Cat food storage is critical for dry cat food in particular. You really don’t have any issues when it comes to canned food because, if you don’t use the entire can, you can put it in the refrigerator.
It seems like this idea should be a simple one but you really can make some mistakes when it comes to storing your cat’s dry food. Here are five things you never want to do with cat food storage.
Don’t Bother
No, we’re not suggesting that you do away with dry food, rather, let’s talk about the actual container itself. It’s tempting to toss all of your dry cat food in a reusable container to make it easier for storage in your home. But here’s the thing: Food manufacturers have gone to great lengths to create a bag that will keep your cat’s food as fresh as possible. And do yourself a favor – hang onto the bar code and expiration date on the bag if you decide you don’t want to save the bag itself. This way, if there happens to be a food recall, you will have the information quickly at hand.
When Air is a Bad Thing
We normally think of air as a good thing. Breathing keeps us alive and it keeps our cats alive as well. The issue with air has to do with exposing your cat’s dry food to it which could cause it to degrade a lot faster. Also, exposing the food to humidity can create mold and bacteria and that’s never a good thing.
Stay Out of the Light
Direct sunlight is enemy number one for your cat’s dry food. Why? Because if the bag is in direct sunlight, the temperature inside can warm up and create humidity which, in turn, causes bacteria.
Watch That Date
The date were talking about is the food expiration date. It’s also known as the “sell by” date at or even called the “best used by” date. As humans, we can sometimes consume products that have gone beyond that date but it’s a bad idea to let your cat do that, especially because dried food isn’t typically put in a cool place like a refrigerator, it can spoil a lot faster way.
Nix the Mixing
Mixing wet and dry food is perfectly fine but mixing an old bag of cat food with a new bag is not. The reason is because the old bag could have some bacteria already growing and if you place the old dry food in with the new food, you can contaminate that fresh bag.
Keeping your cat healthy and happy is as simple as following these five tips.
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