Updated on November 2, 2022
When it comes to filling up on new cat food, these are the fundamental questions that owners want answered.
When stocking up on a new brand of cat food, these are the fundamentals that pet parents want to know. A common hesitation amongst first-time cat owners is the purchase of bulk quantities of dry or wet cat food in the fear that it will go bad before the first meal is served.
For those of you who share my concerns about the quality of your cat food at home, today is your fortunate day. In this article, we’ll discuss the shelf life of cat food and how to keep it fresh at home.
How quickly do dry and canned cat foods spoil?
A cat’s kibble or dry food can spoil, just like canned food can. As a rule of thumb, cat food has a six-month shelf life from the date of manufacture. Manufacturers typically absolve themselves of responsibility after this time frame if you choose to keep feeding the cat food to your cat(s).
If you store cat food for an extended period of time without opening the box, the preservatives and other substances in the food will break down the food until it is no longer edible. Dry kibble will crumble to dust over time.
Online resources often suggest stockpiling kibble and then freezing any excess. It’s not a good idea to freeze leftover kibble unless you can vacuum-pack it very firmly to remove all air and minimise the risk of ice crystals ruining the meal.
Freeze-drying cat food: yes or no?
In spite of the fact that it may make sense at first glance, experts do not advise feeding your cat dry kibble. There’s a good reason why you won’t find foods like these in freezers but you will find them stored in airtight bags. Frozen food has crystals, which is kibble’s worst adversary because moisture is the meal’s primary opponent.
If you defrost perishables, keep in mind that the increased moisture will hasten spoilage. So, if you’ve got a lot of excess kibble lying around the house, resist the urge to pack it all up and stick it in the freezer.
Don’t bother opening the bags or boxes your pet food came in; leave them as is. Store your canned goods and dried goods according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
When Will Cat Food Go Bad?
Tips for detecting tainted dry cat food. Several warnings indicate that the dry cat food has gone rancid. The first thing to look for is wetness or other indicators of deterioration in dry goods. As kibble absorbs moisture and the moisture stimulates the growth of bacteria or moulds, the kibble’s typical yellow, light brown, or dark brown colour will change over time.
When making kibble, a great deal of heat is used, more than enough to destroy any bacteria or lingering spores that might spoil the food while it is stored. But once it is opened, it is vulnerable to mould and the bacteria that lives on hands. Let’s not forget that the main ingredients in kibble are plant- and animal-based proteins (different kinds).
After determining that the cat food appears to be safe for consumption, the following step is to take a whiff of it. Successful cat food would have a clean, pleasant aroma with only a hint of the natural flavours of the components. But let’s say you catch a whiff of something foul. If that’s the case, the cat food may be rotting, and you should definitely toss the whole batch because it could be harmful to your cat if you keep feeding it.
When opened, how long does cat food last?
After four hours, canned goods lose their quality and should be thrown away, although leftovers can be stored in the fridge for a few more days. Don’t feed your cats anything that’s older than a week, not even if it’s been refrigerated. There is no expiration date on food that has been canned and frozen. To prevent your cat’s tongue from being burned, you should thaw or warm the food before cooling it. The optimal storage temperature for cat food is between 50 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ideal temperature for a refrigerator is 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius). Cans of cat food are really just cooked human food, so the same rules for keeping them cold apply. The main difference is that canned food for humans requires a little preparation so that it tastes better on the plate, but cat food is ready to eat right out of the can.
You should change out your cat’s food once a day and throw away any uneaten portions. Day-old food, whether dry or not, is terrible news because it has likely already harboured bacteria that cause disease. This is especially important to remember if you keep food bowls outside your home or have multiple pets.
For the sake of your cat’s (and dog’s) health, you shouldn’t mix stale and fresh food together. In addition, you should clean the basin. Bowls made of metals like stainless steel and aluminium don’t retain bacteria as well. Scratches in plastic bowls can provide an entryway for food debris and bacteria to grow.
Tips for Keeping Dry Cat Food Fresh
Dry cat food thrives in dry conditions. Spoilage rates tend to increase in humid conditions. This is why high temperatures and high humidity can hasten the spoilage of dry cat food in tropical regions and humid states. If you live in a dry, hot climate, the kibble will benefit from the heat because it will not become soggy.
If you need to transport unopened cat chow, make sure to keep the bag as airtight as possible.
