What will you learn from the article?
- How to store wet food for cats Rules for storing wet food in bags (pouches)
- Rules for storing wet food in other types of packaging
- Shelf life of wet cat food
- How long can opened canned food be stored in the refrigerator?
- Can wet food be frozen?
- How to keep dry food fresh
Storing cat food correctly means taking care of the health, well-being and longevity of your pet. Only in feeds that are stored correctly, the taste, aroma and all useful microelements and vitamins are preserved for a long time.
In our article we will tell you how to store cat food correctly, for how long and where. We'll tell you how to keep dry and wet cat food fresh longer.
Factors that affect the shelf life of dry cat food after opening
Preservation of dry food occurs due to antioxidants and vitamin E extract. It helps fat not to oxidize in sealed packaging. As soon as the bag of food is opened, the pellets are immediately exposed to environmental conditions. There are factors that influence the rapid spoilage of feed that should be avoided:
- Fever. Dry cat granules should not be stored near heating appliances. The optimal temperature is 20 degrees.
- Air availability. The food bag must be kept tightly closed. Even if it has a zip fastener, you should first squeeze out the air and only then close the package well.
- Sun. It is necessary to keep food for cats in a place where light and sunlight do not reach.
- Avoiding humidity. When exposed to moisture, the granules can stick together, and then mold can form, which is harmful to your beloved pet.
- Insects. Pests are very attracted to the smell of food, so the packaging should be stored in a place inaccessible to insects and rodents.
The factors for liquid food are the same as for dry food. The package of wet food is designed for one feeding only. If the pet has not eaten all the contents of the bag, the remaining food must be transferred to a glass container with a tight lid. Store a sealed container of wet food in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours. After this period, uneaten food must be thrown away.
How to understand that a product is spoiled
It is difficult to understand by appearance whether dry food has spoiled or not. Things are much simpler with wet products. You can visually see when the food is not suitable for eating:
- Dried on top.
- Covered with film or mold.
Usually, pets themselves determine by the smell that the food is ready for consumption. If the animal refuses to eat the offered treat, there is a high probability that it has spoiled.
The best option for dry food storage
Dry food should not be purchased by weight; it is better to take it in sealed vacuum packaging. After opening, it is recommended to immediately pour the granules into containers and place them in a dark, dry place with a temperature no higher than 20 °C.
The main condition for proper and long-term storage of dry food is dryness and tightness. In pet stores you can purchase special metal or plastic containers with convenient lids and shovels for pouring.
Note! If food is exposed to the sun, it is at risk of losing all its beneficial properties, taste and spoilage. It is recommended to store granules in special containers away from heating devices and moisture.
Do not mix leftover dry food with new food in the same container. Before adding a new batch to the container, it is recommended to wash the dishes well with hot water and soap, rinse and dry. Can dry cat food be stored in the refrigerator? This type of food for cats must be kept in its original packaging or in a special airtight container. Optimal conditions: temperature 22-25 °C, humidity no more than 70%. Sudden temperature changes should be avoided; food should not be stored near heating appliances or in the refrigerator.
Storage Features
Let's look at how to properly store food if the package is not opened even after it has been opened.
If the package is not opened
If the food packaging has not been opened, then there is no need to come up with anything special. Place it in a dry, dark and cool place. For example, in a cupboard, and thus the food will remain until the expiration date indicated on the label.
When purchasing food, pay attention to the packaging. It should be slightly swollen, which means that the pack contains nitrogen inside. It is added to prevent oxidation of fats and other substances contained in the product. Nitriding acts as a conservation agent. If the packaging is completely deflated and its bag of food can be rolled up freely, it means that it is not airtight and somewhere there is a small hole through which nitrogen has escaped and air has entered. This means that the food began to oxidize and deteriorate. He won't last a whole year.
It is for this reason that I do not recommend buying food in bulk - it is not known when they were opened and how long they have been lying around.
If the package is opened
After opening the package, the main task is to limit the access of oxygen to the product as much as possible. Therefore, part of the food from a large pack should be poured into a container, and the rest should be left in the original packaging, carefully releasing the air from the bag and rolling it up. I don’t recommend simply closing the food with a zip fastener, as there will be a lot of air left in the empty space of the bag. It is better to twist the bag and secure the food on top with clothespins, plastic food clips or office clips. This way we can slow down the process of product spoilage.
We fold the bag and secure it with a clip, minimizing the entry of air inside.
For better insulation, can be wrapped in a plastic bag
If you buy food in small bags - 250-400 grams, you don’t have to pour it anywhere, as your pet will eat it very quickly. But since it is expensive, and the cat eats much more per month, most people prefer larger packs.
Always store food closed - open food not only deteriorates, fats in it oxidize and it begins to smell unpleasant, and moisture evaporates from it, which is present, although in small quantities. If the food is left open during the day, it will become tough, as the 5-10% moisture it contains will evaporate. Your cat may refuse it altogether. But even if he doesn’t refuse, there will be little benefit from such a product.
Variety of preservatives
Preservatives, which include antioxidants and antioxidants, help protect feed from oxidation. When oxidized, the granules acquire a bitter taste, deteriorate and lose their nutritional value.
There are also special preservatives, without which various harmful microorganisms (molds and various pathogenic microflora) can develop in the feed.
Tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid, rosemary, or various combinations thereof are often used as natural preservatives. These substances are more expensive, but much healthier and completely safe. It is important that the manufacturer clearly states the names of the preservatives added so that you can tell whether they are natural or artificial. Based on this, you can make the right choice for the health of your pet.
Problem of choice
At the time of purchase, you should always pay attention to the condition of the packaging. It should be slightly swollen, which indicates its complete tightness. Inside the bag there is nitrogen, which the manufacturer uses as a preservative. When the packaging easily rolls up, this indicates a violation of its seal. There is no longer any nitrogen inside, and the process of oxidation of the product has begun as a result of exposure to oxygen. In such a pack, the storage of food for dogs and cats will be very short, so it is not worth buying it.
Buying loose feed is undesirable for the same reason. Nobody knows the degree of its freshness. This means that the quality of the product will be very questionable.
The manufacturer indicates how long dry food can be stored on the packaging. Usually it is 1 – 2 years in closed form. For a product containing vitamin E – 6 months. Once the package is opened, this time is significantly reduced.
Shelf life of liquid food
How to store cat food in bags? It must be kept in the refrigerator, and only for a certain amount of time, which is indicated in the instructions.
Important! You should not give your cat food in an open can - it can get hurt on the sharp edges.
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You can store liquid food for a pet for a couple of days, in hot weather - even less, then it spoils and can harm the health of the pet.
Cans that are well sealed can be stored for quite a long time - several years. Trays and spiders - less. In any case, you must follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
If the packaging is damaged, it is recommended to feed the food to your pet as soon as possible: its shelf life may be shortened. If the sight and smell makes you doubt the quality, it is better not to use it.
Any food (liquid or dry) cannot be kept in a bowl all day: it dries out, loses its attractiveness and beneficial properties. If the cat has not eaten all the wet food at once, then after 1 hour it is better to throw away all the uneaten food and reduce the portion next time.
How long to store
According to my observations, the maximum adequate storage time for food after opening the package and subject to the above storage recommendations is 2 months. During this time, it does not dry out, does not go rancid, and the cat eats it with pleasure.
Based on this, calculate the size of the pack of food. For example, if you have one pet, then do not buy a package weighing more than 3 kg.
If there are more cats, then you can buy both 5 and 10 kg - options for breeders or for those who have 2,3 or more cats.
Health to your cats.
Variety of dry food manufacturers
Easy-to-follow rules will help you delight your beloved pet with fresh and high-quality food every day. Popular types of cat food:
- Royal Canin, manufacturer France - the composition is dominated by meat ingredients with the addition of vitamins and minerals. The products are widely available and low in price. The manufacturing company provides food for cats according to breed.
- Pro Plan, manufactured by Purina. The assortment includes canned food, dry food, dietary and medical nutrition.
- Monge (Monge) - produced in Italy, there are many flavors and types of food for cats. Their main ingredient is meat. Natural preservatives are used.
- Eukanuba, Russia - offers a full line of food, also for medicinal purposes. The main component is animal protein. Each type has a complex of vitamins and minerals.
- Happy Cat, Germany - the main ingredient is poultry. Also included are meat products, dried eggs, rice and corn flour, apple and beet pulp.
- Bozita is a Swedish company that produces dry and wet food. A separate group of food for pets with health problems (for example, for sedentary cats, to improve the condition of the coat), for animals of large breeds and for different ages.
- Schesir is another Italian manufacturer, its main products are dry and wet food. A large assortment for adult, sterilized cats, small kittens. There are a variety of flavors: chicken, ham, tuna, beef. The food is supplemented with vegetables.
The best among premium foods: Gourmet, Sheba, Brit, Perfect fit. They do not indicate the percentage of protein and vegetable parts.
How to store raw food
If your cat is on a natural diet and eats mainly meat and meat products:
- Store raw food in portioned bags in the freezer.
- To store meat portions, use plastic sandwich bags with a zipper.
- Raw meat products will keep in the freezer for up to 4-6 weeks.
- To defrost a portion of food, place it in the refrigerator overnight. It is not recommended to defrost at room temperature.
- Before serving, pre-thawed raw food is heated in the microwave.
These simple and easy-to-follow rules will help your cat enjoy fresh, high-quality food every day. I would like to remind you that these tips apply regardless of the manufacturer, be it Whiskas, Hills, Royal Canin, Purina, and so on. And the pet, in turn, will answer you with gratitude and a long happy life next to you. By the way, read how many years cats live.
Useful tips
If pellets or uneaten wet meat pieces are transferred to glass containers, the food name portion of the container should always be retained. The date of opening must be indicated on it in order to know exactly the expiration date of the product.
If, as a result of feeding an animal, problems arise, it will always be clear which manufacturer’s food caused this. Then in the future it will be possible to avoid repeating mistakes.
Considering how long open dry food can be stored, it is purchased in packages of the appropriate size so that the animal does not have to eat an expired product. You should not buy loose feed at all: it may be past its expiration date.
Before storing pet food in a container, it is better not to remove it from the manufacturer's package.
Where to store - container and place
As I have already described, it is better to pour part of the food, 500-800 grams, into a container and give it to your pet every day. The rest should be sent for storage in original packaging.
You can choose different containers for storage - glass, porcelain, plastic, tin. The main condition is that each container must have a tightly closing ground or screw-on lid.
Do not use containers that are too large - the larger the volume, the more air will enter the feed each time. The smaller the volume, the faster the pet will eat it, the fresher the food will be. It simply won't have time to deteriorate.
Let's look at the pros and cons of different container options.
Plastic container . The main advantages are that it is light, comfortable and cheap. You won’t break it, it’s convenient to take it with you if, for example, you go with your cat to the country for a few days in the summer. For a long time I used plastic containers, but over time I replaced them. The fact is that a plastic jar quickly gets dirty and is also saturated with the smell of food, which is difficult to clean. I also noticed that food is stored worse in plastic than, for example, in glass. This was detected both by the smell of the food and by the cat’s reaction. Yes, yes, my cat categorically refuses to eat rancid, oxidized food. You can easily check the quality of the product on it.
If you do choose plastic, it must be food grade. Do not store food in containers intended for storing household items and other inedible items. To make sure that the plastic in front of you is food grade, look at the bottom of the container - there should be a spoon and fork icon there - either on the plastic itself or on the label. Non-food grade plastic can leach toxic compounds into food.
Glass jar is the most preferred option
Tin container . Tin containers, in particular aluminum, have the following disadvantage - aluminum reacts with food and can change the taste of the product (the same applies to dishes for people). If you choose a tin container with oxidation protection (all modern metal utensils for people have this protective layer and are therefore safe), then this problem will disappear by itself.
Glass or porcelain containers. Both options are considered the most preferable. Now I use glass containers with a plastic lid. Such containers can be bought in any dishware department - these are jars for storing cereals. In glass and porcelain, food is stored longer, it does not lose its smell, the smell does not eat into the walls of the dish, and the animal is full and satisfied.
Store the containerized food in a dark and dry place, away from sunlight, to avoid overdrying and mold formation (in case of high humidity).
