How long does cat food last in the fridge?
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It is essential to give our cats healthy food and choosing the right cat food is crucial since they are picky eaters. You may want to buy a bunch of cat food at once and store it in the fridge. But the first thought that will cross your mind while doing so is how long does cat food last in the fridge? Well, you don’t have to think or worry about it anymore. Here, we will talk in detail about how long does cat food lasts in the fridge and provide some tips to make them last longer.
How long can cat food stay fresh?
Dry Cat Food
Dry cat foods have a shelf life of 18 to 24 months if you don’t open them after purchase. However, if you purchase fish-based dry cat food, its shelf life reduces to 12 to 14 months.
The shelf life of opened dry cat food is comparatively much shorter. Your cat must consume it within the span of 30 to 45 days. However, there are some exceptions. Certain dry cat foods turn rancid much more quickly due to the presence of some unhealthy toxins and chemicals. Therefore, it’s best to finish an open dry cat food bag as soon as possible.
Wet Cat Food
If you don’t open the wet cat food cans, then it will last between a span of four months to 3 years. The reason for lasting so long is the presence of artificial preservatives within the cat food. But even if they store the food for long, consuming them with your cats is not ideal for them.
A can of opened wet cat food, on the other hand, can last for a maximum of 5 to 7 days if you store them properly. However, if you cannot store them in the refrigerator with airtight sealing, they will have a shorter shelf life. If the climate is moist, the food will attract pests and get bacterial contamination.
Which cat food lasts longer?
If you compare dry and wet cat foods, then the chances are that dry cat food will have a longer shelf life. Since wet cat foods have a higher moisture rate, they tend to spoil faster. So, even the presence of various preservatives fails to help them survive longer.
How long does unopened cat food last in the fridge?
Avoid storing your cat food in the refrigerator if it is unopened. The cold temperature will affect the texture or taste of the food. As a result, there are high chances your cat will not consume it.
Therefore, for storing unopened cat food, keep it in a place where the temperature ranges from 50°F to 100°F (10°C to 37.78°C). Just as you must not store it in the refrigerator, avoid keeping it at a hot temperature since that will result in immense moisture loss, resulting in a nutritional imbalance in your cat.
How to store dry cat food
While wondering about how long does cat food lasts in the fridge, many people often think specifically about the storage of dry cat food. Since dry cat food is different from wet cat food, the way of storing it also differs.
- To keep your dry cat food fresh, keep it in a place that is dry, dark, and cool. Don’t store it somewhere hot since the destruction of the nutrition and vitamins may occur, and bacteria may also start growing.
- Try to store the food in the original bag and seal it. However, if that is not an option, then store it either in a plastic container, glass jars, or plastic bags. You can use anything but just check the sealing properly.
Is cold cat food harmful to cats?
As you already know, cats are picky eaters. So, serving them cold cat food straight from the refrigerator might not be a very great idea since they will not consume it. They prefer the food at room temperature or at a temperature that matches or is close to their body temperature. However, the food is not harmful to them.
But to prevent any issues, serve the food with a bowl of warm milk. You can also heat it in a microwave, but only for a few seconds. This is because the electromagnetic waves are not suitable for your cat.
You have to be very careful regarding the storage of your cat food. However, now you won’t have to wonder how long does cat food lasts in the fridge. Keep in mind the instructions, and you will store your cat food properly.
Tips To Use Cat Food
If you’re feeding wet cat food to your cat, then make sure to store the leftover food in an airtight container. Store it inside the refrigerator at a temperature of 40°F or 4°C. The food will last around 5-7 days. Therefore, if you don’t use it within this duration, it’s better to throw it out.
Please don’t feed them food that has been left outside for more than 4 hours since it may have bacterial contamination. Also, before freezing the cat food, check if there are any warnings at the back. In certain cases, warnings against storing or freezing cat food are provided. In such conditions, do not freeze them.
If you don’t have airtight containers, you can also use sealed bags. Or place the wet food on a plate from the can, and wrap it tightly with a plastic covering.
Some wet cat foods come in a refrigerated form. They are different than regular can cat foods, and you will need to refrigerate them as soon as you bring them home. This cat food will last till the expiration date if nobody opens it. But if you open it, you can store it for five days.
