I should say my cat doesn't really overeat, I don't think. He won't eat everything just because it is out, but did gain a little weight. I think partially from me being home all the time in the pandemic; he seems to eat more when I'm around. In the past he wouldn't eat everything in his bowl, and maybe still wouldn't but I haven't done full free feeding.

But even without worrying about eating too much, my cat definitely craves novelty and plays a lot. So I think the vet was recommending it for both reasons. He was getting too attached to going outside a lot, which I also had to curb (perhaps related).