I keep a bowl of dry food (Science Diet) all day for Jasper, science diet. I also give him a small portion of canned food (Cesar) once a day, usually mid-afternoon. He's up to about half a can of the can food. I've noticed, though, even tho the food is down all day, he's pretty much started making a schedule for himself (I think he knows when he gets the can food), so he's becoming pretty predictable even with the free food there for him.