When they are ready to hibernate they will, regardless of food availability.
They often wake up and go looking for a snack though, especially if the weather is mild (though they are sometimes out in the snow).
Once they have stopped visiting the feeding stations regularly, I stop leaving out wet cat food, but leave a dish of dried food.
This can be left for a couple of weeks without deteriorating or freezing.
It’s also important that wildlife has safe access to unfrozen drinking water throughout the winter.
