Do multiple feeding per day improve regulation?

[Terwilliger1]

I feed my cat about 4-5ounces canned food in the morning before work at the AM shot time, and 3 ounces when I get home from work at the PM shot time, and another 1-2 ounces 3-4 hours later before bed. On the weekends, I split the morning feeding into two feedings about 4 hours apart. She doesn't usually eat the whole amount at once at any of these times, but goes back and snacks an hour later or so. Some of the food goes to waste depending on how hungry she is, but my best estimate is she eats 8-9 ounces a day. She seems okay with this schedule, although she is pretty hungry during the week when I get home. Do people use automatic feeders because this really does help regulation or because it's a preference for their cats appetite?

 

[Blue]

I feed my cat about 4-5ounces canned food in the morning before work at the AM shot time, and 3 ounces when I get home from work at the PM shot time, and another 1-2 ounces 3-4 hours later before bed. On the weekends, I split the morning feeding into two feedings about 4 hours apart. She doesn't usually eat the whole amount at once at any of these times, but goes back and snacks an hour later or so. Some of the food goes to waste depending on how hungry she is, but my best estimate is she eats 8-9 ounces a day. She seems okay with this schedule, although she is pretty hungry during the week when I get home. Do people use automatic feeders because this really does help regulation or because it's a preference for their cats appetite?

Oh goodness, yes! Most definitely you want to spread out the daily intake of food into several smaller meals and snacks. Even human diabetics will tell you the same thing.
Twice a day is not the way to contribute to nice level BG numbers.
Many people use auto feeders for the times when they are away.

Petsafe 5-meal Auto Feeder

 

[BJM]

It may also work to freeze half of a meal and put both halves out at the same time. When the 2nd half of the meal thaws enough, it can be eaten.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Comparison of frequent, small feeding for diabetic cats to diabetic to humans is not really valid since human inject a fast acting insulin before each meal.

I feed my cat about 4-5ounces canned food in the morning before work at the AM shot time, and 3 ounces when I get home from work at the PM shot time, and another 1-2 ounces 3-4 hours later before bed. On the weekends, I split the morning feeding into two feedings about 4 hours apart. She doesn't usually eat the whole amount at once at any of these times, but goes back and snacks an hour later or so. Some of the food goes to waste depending on how hungry she is, but my best estimate is she eats 8-9 ounces a day. She seems okay with this schedule, although she is pretty hungry during the week when I get home. Do people use automatic feeders because this really does help regulation or because it's a preference for their cats appetite?

Oh goodness, yes! Most definitely you want to spread out the daily intake of food into several smaller meals and snacks. Even human diabetics will tell you the same thing.
Twice a day is not the way to contribute to nice level BG numbers.
Many people use auto feeders for the times when they are away.

Petsafe 5-meal Auto Feeder

 

[Blue]

Putting aside humans then if the comparison does not fit, cats still do better on small frequent meals.
I don't think human diabetics eat twice a day; they also eat small amounts and test their BG often.

There are also cats who receive additional fast acting insulin in addition to their regular insulin shots, so you could say the comparison is OK.