Store dry pet food and unopened canned food in a cool and dry place. The temperature should be less than 80 F. Excess heat or moisture may cause the nutrients to break down. If your pet is overly persistent or clever at getting into her pet food, store it in a secure location.
Try to avoid using a plastic container to store kibble. However, if you already purchased the container, keep the food in its original bag and place that bag into the plastic container. This will help keep oxygen away from degrading the kibble, and saves you the giant disaster that could occur.
Storing Dry Cat Food
Exposure to air, light, hot temperatures, and humidity speeds up the rate at which foods degrade. To limit these effects, keep dry foods in their original packaging. High-quality cat food bags have been designed to keep out the elements.
The best way to store opened cans of cat or dog food is to use a plastic pet food lid that fits the top of the can to prevent moisture loss and transfer of odors. If a plastic lid is not available, plastic wrap also provides a very good moisture, air and odor barrier.
Dry cat food generally lasts for around six months or up to a year from its manufacture date if unopened, but once the seal is broken it should be used within 14 to 21 days.
"If a cat can maintain his weight, free choice feeding is okay," says Dr. Kallfelz. Even dry food left out for your cat to free feed needs to be fresh, so be sure to provide new food each day.
If you open a can of wet cat food and you only use half, keep the other half in the fridge and cover it securely. Specially designed can lids will keep them well sealed, but cling film works well too.
When the fats and oils of kibble make contact with the walls of a pet food container, they begin to oxidize. In other words, over time, the residual fats and oils that have settled along the inside of the storage container start to grow rancid and develop invisible molds that can wreak havoc on your pet's health.
Materials. Plastic containers are a popular choice for dog food storage containers that are both affordable and durable. However, it's essential to check that the plastic food storage container doesn't include BPA or any other plastic contaminants because it can be dangerous to dogs.
Glass jars are another great storage option for your cat's dry food. Glass jars come with screw-on tops or clamped tops to ensure a secure, airtight seal.
In general, dry pet food should be stored in an airtight container that's placed inside a cool and dry place. A tight seal limits the amount of air that the food is exposed to, and helps keep it from getting contaminated by bacteria—so it can last as long as possible.
Storage in clean metal containers is acceptable. If you choose to use a container to store your pet's food always make sure that you keep the food bag. If for some reason the food needs to be returned because the pet will not eat it, the company will need to know the lot number, expiry date, product, size etc.
If you want to keep the food in its original bag, but also enlist the help of other containers, put the entire bag into a container or a zip lock bag. The original packaging is important because it keeps the kibble from oxygen and humidity.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, non-food grade plastic containers may contaminate food. Plastic food containers must follow specific regulations to make sure they are safe for food. Use single-use containers once. Plastics designed for single use should be used only once.
Also, keep dry and canned food out of direct sunlight. The sun alters the food's properties. And forget the garage or laundry room! Moisture and temperature fluctuate in these areas.
Don't store fatty or oily foods in plastic – many chemicals used in plastic are fat soluble and are more likely to leach into fatty food. Cut down on plastic water bottles, which contribute to the widespread ingestion of microplastics. Consider replacing your plastic wrap with a reusable option, like beeswax wrap.
Yes. As mentioned above, vacuuming is worth considering for storing pet kibble if you have a large amount.
Keep the Food Bag Sealed
After you scoop your cat's food from the bag, immediately seal it to prevent unnecessary air and humidity from reaching the kibbles. Both factors help the cat food degrade faster and make bacterial contamination more likely.
Put away uneaten food: Once your cat has finished its meal, put the uneaten food in a sealed container. For dry kibble, you can simply cover the food and place it in a cool, dry place. For wet food, store the food in a sealed container in your fridge for later.
Most cats will enjoy wet food at room temperature. Your cat may not like cold food, so after refrigerating it, you may want to set it out for about 15 minutes to allow it to come up to room temperature before serving. Your cat may also enjoy a combination of textures, so try mixing her wet and dry cat food.
Food temperature
To start, feed wet food at room temperature; cats don't like food if it is too hot or too cold. Once wet food is put down, it can be difficult to stop it drying out throughout the day, especially when the weather is warm.
Why do cats get bored of their food? While Mr Whiskers may like consistency in most areas of life, it is possible for your cat to feel bored of the same food. Part of this has to do with the innate nature of cats as apex predators.
Cats should eat at least two meals each day, about 12 hours apart. But a breakfast, lunch, afternoon, dinner, and right before bed schedule is an equally great option. If more than 12 hours elapses between meals, the stomach can become hyperacidic causing nausea.