Free feeding is generally a good idea for a kitten. After about a year, if you notice weight problems, switch to ration. Fixed animals do tend to become heavier than their "natural" counterparts, so that is something to keep in mind. Make sure you have PLENTY of clean water available, that is the biggest mistake I've seen cat owners make. Cat's drink a lot more water than most people would think. (Hence the urinary problems on dry food mentioned earlier.) And I say generally, because each critter is different! What I've done with dogs and cats both when they eat out of boredom or competition is to put their max amount for the day (or half-day) in their bowl, and when it's gone, it's gone. Due to jobs and such, I can't feed them more than twice a day. As long as they are healthy and happy, you do what works best for you!