How long does open wet cat food keep?

Open wet food for cats, which is then stored in the refrigerator, can be kept for up to three days.

It is important, especially on warm summer days, not to leave the wet food in the bowl for too long.
Here it can quickly come to a maggot infestation or contamination of the wet food. Therefore, you should quickly store the leftover food in a sealable can in the refrigerator.

Cats notice very quickly whether their food is still edible and otherwise leave it untouched in the bowl. This is an important warning signal for you and you should dispose of the old food and put new food in the bowl.

How long does sealed wet cat food keep?

Wet cat food has a longer shelf life than dry food. Due to the sterilization process, all ingredients of the wet food are sealed in the can during processing and then heated. In the process, all germs are destroyed and thus has a long shelf life when it is sealed. An exact guide value of the shelf life is written on the packaging of the wet food.

How can open wet food still be preserved?

Open or leftover wet cat food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. However, in order to keep the leftover food fresh and durable, you should transfer it to an airtight container or can and put it in the refrigerator. Also, it would be enough to cover the open can of food with the help of cling film and then put it in a cool place.

Most importantly, when feeding again with the open can, the leftover food should not be put directly from the refrigerator into the food bowl. The remaining wet cat food should be stored at room temperature for a few hours after refrigeration and only then offered to the cat to eat.

How can I tell if the wet food is still good for my cat?

You can recognize bad and no longer edible wet food for cats by the fact that it has changed its color significantly. If the food has become grayish or very dark, it is an indication that you should no longer give it to your cat to eat.

You can also recognize wet food that is no longer suitable by the firmness of the food. Mushy food or food covered with a layer, you should no longer offer your cat.

Likewise, a strong rotten smell is a clear signal that the wet food is no longer edible for your cat and should be thrown away.

Cats have a good sense of smell and can tell very quickly if their food is still good. Cats express this very clearly when she no longer likes the food.

In addition, you can recognize bad wet food, which you should no longer give your cat to eat, if something moves in your cat’s food and it looks like worms or fly larvae.

What problems can occur if your cat eats bad wet food?

That cats eat bad or no longer edible food is not very common. Cats have a good sense of smell and notice immediately when their food is no longer good. However, there are cats that will still gobble down even spoiled wet food. Symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite or even great thirst can indicate a spoiled food.

What should a good wet food for cats contain?

Each cat has its own needs and accordingly you should adjust the cat food.

Wet food has a high water content, which is very good for the water balance of a cat. Especially the animal proteins taste very good to your cat.

Wet food for cats should consist mainly of water (about 60-80%). In addition, fats and proteins (both together about 30-40%) are important components in wet food for cats. Animal proteins are very important in the nutritional intake of cats, as they are highly specialized carnivores. Likewise, the following contents belong in the wet food of a cat:

Vitamins A and B
Niacin
Arachidonic acid
Taurine

Cats can not produce these nutrients on their own and must therefore be taken in through the food.

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Summary – How long does open wet food for cats keep?

Open wet food for cats keeps refrigerated in the refrigerator up to three days.

It is important that the leftover food is not left in the food bowl for too long. Especially in the summer on hot days, otherwise fly larvae or other pathogens can get onto the food. Therefore, it makes sense to pack leftover food in airtight and odor-proof cans and then store them in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Wet food, unlike dry food, is very good to stockpile. Due to the heating during production, wet food is very well protected against germs and can be stored for a longer period of time. However, you should always pay attention to the expiration date on the packaging.

Open cans of wet food can be covered with the help of a fresh-keeping tin and stored in the refrigerator until the next feeding.

It is important that the refrigerated leftover food is not immediately put into the bowl for feeding. The wet food should first be stored at room temperature for a few hours and only then go into the bowl for feeding.

You can clearly recognize bad or inedible wet cat food by the fact that your cats will no longer touch it. Cats have a sensitive sense of smell and will smell the bad food immediately. In addition, the wet food should not be grayish and dark in color.

However, if your cat has eaten bad or inedible wet food, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, constant thirst or loss of appetite may indicate this. You should always seek veterinary advice on this.

A good wet food should contain fats and proteins in addition to the main ingredient of water. Animal proteins are very important for the carnivore.

Likewise, the contents such as vitamins, niacin, arachidonic acid and taurine belong to a good wet food for cats. These nutrients must be absorbed through food, because cats can not form them themselves in the body.