Cat owners all know that when cat food is well packaged, the shelf life is generally up to 24 months. However, cat food will go bad if it is poured out of the sealed package and left in the air for a long time. Cats don't like to eat it, and eating it is not good for their health. So how long can the cat food in the cat bowl be kept?
The main reason cat food spoils: microbial contamination
Let's first talk about how food goes bad.
Generally speaking, food will be contaminated by microorganisms in the air. These microorganisms decompose the nutrients in the food to meet their own needs. In this process, microorganisms will secrete toxins, which will cause food to go bad.
After cat food is taken out of the packaging bag, it will be contaminated by a certain amount of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. It often takes a few days for fungi to mold, while bacteria can multiply wildly in just a few hours under appropriate conditions. Therefore, when cat food is taken out of the packaging bag, the first risk is mainly bacterial contamination, such as E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria and other bacteria.
Factors affecting bacterial reproduction rate
The initial amount of bacteria: The more the initial amount of bacteria, the faster the reproduction rate will be under suitable environmental factors.
Take Salmonella as an example. Under appropriate conditions, the number of bacteria can double every hour! The degree of harm caused by Salmonella to cats depends on its number. Therefore, if cat food is contaminated with Salmonella, the longer it is left, the greater the harm.
Temperature and humidity: For many bacteria, 35℃~37℃ is the most suitable temperature for growth. At this temperature, they will reproduce faster (this is also the reason why food and cat food are more likely to deteriorate in summer); bacteria need water to reproduce, so a humid environment is more conducive to bacterial reproduction.
Therefore, food is more likely to deteriorate in summer and rainy season!
How long does it take for cat food to go bad?
The time it takes for cat food to go bad varies depending on the type of cat food.
Dry food: Usually very dry, with a moisture content of less than 10%, making it difficult for bacteria to reproduce. After taking out the quality-guaranteed cat food from the packaging bag, it will not go bad if placed in dry air for a few days. However, in summer, factors such as fat corruption and high air humidity should be considered to accelerate deterioration; cats prefer fresh cat food, so it is recommended to change it every day.
Wet cat food (staple cat cans, staple cat strips, etc.):
Canned food is usually sterile and sterilized at high temperatures, so it can be stored for a long time if it is not opened. However, once opened, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms in the environment will begin to invade.
It is generally recommended to consume the canned food within 1 hour after opening, and it can usually be stored at room temperature for about 4 hours, but the higher the temperature, the shorter the safe time.
If the canned food is to be fed several times, it is best to pour out only half of the can first, put the remaining canned food in a plastic bag, seal it, and put it in the refrigerator to feed it within 24 hours. (Note that it is recommended to take canned food out of the refrigerator and return it to room temperature or microwave it before feeding it to cats to prevent it from being too cold and causing gastrointestinal discomfort in cats.)
Raw meat: Currently, some cat owners feed raw meat to cats. Raw meat usually has a higher initial bacterial count (compared to cat food and canned food), and freezing cannot kill bacteria. Once raw meat is thawed, bacteria begin to multiply. Raw meat is the most sensitive to bacteria, especially in high temperature and high humidity environments, and it deteriorates very quickly.
Therefore, if raw meat is fed, the shorter the consumption time, the better, and eat it all at once.
For the health of cats, you must pay attention to the deterioration of cat food, especially in the hot summer, cat food is not suitable for long-term storage. If conditions permit, it is recommended to feed cats twice a day (1-2 more times for kittens), and the amount of each time should be eaten by the cat at one time! In addition, the cat's water bowl and food bowl should be cleaned every day and scalded with boiling water!
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