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. Heat isn't as harmful for dry dog food as it is for wet dog food. That said, its important to keep an eye on your kitty to make sure theyre not overeating. Cons. If youre stumped and dont believe the car could have reached that temperature, you might question what else you can look for. This is to prevent infectious agents such as Salmonella or Listeria from accumulating on the items. Always keep such leftovers below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, dry cat food can go bad in heat. I have definitely eaten some very out of date canned food that lived in my car in Phoenix for more than a month though. Does Canned Cat Food Go Bad In Heat. Franny Syufy is a cat expert with over two decades of experience writing about feline anatomy and medical conditions. If the temperature gets too high, the food can spoil and cause illness in your cat. Do Canned Cat Foods Have an Expiration Date? The meal may get discolored or form a slimy layer on top. Any food kept at room temperature that is not eaten within half an hour to an hour should be thrown away. Yes, canned cat food can go bad in heat. There are many health dangers associated with feeding your cat unwholesome canned cat chow. Causes and Remedies Unveiled, Why Do Cats Have Wet Noses? Susan is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. This pertains to human canned food rather than cat food, but its an excellent benchmark to use when prioritizing your cats health and ensuring that its food is safe. Bacterial Growth and Contamination Exposing canned cat food to excessive heat poses a significant risk as it can cause bacteria to grow and multiply. The good news is that canned wet food will not spoil in hot weather. It is not a good idea to feed expired food to cats. Therefore, you never need to worry about heating the food too much. The answer is yes, canned cat food can go bad in extreme heat. Of course, the dry cat food will not survive being placed in an oven. Here are a few signs to watch out for: Canned cat food can go bad if the can is damaged or dented. Canned cat food can go bad just like any other food. If youre wondering how long can cat food be kept in the pantry, its best to follow the expiration date on the bag or can. The thermophilic, or heating-triggered, pathogens vary from product to product and are unpredictable. In addition to being gross, rancid foods are also unhealthy because they contain free radicals (chemicals that damage cells in our bodies). For canned cat and dog food 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. Bad canned cat food can be insanely risky to your cats health and cause food poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues. An alternative would be to put the next serving in a microwavable dish, cover with plastic wrap, and warm on a low setting for a short time. Yes, canned cat food can go bad. If you live in a warmer climate, its important to keep an eye on your dogs food. If the food smells rancid or off, its probably not safe to feed to your cat. While you dont want to poison your cat, you should try a tiny bit of the food on it. Also, check out what to do if the cat ate spoiled wet food. Youre not alonemany other cat owners have had the same question. 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. Franny has also authored two books on cat care. Seal an open bag of cat kibble as tightly as you can to reduce the . What are some signs that a food has gone bad?. So, if youre planning on eating pasta sauce thats been sitting in a hot car, there are a few things you should know. 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. The key takeaway here is that you should always discard canned cat food if it is at all past its expiration date. Metals can corrode and rust in moist environments. The majority of companies will have the information on their websites. The first is the smell. You might also like to check out how long does wet cat food last. 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. If you see any of these signs, its best to throw away the canned cat food and get a new can. Can't handle the heat. Ultimately, feeding your cat good quality canned cat food is an investment in their overall health and well-being. Canned cat food also contains vitamins and minerals necessary for a cats health and well-being. 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. The kitchen pantry or an inside closet works great. However, you may store them in the refrigerator for a short period of time. Find Out Why. This compound has an unpleasant smell and taste that we associate with spoiled food. This can cause the food to have an unpleasant taste, smell, and texture. These include: -The food has changed color If the food is lumpy, mushy, or otherwise odd-looking, dont feed it to your cat. The food is likely spoiled with a bad odour or smells sour. Yes, canned cat food can get bad in the heat. You should never serve any canned cat food thats past its expiry date, even if its not spoiled. Canned cat foods must never be exposed to temperatures . 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. Canned dog food can spoil easily, especially when left in a hot car. If the cans are merely swollen - and you are sure the swelling was caused by freezing - the cans may still be usable. Canned cat food shouldn't be left in a hot vehicle for long periods. It has gone bad when dry cat food has a characteristic sour and/or bitter odor. You rushed out of your car while holding everything you bought from the grocery store. Canned cat food is susceptible to spoilage if it is not stored properly. A broken can qualifies as opened cat food if exposed to room temperature for more than twenty to thirty minutes. Pet food also comes with an expiration date, but sometimes canned cat food may get spoiled much earlier. As an Amazon Associate, I Earn From Qualifying Purchases, About Us Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact Us. Can canned cat food go bad in heat? 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. Open canned or wet cat food, on the other hand, will only survive five to seven days. And protect your cat's dental and oral health. Food always goes bad after a certain time. 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. First, look for bulging cans. Once opened, canned cat food should be refrigerated immediately with an airtight lid until consumed within 1 to 2 days. 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. In direct sun, with a sealed interior, cars can get extremely warm indeed. At what temperature does canned cat food go bad? So, we decided to address it in our blog. As a pet owner, you are responsible for keeping your exotic pet safe and well. Preventing canned cat food from going bad can be challenging, especially if you buy in bulk or store it improperly. Some canned cat foods may contain harmful ingredients such as BPA, which can cause hormonal imbalances and increase the risk of certain cancers. During my free time, I love reading a book on my kindle, biking, kayaking, and just enjoying life! Store your cats food in a cool, dry location away from heat sources and direct sunshine to preserve its safety and quality. This is one of the ways that canned cat food can spoil. However, weve all heard stories about canned food lasting for years, and its common knowledge that canned food is sterilized by being heated to extremely high temperatures while in the can. These include: -Cracking the windows Overexposure to heat can cause the nutrients to change, explode the container, cause bacteria growth, and cook the food. That's why it's important to store canned food in a cool, dry place. If youre gone for more than four hours, youll need to either refrigerate the food or throw it out. Its not a good idea to keep canned cat food in a heated environment. On the one hand, if you live in a hot environment with low humidity, the heat is good for the kibble as it will keep the kibble dry. Can canned cat food go bad in heat? To preserve fresh cat food, it needs to stay in the . Rotating your cat food regularly is also a good idea, as this will help reduce the risk of it not going well. Finally, you can heat cat refrigerated cat food simply by leaving it out on the side. When it comes to food safety, there are few things more important than temperature. Through a gradual process, the heat will penetrate the cat food and the coolness will leave. There are a few non perishable foods that can be left in a hot car without fear of them going bad. So, to be safe, always store canned food in a cool, dry place. Canned food is designed to withstand a certain amount of heat, so its not going to burst if its left in a hot car for a short period of time. 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. So, how hot does the inside of a car get? 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. And thats not just because of spoilage; if you leave cat food out too long and it goes bad, your pet could get sick. But overexposure to the heat can cause the contents to spill out when opened. 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. 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. Canned cat food should be stored at room temperature (45-75 degrees Fahrenheit) away from sunlight and heat (80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher). Is There a Cat Food That Helps Prevent Urinary Problems? If youre worried about it, though, you can always transfer the food to a different container before leaving it in the car. In the winter, if the heater is on or the food is in a warm kitchen, this same 20-minute limit would apply. She has fact-checked articles for multiple publications, including InStyle Magazine, Refinery29, The New York Times, Seventeen, and Details. Some will crumble to tiny pieces, while others will become stiffer, depending on the formula. It should be stored in a place that is dry and cool. Many ingredients, including meat, grains, and vegetables, are carefully mixed into canned cat food to satisfy a cats dietary requirements. Some canned cat foods do have expiration dates marked on their labels; however, many do not have expiration dates listed on them at all. Besides this, If the cat food smells sour or rotten, has mold or bugs, or if your pet is sick after eating it, dont serve it. 1 More posts from the NoStupidQuestions community 34.1k One: Loss Of Nutrients Ive had dogs, cats, rabbits, and chickens. Overexposure to heat can cause the nutrients to change, explode the container, cause bacteria growth, and cook the food. Its one of the reasons why we dont eat many foods that have been sitting around too long (think: leftovers). Canned foods are designed to be shelf-stable for long periods of time, but heat can accelerate the degradation process. Your cat will most likely determine if the food is rotten and will reject it if it isnt safe. For example, if you have a pantry, keeping cat food cans on the pantry floor might work. Your cat may also be less likely to eat it if its not as fresh as theyre used to. 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. What If You Think the Cat Food Is Spoiled? Food poisoning can result from heat-induced bacterial contamination of the food. If you leave a can of food out for too long, it can go bad. Susan also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. In fact, it is not uncommon for canned cat food to spoil if the container has been left opened for an extended period without being refrigerated. Cats are finicky eaters, and often their food preferences can change on a whim. On the other hand, Cans should not lose their form, and bulges indicate a problem with the can or its contents. Canned cat food that has been mishandled or improperly stored can become moldy. -The food has a slimy texture . 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. If you live in a hot climate or experience a heat wave, its important to take steps to protect your canned goods. If youve ever found yourself wondering can canned cat food, go bad in heat?, the answer is yes! However, if you live in a climate where the temperature in your garage never gets above 85 degrees, and you can keep the cans in a dry location, then storing them in your garage should be fine. Canned Cat Food Can Go Bad if Stored in a Warm Environment. When temperatures rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, canned foods are at risk of spoiling. Heat and moisture can cause bacteria to grow, which may make your pet ill. How long has it been since the can was opened? Unopened cat food cans should be kept in a cold, dry place away from direct sunlight to minimize the danger of deterioration, while opened cans should be kept in the refrigerator. This is most likely a sign that the can is no longer properly sealed, allowing bacteria to infiltrate the food. You can keep wet cat food in the fridge for about 24 hours. Additionally, pay attention to expiration dates and look out for any signs of spoilage such as unpleasant odors or discoloration before feeding your pet any potentially . There are a few ways that you can stay cool in a hot car. The fact that canned cat food has much more moisture than dry food is one of its key advantages for cats. When outside temperatures are 90 F or warmer, hold the cooked foods no longer than one hour before reheating, refrigerating or freezing them. 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. The third is the appearance. -The food has mold on it. The best way to protect canned foods from heat damage is to store them in a cool, dark place. In fact, one study found that pasta sauce left in a hot car for just two hours contained over 10,000 times the safe limit of bacteria. Your pets have no way to tell you if the food has gone bad, so you are the ones who must be careful about what you feed your fur babies. Canned cat food is not an immortal food item. Use canned meats and seafood within 3 years of the date on the package. 2. 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. 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. 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