Diary of a Cat Mom

Ep. 13 - Free Feeding vs Controlled Feeding — What My Cats Taught Me 🐾🤍

By Dagmar Gatell — Creator & Host of Diary of a Cat Mom Season 1 Episode 13

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0:00 | 5:14

Free feeding felt like the kindest choice when I first started my cat journey.
Food was always available. No rules. No pressure.

But over time, my cats showed me something I didn’t expect.

The shy ones waited.
The confident ones moved freely.
And slowly, their bodies — and their behavior — began to change in opposite ways.

This Diary of a Cat Mom entry is a quiet reflection on what I noticed when I shifted from free feeding to controlled feeding. Not as a rule. Not as advice. But as an experiment born from watching my cats closely and wanting them to feel safe, healthy, and at ease with one another.

It surprised me how much structure changed not just their weight, but their confidence, their calm, and how they related to each other.

This is simply my experience — shared gently in this cat podcast, for any cat parent who has ever wondered if small changes can make a big difference.

This is where I’ve gathered everything that helps me care for my cats and myself:
https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/

About the Diary of a Cat Mom

Diary of a Cat Mom is a quiet, personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell, sharing real moments, emotions, and experiences from life with cats.

This space is meant for connection, comfort, and companionship. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom and is not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, it’s always best to consult your trusted veterinarian.

Most of all, please remember:
 You’re not alone on this journey. We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.