free-feeding
Always-accessible food bowl
Free-feeding is leaving food available for an animal to eat whenever it chooses, rather than providing measured portions at set times.
Pet owners debate whether free-feeding causes obesity or suits animals that self-regulate: We tried free-feeding the cat, but she gained too much weight.
The term also appears in laboratory animal research.
Without restriction or limit
- kibbleGround pet food pellets
- grazingFeeding on pasture
- dispenserDevice that releases portions
- bowlConcave food container
trough · hayrack · self-service · foraging · nibbling · pet care · water dish · portion control
Without restriction or limit
- control groupUntreated subjects for comparison
- baselineStandard for comparison
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
- rodentGnawing mammal order
mouse · rat · study · protocol · consumption · intake · measurement · experiment
ad libitum
Without restriction or limit
bowl · trough · hayrack · self-service · foraging · nibbling · pet care · water dish · portion control · overfeeding
ad libitum
Without restriction or limit
- control groupUntreated subjects for comparison
- baselineStandard for comparison
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
rodent · mouse · rat · study · protocol · consumption · intake · measurement · experiment · caloric intake