after we were divorced, and the big guys went with my ex, who doesn't care for them as they should be cared for, and well, long story short, they're coming home this weekend.

One of the problems they'd had is that they'd gotten matted, and she never took care of that, so they became giant mats of fur. They've been groomed recently, and I know enough to take care of their coats so I can avoid this, but since they got their hair cuts, it's become obvious that they're overweight. These two are big for Maine Coons, 25 and 27 pounds, but now I guess they're bigger.

I think that part of the reason they've gotten this big is because she feeds them a grocery store cat food, which is mostly filler. As I understand their eating habits, they usually swallow what goes into their mouths whole if they can, and I've read recently that when they eat cheaper foods that aren't "big enough" to force them to chew properly, they just eat too much of it because they aren't feeling full after inhaling the food which is mostly fillers, so they eat more, and get fatter.

Royal Canin makes a food (Maine Coon 31) that is supposed to help this problem, but I didn't know whether they'd adapt to having it only once or twice a day, or if I should leave food down for them all the time.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer.

Andrew