Should You Refrigerate Canned Cat Food After Opening?

Canned cat food is a convenient option for many cat owners, as it is widely available, easy to store and typically less expensive than other types of wet cat food. But when you open a can of cat food, you may be wondering if it needs to be refrigerated or not. The answer depends on the type of canned cat food that you have.

For most canned cat food, it’s not necessary to refrigerate after opening. As long as the can remains sealed, the contents should remain safe for up to four days at room temperature. However, if the can isn’t sealed properly or if you’ve prepared it in advance and left it at room temperature for more than four days, then it should be refrigerated.

Cans of wet kitten food are an exception to this rule and should be refrigerated after opening. This is because kittens have weaker immune systems than adult cats and are more susceptible to bacteria growth in their food. Kitten food should always be kept cold and never left at room temperature for more than two hours.

If you’re preparing homemade wet cat food, it’s best to refrigerate any leftovers immediately after serving. Homemade wet cat food doesn’t contain preservatives like commercial canned pet foods do, so it spoils much more quickly.

Conclusion:

In general, canned cat food does not need to be refrigerated after opening unless the can isn’t sealed properly or if the contents have been left out at room temperature for more than four days. Cans of wet kitten food should always be refrigerated after opening due to their weaker immune systems. Homemade wet cat food also needs to be refrigerated immediately after serving since there are no preservatives present.