In the summer, and lacking air conditioning, leave the food out no longer than 20 minutes. 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. Rotate foods so the oldest is used first. For example, if you have a pantry, keeping cat food cans on the pantry floor might work. Yet too much heat can make the food go bad. Canned cat food must be stored properly to protect your cats safety and health. According to the FDA , the ideal storage temperature should be no more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Cat food is costly, and many households cannot afford to lose a whole stack of cans at once. The short answer is: yes, canned food can explode if left in a hot car. Keep cooked canned foods hot, above 140 F, but not for more than two hours. This is to prevent infectious agents such as Salmonella or Listeria from accumulating on the items. If this happens, it is best to throw the food away. Canned cat food shouldnt be left in a hot vehicle for long periods. For best quality use closed canned fruits within 18 months. Yes, canned cat food can go bad. Nadia Tamara Yes, heat is the enemy of all canned goods. Yes, cat food can go bad in the heat. The best temperature range for storing canned goods is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. But keep in mind that food should never be overheated. You may be able to get a phone number for the manufacturer, who should be able to tell you what temperature range their device is guaranteed to withstand. Why Are Cats Afraid of Dogs? You should also look for growth of mold or bugs, or if the food has been exposed to moisture or humidity. Does canned cat food go bad in heat? The thermophilic, or heating-triggered, pathogens vary from product to product and are unpredictable. Check the expiration dates before making a purchase. If the food smells sour, moldy, or otherwise unpleasant, dont feed it to your cat. Canned food does not need to be kept in the fridge until it has been opened, but once it is open, it should be refrigerated. You might be surprised to learn that canned cat food can be left out for up to four hours, according to the FDA. The Mystery Revealed, Role of Veterinary Doctor In Euthanasia: A Compassionate Approach, Are All Black Cats Bombay Cats? Heat doesnt spoil cat food, but it can hasten the process. Yes, the heat can make cat food spoil. Your dog will thank you for it! The meal may get discolored or form a slimy layer on top. Store in a cool, clean, dry place where temperatures are below 85 F (between 50-70 F is good) but not freezing temperatures. This will give you better information about how likely the food is to be safe. How Much Wet Food to Feed a Cat Every Day. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Find out more about my story, Your email address will not be published. With the assistance of chemical preservatives, canned cat food has a four-month to three-year shelf life when unopened and well packed. 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. It is all too easy to make the mistake of leaving something in a car after a trip to the grocery store, and if youve just discovered some canned cat food out there, you might be wondering whether its okay to feed it to your cat or if you need to discard it and buy some fresh food. The answer is that unopened canned cat food can go bad in heat, but it depends on the individual product and the environment. Its important always to read the labels and choose high-quality canned cat food that is nutritionally balanced and free of harmful additives. So, how hot does a car interior get? The food may spoil due to the high temperatures, which could endanger the health of your cat companion by encouraging the growth of bacteria and other unpleasant odors. However, if you leave it in a warm garage or other hot environment, the food will spoil and should be thrown away. Meat spoils quickly, and if the food within the cans has been tampered with, it may emit a foul odor. -Parking in the shade -Turning on the air conditioning http://catfoodanswers.blogspot.com/2010/05/is-unopened-canned-cat-food-still-good.html, https://ask.metafilter.com/323716/Can-my-cats-eat-this, https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-harm-of-feeding-my-cat-unopened-food-that-has-been-left-in-my-car-and-in-the-sun. Will It Upset Their Stomach? Canned food is safe to eat after its been frozen and thawed, but the texture and taste may suffer. Pet food also comes with an expiration date, but sometimes canned cat food may get spoiled much earlier. Can Canned Cat Food Be Left In A Hot Car? Canned cat food is made with preservatives to extend its shelf life. If it smells sour or rotten, its probably bad. In cats, these filters may result in obesity, allergies, and digestive problems. 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 answer depends on several factors. It is also crucial to keep in mind that if your cat suddenly starts to reject its canned food, this can indicate that it has gone bad. When giving a can to your cat, it is crucial to check the expiration date. 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. According to their information, microwaving food has two adverse effects. As pointed out by TheSprucePets, opened cat food should not be left exposed to room temperature for more than twenty to thirty minutes, and a broken can counts as opened food. If the food is sterile and the can is undamaged, you might be wondering what could go wrong. -Jerky And protect your cat's dental and oral health. The answer is yes, canned cat food can go bad in extreme heat. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form. What are some signs that a food has gone bad?. Weve developed a step-by-step guide to creating a stress-free schedule that brings out your cats best. Franny has also authored two books on cat care. Buying the right amount of canned cat food: To avoid the food going bad or acquiring bacteria, just purchase what your cat will actually eat within a few days. Just like any other type of canned food, it can spoil if the seal on the lid isnt airtight or if someone has opened the can and allowed air to get inside. Unlikely in the period of a day or two, but at high temps the quality starts to decrease, and eventually spoil faster than if stored in a cool dry place. Use up any opened canned food that has been kept in the fridge within five to seven days of opening. On the other hand, Cans should not lose their form, and bulges indicate a problem with the can or its contents. Dont take any chances with your cats health! The quality of the food could be affected by the heat. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'adventurouscat_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventurouscat_com-medrectangle-3-0');Many people think of canned food as invincible and impossible to contaminate, no matter what conditions you subject it to. 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. Its one of the reasons why we dont eat many foods that have been sitting around too long (think: leftovers). The high temperatures can cause the food to go bad, and the can could potentially burst. This entails placing it close to an oven and hoping for the best. So, there you have it: everything you need to know about keeping your cats wet food fresh in hot weather. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joys of owning a cat, and I hope to share my knowledge and experiences with others through Catcoast. No, it would be best not to leave cat food cans in a hot car. -Seeds. Food always goes bad after a certain time. However, cans should not lose their shape, and bulges are an indication that something is wrong with the can and its contents. Dry cat food provides much more energy. Can Cat Food Go Bad in Heat? Canned cat food is a common choice for pet owners but can go bad if not stored properly. This implies it will be edible, but the flavor will not be as fresh as if held at ambient temperature. 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. If youre gone for more than four hours, youll need to either refrigerate the food or throw it out. Dec 12, 2017. Most manufacturers recommend storing kibble and canned foods in a cool, dry place. However, a few simple tips can help you keep your cats food fresh and safe for consumption. cans) on top of the radiator at a low setting for 20 to 30 minutes to bring the food up to room temperature before serving. 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. Some canned cat foods do have expiration dates marked on their labels; however, many do not have expiration dates listed on them at all. It is essential to store canned cat food in a cool, dry place to prevent it from going bad and to ensure your cat is getting safe and nutritious food. Often, it will be fine, but you should be careful if it has got higher than ninety degrees F or stayed in the car for a long time. If the food has changed color or looks moldy, its probably not safe to feed to your cat. An excellent way to heat it up is to add a bit of warm water or low-sodium chicken stock and stir to warm up the food. That is why every type of food - even eggs and vegetables - comes with a shelf life. 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. Yes, of course, you can. -The food has a strange odor When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. As a result, the food may have an unappealing flavor, aroma, or texture. This can cause the can to burst, which would allow bacteria to get in and contaminate the food. Let the can thaw in the refrigerator before opening. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1250243/, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0377840116309257, Runny Cat Nose: Causes, Symptoms, and Remedies, Why Does My Cat Have A Dry Nose? Dont store pet foods, even unopened bags or cans, in the garage or shed where temperatures can go above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast with dry foods, which spoil when kept too humid, moist foods may become unpalatable if kept too dry. The germs in the food will begin to proliferate quickly as the temperature rises. At what temperature does canned cat food go bad? However, if it smells terrible, you will know it isnt safe to feed your cat. To make sure the food is still safe to eat, it is crucial to check the expiration date on the can. Use low-acid canned foods like vegetables and soup within 3 . The majority of companies will have the information on their websites. There are a few things to consider when deciding whether or not to store canned food in a hot garage. Yes, canned cat food can spoil in the heat, simply put it. Through a gradual process, the heat will penetrate the cat food and the coolness will leave. Heat does not spoil cat food but can speed up the spoilage process. The label will state whether the product must be refrigerated after opening or not. While you dont want to poison your cat, you should try a tiny bit of the food on it. This site is owned and operated by Susan and is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It should be fine if you accidentally did this on a warm or cold day, but if the temperatures have been really hot, the safest alternative is to discard the cat food and replace it with new. If youre stumped and dont believe the car could have reached that temperature, you might question what else you can look for. It depends on the pantry floor might work this entails placing it close to an oven and for. In Euthanasia: a Compassionate Approach, are all Black cats Bombay cats according... Low-Acid canned foods in a hot vehicle for long periods youre gone for more two. Will begin to proliferate quickly as the temperature rises interior get before.!, aroma, or if the food could be affected by the heat been sitting around too (! 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