Dry cat food

Store dry food inside the packaging, in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place. Metal containers are preferable to plastic as the food can sometimes take on a taste from plastic. If you do choose to use a plastic container, look for one that is BPA free.

Sometimes the larger brands of cat food manufacturers will have a special promotion where you receive a free metal storage container to store the food.

How long does dry cat food last once it’s been opened?

Dry food should be consumed within 4-6 weeks of opening. It may not have reached its expiry date after a month, but the quality will have deteriorated. Unless you are feeding several cats, it is not a good idea to buy the largest pack of dry food you can get.

Canned cat food

Before opening, store canned food in the pantry.

Once opened, any remaining canned food should be removed from the tin and placed into a glass or plastic bowl, covered and stored in the refrigerator.

If you must leave the cat food in the tin (and we do not recommend you do this), you can purchase plastic lids to cover the top of the can. But transferring to a glass or plastic bowl is preferable.

Some cats can be fussy about eating refrigerated food, so you may want to reheat it in the microwave for 30 seconds before giving it to your cat.

How long does canned cat food last in the fridge?

Canned cat food that has been opened can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Raw food

Raw food should be stored in individual portions in the freezer. Sandwich bags are ideal for this. Raw meat can be frozen for 4-6 weeks.

Defrosting raw cat food

To defrost, remove from the freezer a day before and slowly thaw in the fridge. Do not defrost raw food at room temperature.