If the temperature gets too high, the food can spoil and cause illness in your cat. AskMyCats.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. The necessary vitamins and minerals that your cat needs for healthy growth and development can be missing from poor canned cat food. Canned cat food generally has a shelf life of about two years, although this can vary depending on the specific brand and type of food. During my free time, I love reading a book on my kindle, biking, kayaking, and just enjoying life! You can keep their meals varied and prevent cans from sitting in storage for too long by rotating their canned food. For instance, low-quality canned cat food frequently contains a lot of fillers like grains and artificial preservatives. Heres everything you need to know about keeping your cats food fresh and safe, no matter the temperature. Temperatures over 100 degrees F are harmful to canned foods. Opened cans should be stored in the fridge, at temperatures between 40-45F, for a maximum of 5-7 days. It was a hot and sunny afternoon; you just got home from the groceries. You rushed out of your car while holding everything you bought from the grocery store. A Complete Explanation. Like all canned foods, canned cat food can become rancid and develop mold if you leave it out for too long. Many people believe that canned food is indestructible and impossible to taint, regardless of the conditions. Likewise, during the cold winter, if you always leave your heater on, you should only leave your cat's wet food out for a maximum of twenty minutes. This is why, even if canned cat food does not go wrong, keeping it at room temperature is the best option. If it smells sour or rotten, its probably bad. The food may also have a strange odor or taste and a slimy or moldy appearance. Tightly seal any leftovers in an airtight plastic bag or container and place it in the refrigerator. 1 More posts from the NoStupidQuestions community 34.1k While canned cat food that has been stored in heat can still be consumed, the aftertaste may be unpleasant to the cat. What are some signs that a food has gone bad?. Dry cat food is not as healthy as canned cat food but many cat owners are still sticking to it out of convenience and affordability. Do not give it to your cat if it has beyond its expiration date. -Wearing light, loose fitting clothing, 3. You will probably find that it makes you retch because we are predisposed to dislike the smell of rotting meat as a means of keeping us from eating it and being made ill. To be clear, the absence of a bad smell isnt a sure sign the food is fine to eat, because food-borne bacteria wont necessarily create a scent. Heat does not spoil cat food but can speed up the spoilage process. Because humans are inclined to loathe the scent of decaying flesh as a method of preventing us from eating it and becoming unwell, it will most likely make you hurl. If a can bulges or becomes deformed, it should be thrown away. Canned cat food that is discolored is another sign that it has gone bad. If you have an unopened can of cat food thats been sitting around for more than a year, you may want to consider donating it to a local shelter. Due to the overall influence of the heat, there is a fair limit to how long dry cat food may be stored before it spoils. If you live in a hot climate, you may want to consider switching to a dry food diet for your cat. Canned cat food also contains vitamins and minerals necessary for a cats health and well-being. It worked out being like 9 free 12.5oz cans of which I put 6 in my donation box (just being honest), but I do buy a lot to donate, I currently have about 75 cans of various sizes to bring in as well as about 30lbs of dry food. You might be surprised to learn that canned cat food can be left out for up to four hours, according to the FDA. If your pet shows signs of discomfort or illness after eating the food, its also probably bad. Canned cat food that has gone bad might result in anything from a minor stomach ache to a fatal infection. Yes, canned cat food can spoil in the heat, simply put it. The length of time you can leave canned cat food out depends on room temperature. If it smells bad, though, you know its not safe to give your cat. Freshness is incredibly important when it comes to canned cat food, and any sign of spoilage or damage should be dealt with right away. Its best to store it in a dry and mild temp environment; don't store in garages or inside cars as they can get pretty hot and cause it to start to turn despite the expiration date. This can cause the can to burst, which would allow bacteria to get in and contaminate the food. Do try to store your food in the coolest possible location, however. Canned food is safe to eat after its been frozen and thawed, but the texture and taste may suffer. Yes, canned cat foods can definitely go bad in excessive heat. -Seeds. But how can you tell if canned cat food is bad? Finally, you can heat cat refrigerated cat food simply by leaving it out on the side. Does Dry Cat Food Go Bad Sitting Out. The short answer is: no, canned food should not be left out in the heat. Canned cat food is typically made of a combination of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Your dog will thank you for it! If you dont have a cool, dark place to store canned goods, you can put them in a cooler with ice packs. However, it is important to keep an eye on the food to make sure it does not get too warm. Of course, its possible that the food is good and your cat is just being picky, but in such circumstances, its best to be safe than sorry! This could make your dog sick, or even worse. So, we decided to address it in our blog. Canned cat food can go bad in heat. That is why every type of food - even eggs and vegetables - comes with a shelf life. First, look for bulging cans. So, there you have it! Keeping the cat food bag also has the added benefit of retaining the cat food's barcode, expiration date, and batch code - all of which are important information to have, especially in the event of a cat food recall. Dont take any chances with your cats health! Accidents happen. As a cat lover, I founded Catcoast to spread knowledge about all things feline. They can be readily warmed with running water in the sink for a few minutes. Excess heat can cause the nutrients in the food to break down, making it less nutritious for your cat. Most will have the information on their website. If you have a large stock of canned food and are worried about it freezing, you can always transfer it to a freezer-safe container. It was a hot and sunny afternoon; you just got home from the groceries. If at all possible, storing the food in a refrigerator or another cool environment is also a wise move. So, if youre leaving groceries or leftovers in a warm car, its important to not exceed the two-hour mark. Its usually accepted that you may give your dogs opened dry food three months beyond the best by date, but bear in mind that they wont get all of the nutrients the food would typically contain. Thats because when temperatures rise above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, bacteria starts to multiply exponentially. However, we have all heard stories about canned food lasting for years, and its well known that canned food is heated to very high temperatures while in the can in order to sterilize it. Canned food can explode when exposed to extreme heat, and the contents of the can can be very dangerous. Franny Syufy is a cat expert with over two decades of experience writing about feline anatomy and medical conditions. This can affect the dishs flavor, fragrance, and overall quality. Most manufacturers recommend storing kibble and canned foods in a cool, dry place. Spoiled canned cat . Is it OK to leave canned food in a hot car? Generally speaking, wet foods should be consumed within 2-4 days and dry foods within 7 days after being opened. There are a few things to do while assessing the cans to see if they are safe for your cat. If youre not sure if canned foods have been exposed to high temperatures, its best to err on the side of caution and discard them. You should always check the label before buying a product to see how long it lasts after opening (if at all). You should also look for growth of mold or bugs, or if the food has been exposed to moisture or humidity. Canned Cat Food Can Go Bad if Stored in a Warm Environment. The focus of this piece, on the other hand, is on essential heat that would be perceptible in warmer areas. Use low-acid canned foods like vegetables and soup within 3 . The risk of spoilage jumps sharply as storage temperatures rise. How long are canned goods safe in the heat? Store canned cat food in a cool, dry location away from heat sources and sunlight. Will It Upset Their Stomach? Yes, canned cat food can go bad in heat. If you leave your cans of cat food in the sun or on a warm shelf for any length of time, they will start to degrade more quickly than usual and eventually go bad from the heat exposure alone. Temperatures over 100 F are harmful to canned foods, and the risk of spoilage jumps sharply as storage temperatures rise. Its important to keep the storage areas temperature consistently and within the advised range, which is often between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You must also know how to properly store dry cat food to maintain its nutritional content. Can Cats Eat Doritos? Most people say you should just cover it and pop it in the microwave for a few seconds, but TwoCrazyCatLadies suggests that this could be a bad idea. Canned cat food is not an immortal food item. Itll be charred to a crisp! Does Canned Food Go Bad in the Heat? Before giving your cat canned cat food, its also a good idea to check the expiration date because contaminated food can be harmful to your cats health. So while you dont want to poison your cat, you may wish to test a small amount of the food on the cat. The weather may have changed, making this unfeasible, but take advantage of it if you get the chance. A modification in hue or texture should be one of the first things to look for. Food stored in cans will spoil quickly if exposed to high temperatures, especially over 95 degrees F. It's best to store all your food in a temperature controlled environment that is kept at or below 70 degrees F. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. 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