Fresh food is just as important for cats as it is for humans. By necessity, we’ve learned how to store our food, especially when we buy in bulk. It only makes sense to take similar measures when managing Fluffy’s food supply. And how you handle and store cat food affects not only its freshness but also its nutritional value. Here are a few don’ts to keep in mind to keep kitty healthy and well-fed.
Don’t Store Dry Cat Food on the Shelf
While dry cat food may seem non-perishable, it will get stale if left on the shelf for weeks on end. Instead, you can keep Fluffy’s morsels fresh for a long time if you store them in the freezer. In fact, dry cat food will stay fresh for up to 26 weeks, which bodes well for those of you who like to buy in bulk. Just be sure to wrap it completely so moisture doesn’t get inside, and always make sure to thaw it down to room temperature before feeding it to your cat.
Don’t Get Rid of the Original Packaging
As tempting and convenient as it is to transfer dry cat food into an airtight, resealable container, that’s not actually the best way to keep your kitty’s food fresh. Interestingly enough, the bags that high-quality cat food comes in are designed to keep and maintain freshness for as long as possible. So if you do opt to use resealable containers, be sure to keep the food in the bag and place the bag in the container.
Something else too -the original packaging has the food’s expiration date, barcode, and batch code on it, which are all important to have in the event of a cat food recall.
Don’t Store Cat Food in High Temperature or High Humidity Environments
Any kind of food -cat food included- should never be left to sit in hot temperatures or high humidity environments. Heat and humidity are breeding grounds for bacteria, so always store Fluffy’s food in a cool, dry place.
Don’t Expose Kitty’s Food to Air
Leaving your kitty’s food exposed to air will speed up the rate at which it spoils. When exposed to oxygen and light, food materials start to break down. Any vitamin or mineral value will diminish and any fat or oil-based ingredients will become rancid. These conditions leave the door wide open for bacteria to grow.
If you have any more questions about how to keep kitty’s food fresh, don’t hesitate to call us!
Contact us, your local animal clinic in Live Oak, FL!
