Cats were tested in a two-bowl test where they could select the food they preferred in two side-by-side bowls so that the same food at different temperatures could be compared. As a group, cats preferred the room temperature food to the cold food, but preferred the warmed food most of all.
In an experiment, aged domestic cats most preferred food served at 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). That's approximately the temperature of a warm-blooded prey item, although the cats lived in a research center and didn't regularly hunt live animals.
So, can cats eat cold wet food? They can indeed. However, many cats are fussy eaters and will turn their noses up at cold food. It won't smell as appetizing, plus cats instinctively prefer eating warmer food that is at the same temperature as their prey.
Temperature matters
As a hunter, cats prefer food that is close to their own body temperature (about 101° F/ 38° C). If you are taking canned cat food from the refrigerator, it should be warmed in the microwave (and stirred well) or warmed by the addition of some hot water.
Wet Food: The Downside
Some cats dislike cold food, though, so you may need to put her canned food on a microwave-safe plate and warm it 3-5 seconds before serving.
Cats like routine with their feeding times, they tend to like certain bowls or dishes more than others, they even like to pick a quiet place to eat – but let's not forget they also like their food warm. In fact, The Journal of Veterinary Behavior even did a study that shows that “Aging cats prefer warm 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 50°F. Opened cans should be stored in the fridge, at temperatures between 40-45°F, for a maximum of 5-7 days. Any cat or dog food remaining after that time should be thrown out.
Most cats will enjoy wet food at room temperature. Your cat may not like cold food, so after refrigerating it, you may want to set it out for about 15 minutes to allow it to come up to room temperature before serving. Your cat may also enjoy a combination of textures, so try mixing her wet and dry cat food.
According to Primal Pet Food, a pioneer in making commercial raw pet food: “Never microwave any pet food. Microwaves cause the fat molecules to radically change, making fats less digestible, and ultimately, they can become harmful to your pet's long-term health.
How Long Can Wet Cat Food Sit Out? If your cat has only eaten a portion of its bowl of wet food, you are left wondering, “Can wet cat food sit out?” Ideally, wet cat food should never be left sitting in a dish for more than one to two hours.
Cats register the presence of food by smell; when food is refrigerated, it has far less scent than when it's fresh from the (room temperature) can, and for many cats, the comparative lack of scent from refrigerated canned food will make it unappealing.
Skip meats high in sodium, such as cold cuts or ham, as too much salt can be toxic to cats.
Cats are pretty well adapted for cold weather, but when the temperature dips below freezing they are susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite. During periods of cold weather, cats will go looking for a warm place to hunker down. Building an outside shelter for a cat can be an inexpensive and fun project for the family.
Cats sometimes prefer drinking water that is cold, because they might perceive cold water to be fresher. Keep your cat's water cold by replenishing it regularly. You could even pop a few ice cubes in the bowl if the weather is particularly warm.
Food temperature
To start, feed wet food at room temperature; cats don't like food if it is too hot or too cold. Once wet food is put down, it can be difficult to stop it drying out throughout the day, especially when the weather is warm.
Even if your cat prefers to eat their food in a few sittings, don't be tempted to leave wet food out all day, as this increases the risk of disease-causing bacteria developing. After a maximum of four hours, throw out the old food and wash the bowl properly with soap and water before refilling with fresh food.
Many cats, like humans, prefer their beverages chilled. You'll promote more water consumption if you serve it cold. It's hard to keep refilling your kitty's water bowl, but luckily you can buy products that keep it chilled for hours.
Often, we jump to the worst conclusions and forget the obvious reason why a cat might not finish their food: its stomach is full. Cats have small stomachs; on average about the size of a ping-pong ball, so their eating patterns can involve several breaks rather than eating an entire portion in one sitting.
Cats prefer wet food that is close to their body temperature between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat the refrigerated cat food in the microwave for 4 to 5 seconds or add a few drops of hot water to the food and stir it.
How often should cats eat wet food? What do vets recommend? Wet food is not a special meal or an occasional treat. Cats can and should eat wet food every day because it agrees with the feline digestive system better than dry or semi-moist food.
"If a cat can maintain his weight, free choice feeding is okay," says Dr. Kallfelz. Even dry food left out for your cat to free feed needs to be fresh, so be sure to provide new food each day.
Many wet foods come in three-ounce cans and recommend feeding approximately one can a day for every three to three and a half pounds of body weight.
The safest way to serve eggs to cats is to ensure they are always cooked. Stick with boiled, scrambled or fried eggs. Just like humans, cats share the same potential risks in contracting Salmonella if consuming raw or undercooked foods.