Does Wet Cat Food Need To Be Refrigerated?

Wet cat food is an interesting addition to any cat’s diet. However, it also comes along with additional hurdles that need to be accounted for as a cat owner. You will want to ensure the wet cat food doesn’t go bad and tastes the way your cat wants it to. For this to happen, you will wonder, does wet cat food need to be refrigerated?

Canned wet cat food should be refrigerated after being opened. This is to preserve the taste and nutrients of the food.

It’s recommended to avoid giving your cat cold wet cat food. This is not going to please them nor is that how they wish to eat food. Instead, it is best to let it warm for a bit.

Key factors include:

  • Type of Cat Food
  • Cat’s Preferences
  • Opened or Closed Can

This is a type of cat food that needs to be handled properly. You don’t want a situation where you are giving bad wet cat food to your pet and hoping for the best!

Anyone asking “Does wet cat food need to be refrigerated?” is on the right track. You will want to understand what your options are as you look to figure out where to store wet cat food at home safely.

There are several details to think about and all of those are going to be mentioned here.

This guide will look at the query “Does wet cat food need to be refrigerated?” while also focusing on how to store wet cat food the right way at home.

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Tips On How To Store Wet Cat Food

1. Store in Fridge After Opening

Let’s assume you have wet cat food at home and it’s been opened.

As a result, you will not have exposed the inner contents to oxygen and air particles. Due to this, it is possibly going to attract contaminants and that is how wet cat food gets spoiled.

For those wondering “Does wet cat food need to be refrigerated?” you will want to simply store the wet cat food in the fridge. This is all about preserving its taste and overall integrity.

Otherwise, you won’t be able to give the wet cat food to your cat!

does wet cat food need to be refrigerated

2. Don’t Leave Out In The Open

You will also have to account for where it is being stored during the day.

Taking out wet cat food and leaving it out in the open is a no-no. This is one of the worst ways to store wet cat food at home and will lead to serious consequences.

Wet cat food will go bad after it has been left out in the open for a day or two. It is recommended to store it in the fridge.

Anyone asking “Does wet cat food need to be refrigerated?” has to avoid doing this!

You have to make sure it is stored inside the fridge or somewhere where it is not exposed to the environment. It’s the only way to preserve the wet cat food.

does wet cat food need to be refrigerated

3. Warm Before Giving To Your Cat

If you have taken the wet cat food out of the fridge, it is also important to make sure it is prepped for the cat beforehand.

What does this mean?

in general, you are going to want to warm the wet cat food in a microwaveable dish. This should be done on a low setting.

Cats are known to eat less when they are given cold cat food and it is best to avoid doing this by warming the food or letting it sit at room temperature.

The goal is just to make sure it doesn’t become icy or unappealing to the cat.

Just a few seconds of warmth will do.

Related Questions

1. How Long Can Wet Cat Food Stay Out Of The Fridge?

Wet cat food can stay out of the fridge for no more than four hours at room temperature. Beyond this point, the food will go bad and/or lose its taste.

2. Should I Refrigerate Cat Food?

Yes, it is recommended to store wet cat food in the fridge. Opened wet cat food can only be stored inside the fridge for no more than 5-7 days before being tossed out.

Final Thoughts

“Does wet cat food need to be refrigerated?”

Wet cat food does need to be refrigerated especially when it has been opened. This will expose the contents to the environment and that can do a lot of damage to its quality.

Take your time and make sure to store wet cat food the right way. This is a must in comparison to dry cat food, which is more forgiving.

Here is more on cats – storing dry cat food, cats that have thyroid problems, the benefits of cooked chicken for cats, cats that keep walking around in large circles.