Why Free-Feeding Your Cat May Be Doing More Harm Than Good
And what to do instead for true wellness, connection, and long-term health
If you’ve been free-feeding your cat, or leaving a full bowl of kibble out all day, you’re not alone. It’s a super common feeding method that seems convenient… but it may be silently contributing to your cat’s health and behavioral issues.
As someone deeply rooted in holistic cat care, I gently encourage cat parents to shift away from free-feeding, and here’s why.
Cats Thrive on Routine
In the wild, cats don’t graze all day—they hunt, eat, rest, repeat. That natural rhythm supports their metabolism, nervous system, and even emotional regulation. When cats are fed on a consistent meal schedule, they feel more secure, less anxious, and more in tune with their caregivers.
2. Free-Feeding Disrupts Natural Hunger Cues
Constant access to food can confuse your cat’s natural hunger and satiety signals. Over time, this may lead to overeating, picky behavior, or even food obsession—especially with high-carb kibble that spikes blood sugar.
3. It Can Lead to Weight Gain + Inflammation
Most free-fed cats are eating dry food—aka a highly processed, carb-heavy diet. Combine that with all-day access and you’ve got the perfect recipe for weight gain, inflammation, and chronic issues like arthritis, urinary problems, and diabetes.
4. You Miss Early Signs of Illness
When your cat eats scheduled meals, it’s easy to notice if they suddenly skip a meal or eat less. Both of which are early red flags of illness. But when food is out 24/7, it’s harder to track how much they’re really eating until symptoms become obvious.
So, What Should You Do Instead?
Switching to mealtime feeding (2–3 scheduled meals per day) gives your cat structure, helps regulate digestion and hormones, and strengthens your bond. They learn to come to you for food, reconnecting you as their source of nourishment and safety.
And if you’re already feeding a raw or canned diet, meal feeding becomes even more important to prevent spoilage, reduce bacteria risk, and minimize food wasting.
My Personal Tip:
Meal feeding also supports behavioral healing. I’ve seen firsthand how structured feeding can help anxious, aggressive, or overly clingy cats feel more emotionally grounded and balanced.
Ready to Make the Shift?
It doesn’t have to happen overnight. Start by gradually giving them their kibble at scheduled times. You can even use a timed automatic feeder to help ease the transition. Here is a link to a good auto feeder that works for kibble or wet food.
Then, work on switching to a more species-appropriate diet.
Need help building a custom meal plan or transitioning off kibble?
I offer personalized consults to help you every step of the way.
And, no worries if you are not ready to commit to a 1-1 wellness plan or don’t need that deep of support. I just launched my Healthy Weight + Metabolism Guide for Cats.
In the guide, I not only talk about how to get your cats to a healthy weight, but I talk a lot about metabolism healing. I have easy to follow step-by-step instructions for how to get your cat onto scheduled mealtimes and even transition their diet.
I applaud you even for just reading this blog post because the first step is becoming aware and learning how to help your cat live a healthier life. I am here to support you both!
What If Your Cat’s Healing Isn’t Just Physical?
Let’s talk about it. And a Gentle Tool for Emotional Support that I love to use on my clients.
As cat guardians, we do everything we can to support our cats' physical health—dialing in their diet, fine-tuning supplements, and keeping their environment safe and toxin-free. But what happens when your cat still seems… off?
Maybe they’re hiding more than usual. Maybe they startle easily. Maybe they’re not bouncing back from stress or illness the way you expected.
And maybe, just maybe, their healing isn’t just physical.
The Emotional Side of Healing:
Just like us, cats can carry emotional wounds. Traumas from early life, sudden changes in their home, medical procedures, grief, fear, or even absorbing your stress—it can all imprint energetically.
While some cats express this through aggression or anxiety, others become withdrawn, depressed, or seemingly “stuck” in a state of unease. You might feel like no amount of play, affection, or supplements is helping them truly let go.
That’s where energy-based tools like EFT Tapping come in.
EFT What Now?
Haha… I know. That was my response when I first learned about EFT Tapping too. It stands for Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as tapping, is a powerful yet gentle method that helps release stored emotional energy from the body. It’s traditionally used with people, but it can be adapted to animals—with beautiful results.
EFT works by tapping or visualizing tapping on specific energy meridian points while holding space for the emotional issue at hand. In animal-focused sessions, the guardian or practitioner taps on themselves using the surrogate method while focusing on the animal’s emotions.
The result? Deep energetic shifts—often followed by calmer behavior, improved sleep, more openness, and even physical improvements.
How I’ve Seen it Help Our Feline Friends
I’ve personally seen EFT Tapping help support cats through:
Stress from moving or rehoming
Sibling tension or cat-to-cat aggression
Loss of a bonded companion (animal or human)
Trauma from medical procedures or past abuse
Emotional stagnation or unexplained changes in personality
Because EFT works on an energetic level, it bypasses logic and language. It meets your cat where they are—beyond behavior, beyond symptoms—and helps gently release what they may not know how to process on their own.
Healing Is a Two-Way Street
As an energy worker and intuitive, I often notice that what a cat is holding onto… mirrors something their guardian is holding too. Our bond with our cats is sacred, and often deeply energetic. EFT can help both of you clear what needs to be released.
Ready to Try EFT for Your Cat?
If your cat has been showing signs of emotional imbalance—or if you’ve just felt like there’s something deeper going on—I invite you to book a session with me.
My EFT Tapping sessions are:
Conducted remotely with love and intention
Tailored to your cat’s unique emotional experience
A safe space for energetic release, reconnection, and renewal
🔗 Click here to book a session
💬 Or send me a message if you have questions first, I'm always happy to chat.
Your cat deserves to feel seen, safe, and supported—not just physically, but emotionally too.
I am also working on an EFT Tapping Guide to teach cat parents how they can tap for their cat at home, so stay tuned for that. Make sure you’re subscribed to my email list to get updates!
With love,
Jade | Holistic Thriving Cats
My Cat Has Asthma: Everything I Wish I Knew Sooner
Is your cat wheezing, coughing, or breathing fast? Feline asthma is more common than you think—and it doesn’t have to mean a lifetime of steroids. In this post, I share how I helped my cat manage asthma naturally, with zero pharmaceuticals. If you’ve been searching for a holistic approach that actually works, this is for you.
When I first heard my cat wheeze, I brushed it off. “It’s probably just a hairball”, we said.
When it turned into coughing fits… I panicked.
When I was told steroids and inhalers will help—my gut told me there had to be another way.
If you’re reading this, chances are you're in that same overwhelmed, worried space. Maybe your cat is struggling to breathe. Maybe the vet mentioned "feline asthma" and you were left with more questions than answers. Maybe you're searching for natural, safe, and supportive ways to actually help your cat heal, not just mask symptoms.
I’ve been there—and I created something for you.
What is Feline Asthma, really?
Feline asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. It can look like coughing, wheezing, rapid breathing, or even open-mouth panting. It’s more common than people think—and yes, it can be managed naturally.
But here’s the thing:
Most conventional treatments only suppress symptoms. They don’t address the root cause. Now, conventional treatments have their time and place and can sometimes be necessary short term especially for severe cases.
That’s why I created my Holistic Feline Asthma Guide—to give cat parents like you the tools to actually support healing from the inside out.
What Helped My Cat Breathe Easier?
In my guide, I share the exact steps I took with my own cat—from diet changes and supplements to reducing environmental triggers, supporting the nervous system, and even gentle detox. It’s not just a list—it’s a full roadmap built from research, experience, and love.
Some of the key shifts included:
Eliminating asthma-triggering proteins (like chicken)
Switching to a raw, moisture-rich diet
Air purification and reducing indoor toxins
Daily nervous system support (yes, energy healing helps!)
Natural supplements that soothe inflammation and support the respiratory tract.
You’re Not Alone—And There Is Hope
Watching your cat struggle to breathe is heartbreaking. But healing is possible. It just takes a new lens, consistent care, and a little guidance from someone who's walked this path.
If you’re ready to:
✅ Reduce asthma flares naturally
✅ Feel empowered instead of overwhelmed
✅ Start healing from the root cause
👉 Download my Holistic Feline Asthma Guide
(You’ll get instant access + lifetime updates.)
Our animals are mirrors.
When they’re sick, it calls us into deeper awareness.
Into devotion. Into healing.
Every symptom they have is a way for their body to communicate a deeper issue.
This journey with my cat has changed me—and if you feel the same pull, this guide is for you.