It was a hot and sunny afternoon; you just got home from the groceries. Thats because when temperatures rise above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, bacteria starts to multiply exponentially. While this may seem excessive, its preferable to accidentally give your cat something dangerous! Its critical to get the right cat food for your cat, but thats only one thing to consider. The canned cat food is worthless if the cat doesnt enjoy the flavor. It might be fine, but it might not, and you may not wish to take the risk. Of course, the dry cat food will not survive being placed in an oven. Diet, which frequently includes canned cat food, is one of the most important factors in a cats health. Yet too much heat can make the food go bad. 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. Table of Contents. As a cat lover, you may have been wondering if its safe to leave canned wet food out in hot weather. We were used to just grabbing a bag or a can of food and pouring it in a bowl - so this new need for preparation was different. And if youre taking canned food with you on a trip, be sure to pack it in a cooler with ice packs to keep it cool. For those of us who feed a species appropriate diet to our cats, remembering to thaw it out before it's feeding time can be a frustrating learning experience. Cat food is costly, and many households cannot afford to lose a whole stack of cans at once. 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. Ive owned felines for over six years, and I am passionate about educating others about everything there is to know about cats. Once the temperatures reach 100 degrees F or more, the safety of the food stored in the cans comes into question. If youve been feeding your cat canned food from a can that had no air inside it (meaning it didnt come from a store), then you need to start counting from when you opened up the can for the first time not from when it was manufactured! So, if youre leaving groceries or leftovers in a warm car, its important to not exceed the two-hour mark. So, there you have it: everything you need to know about keeping your cats wet food fresh in hot weather. Will It Upset Their Stomach? Pet food also comes with an expiration date, but sometimes canned cat food may get spoiled much earlier. Heat overexposure can affect the nutrients in the food, cause the container to explode, cause germs to thrive . I turn them after 10 to 15 minutes. Can canned cat food go bad in heat? Canned cat food is a moist and nutrient-rich food that can spoil quickly when exposed to air and moisture. Itll be charred to a crisp! However, if its stored in a warm garage or other hot environment, the food will spoil and should be thrown away. While evaluating the cans to see if they are safe for your cat, there are a few factors to consider. Most importantly, it depends on how long ago the can was opened. Keep the food storage container closed and as airtight as possible because moisture in the food can lead to mold. Any significant dents or cracks should also be a warning that the food inside the can has been compromised and isnt safe for consumption anymore. Writer and Mommy of 3 furr babies: If canned foods are stored at temperatures above 75 degrees F for a long time, the nutrients in the food will decrease. Store in a cool, clean, dry place where temperatures are below 85 F (between 50-70 F is good) but not freezing temperatures. Canned cat food that has been mishandled or improperly stored can become moldy. You might also like to read about how long does dry cat food last. Cats often do not eat a full serving of theircanned cat food at one sitting. Obviously, that refers to the canned food that people eat rather than cat food, but its a good standard to set to prioritize your cats health and make sure that its food is okay. Generally speaking, wet foods should be consumed within 2-4 days and dry foods within 7 days after being opened. Opened cans should be stored in the fridge, at temperatures between 40-45F , for a maximum of 5-7 days. This article will address the subject to understand better how heat affects canned cat food over time. Store it away from potential temperature changes, such as in the garage. Dont store pet foods, even unopened bags or cans, in the garage or shed where temperatures can go above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. You can keep their meals varied and prevent cans from sitting in storage for too long by rotating their canned food. Verify the date of expiration: Before buying the can and once more before giving it to your cat, be sure to check the expiration date. 2 Canned food shipped - Dog Food Advisor; If at all possible, storing the food in a refrigerator or another cool environment is also a wise move. And finally, if you are pregnant, the elderly, or have a weakened immune system, you may be at even greater risk for food poisoning from hot car pasta sauce. Use low-acid canned foods like vegetables and soup within 3 . We go to great lengths to help users better understand their pets; however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. If your pet shows signs of discomfort or illness after eating the food, its also probably bad. If you live in a warmer climate, its important to keep an eye on your dogs food. Over time, exposure to intense temperatures will make the food go bad. So does canned cat food go out when it out expose to heat. This compound has an unpleasant smell and taste that we associate with spoiled food. . So at the rescue we usually don't keep. Storing it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources is important to ensure that your cat food doesnt go bad in the heat. High-acid canned food like tomatoes and some fruit will keep their best quality for 12 to 18 months; low-acid canned food like meat and vegetables will for 2 to 5 years. Additionally, if your cat is hesitant to eat the food or experiences any adverse reactions after eating it, its best to discard it as it may have gone bad. The meal may get discolored or form a slimy layer on top. Find out more about my story, Your email address will not be published. She has fact-checked articles for multiple publications, including InStyle Magazine, Refinery29, The New York Times, Seventeen, and Details. Ideally, you shouldnt store cans anywhere that they might be exposed to extreme temperatures, so a garage or shed is not a great place either. You dont want to take a chance with spoiled food, especially when it comes to your cats health!if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'passionateaboutfood_net-banner-1','ezslot_7',162,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-passionateaboutfood_net-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'passionateaboutfood_net-banner-1','ezslot_8',162,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-passionateaboutfood_net-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-162{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The best time for storing canned cat food is when its still sealed, but once thats done theres not much else you can do to prolong its shelf life. Another concern is the storage temperature. To keep canned cat food from spoiling in heat, its crucial to store it properly. Bacterial Growth and Contamination Exposing canned cat food to excessive heat poses a significant risk as it can cause bacteria to grow and multiply. It is best to store unopened commercially canned foods in a cool and dry place (such as in a cupboard). If the food is lumpy or has changed texture, its probably not safe to eat. Yes, canned cat food can get bad in the heat. This is likely to mean that the can is no longer adequately sealed, which means bacteria could enter the food inside. If you have accidentally done this on a warm or cool day, it should be okay, but if the temperatures have been high, the safest option is to throw the cat food away and buy some fresh. Canned cat food is made with preservatives to extend its shelf life. At what temperature does canned cat food go bad? If you leave wet cat food at room temperature, it will quickly warm and become a perfect environment forbacteria to grow and pose a risk to your cat. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'adventurouscat_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',136,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventurouscat_com-medrectangle-4-0');According to NewbiePrepper, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Services say that cans should not be exposed to temperatures higher than 100 degrees F. Ideally, cans should be stored at 84 degrees F or below. You might be thinking about what might go wrong if the food is sanitary and the can is unharmed. -The food has a slimy texture However, it is important to keep an eye on the food to make sure it does not get too warm. Mainly, just keep an eye on where you store it, the expiration date, and if it looks out of the ordinary for soft food. Canned wet food can spoil in hot weather if it is left out for too long. The weather may have changed, making this unfeasible, but take advantage of it if you get the chance. Your car filled with paper bags of food, toilet paper, and cleaning materials. 1 More posts from the NoStupidQuestions community 34.1k Heat and moisture can cause bacteria to grow, which may make your pet ill. How long has it been since the can was opened? Keeping food in a cold, dry environment is the greatest approach to guarantee its safety for consumption. 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. So its important to not leave groceries or leftovers in a warm car for more than two hours, or only an hour when its over 90 degrees. The majority of cat food in cans has a two- to five-year shelf life. Dry cat food provides much more energy. It most certainly can. So, we decided to address it in our blog. If you see any of these signs, its best to throw away the canned cat food and get a new can. However, if a can of food is left in a hot car, the heat can cause the can to expand. This could make your dog sick, or even worse. Your pet's bowl should be emptied of moist or canned food not eaten by your cat or dog within 4 hours if the ambient temperature is above 50F. The good news is that canned wet food will not spoil in hot weather. Simba, Snowball and Oreo: My 3 musKITTYeers! It might be worth checking it out for yourself some time with a thermometer, but its possible for a car to reach 100 degrees F in summer, even if the temperature outside does not climb this high. 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