Emma Jones
It is in the cat’s nature to eat its food in several small portions throughout the day. So far so good. But: What do you do as your pet’s can opener in the meantime with the opened food box or the opened can? There are a number of tricks and tools to ensure that the cat food stays fresh until the next feeding and is safe from both vermin and the thieving tendencies of pets.
What do I have to consider when storing cat food?
When storing cat food, just like when handling food for human consumption, it is important to preserve freshness and quality but to exclude external impairments. Pests, mold, and even the cat itself have no place in the food supplies. Storage systems made of plastic have proven particularly effective: the material is hygienic and tasteless.
How can I store dry cat food?
When shopping in bulk, you can often find bargains. But a cat can get by for several weeks with a box of dry food the usual household size. This means that once the package of feed has been opened, the contents must be stored properly and safely so that the nature and quality of the product remain unchanged.
How can I keep wet cat food fresh?
Once wet cat food has been opened, it definitely belongs in the fridge. There it is safe from flies, stays fresh, and protected from drying out so that the cat can still enjoy the second meal from the can. Fill leftovers from portion bowls or BARF food into smaller food storage containers and store them in the fridge until they are finally used. When doing so, avoid mixing leftovers of several different types in the same container: your cat may not like it. You can also fill fresh food leftovers from the can into a food storage container. Alternatively, you can get matching silicone lids to put on canned goods. This is less cumbersome and saves you unnecessary rinsing.
Very important: Once the wet food has been opened, you must feed it within two days. Despite storage in the refrigerator, cat food loses quality over time and can spoil, albeit with a time delay.
By the way: Never feed wet food directly from the fridge. Take it out about an hour beforehand so it can reach room temperature and develop its aroma. Food that is too cold can give your cat a stomach ache.
What can I do if I have to feed “in reserve”?
A special case of feed storage is the provision of rations that need to be stored fresh and safe until feeding. Today there is a solution for this in the form of automatic feeders. These well-thought-out food storage systems are a practical solution for working professionals to ensure that the cat is cared for even when they are away for a short time.
Automatic feeders release the respective feed ration via a timer or a sensor. Until then, the feed remains in a sealed and secure storage compartment. Depending on the model, the machines are only suitable for dry or dry and wet food. Those with a wet food function have a vacuum or cooling function to keep the food fresh. As with anything new, the cat first has to get used to this type of feeding: test the device in their presence.
Please consider: Such an automatic feeder is only intended as a short-term solution. In the event of a long absence, a reliable representative should take care of the animal or, if there is no other option, accommodation in the paw-paw hotel should be organized.