Emma Jones
In the early days of cat food it was easy: open the can, put food in the bowl, and the cat was taken care of. Then, in the early 1990s, a sophisticated Carthusian cat trotted across the television screens and was spoiled by its mistress with food in the form of pies – including bunches of parsley. In the meantime, another form of packaging has conquered the store shelves: portioned fresh bags, so-called pouches.
What are the benefits of canned cat food?
Food is safe from germs and dirt in the stable, airtight cans. The shelf life can be further increased by vacuuming. It is not uncommon for the food contained in a tin to be preserved for several years after-sale; ideal for long-term storage.
The disadvantage of food cans: their production from sheet metal or aluminum is not particularly sustainable from an environmental point of view. However, this can be recovered to a certain extent through the recycling cycle. Common sizes for canned cat food are 200 and 400 grams. Canned cat food is particularly practical if you have several cats to take care of and can completely empty the contents of the can at one feeding. If there are leftovers in the can, they must be stored temporarily in the refrigerator and used up quickly. Never leave a tin open. Transfer leftovers to a suitable airtight container or – even more practical – seal them with a special lid for tin cans, which you can get at the pet shop. Take one with you the next time you go shopping!
What is practical about portioned bowls with cat food?
Portion bowls made of aluminum usually contain 100 grams, a smaller amount of pre-packaged vacuum-preserved cat food, which roughly corresponds to one portion of food. The total number of bowls your cat needs per day ultimately depends on its age, breed, and other feed. As a rule, however, a portion bowl is used up within one or two daily feedings, so that there is no longer-term problem with keeping the food fresh. Leftovers that have been opened can be stored in the refrigerator for just a few hours. Portion bowls are the classic packaging for wet food with a pie consistency. The environmental balance of portion bowls is better due to the smaller amount of material, but the bowls are a bit more sensitive because the foil lid can be damaged by sharp objects. The shelf life doesn’t quite keep up with a canned product either.
How can I use pouches or sachets?
Portion bags made of plastic or film generate the least amount of packaging waste and are often available in packs of several 100-gram portions of different types. The portioning corresponds to the procedure for small portion bowls, with mostly jelly or ragout types being traded in pouches. Fill leftovers that have not been completely fed into a food storage container or use a bag seal. Portion bags can be stored in a particularly space-saving manner. You only have to watch out for damage caused by sharp-edged objects.