Strategies for dealing with an obese cat?

[NNadir]

7. Thanks. We feed twice a day, and never free feed. We do keep a separate stash for the youngster in my downstairs...

...office. He knows exactly how to ask for it when he wants it, a kind of dance, sometimes with a leap to the desk, that we both understand. He's always looking over his shoulder to see if his Mom's around.

For him, I guess, it borders on "free feeding." However he's not obese, is very active, and is still growing. My wife and I are having a debate over whether he's still a kitten (her position) or a cat, my position. (He's 7 months old.)

We'll be more controlled if we see him taking after his mother.