Following on nicely from diet comes the issue of weight. Far too many cats are now recognized to be overweight or obese. I’m talking about around 60% of US pet cats. The fact is, it’s much easier to keep a cat from gaining excess weight than it is to help them lose it. The best thing you can do is find out exactly how much your cat should be having in the way of calories per day. Remember that spayed or neutered cats require a lot less in terms of energy intake than before. Then, you’ll want to divide that number by the number of feeds you are able to provide each day, adjusting to account for any treats. And… weigh it out. On electronic kitchen scales. Do not trust the measuring cup! The amount will probably look quite small to you but it’s really all they need. If you cat happens to be one with great self-control, then a free feeder is fine. However, this will see a cat with a more voracious appetite put on weight quickly, so proceed with caution. To know where your cat falls on the weight scale, familiarize yourself with a Body Condition Score chart. This explains, in easy-to-understand measurements, how to do a check at home.