Dry cat food generally lasts for around six months or up to a year from its manufacture date if unopened, but once the seal is broken it should be used within 14 to 21 days.
Ideally, dry food should be consumed within six weeks of opening the bag, so pick your bag sizes appropriately. Kibble can be left out in bowls for a day or so, but don't offer more than should be consumed in 24 hours.
You can safely leave dry cat food out for several days and it won't spoil, but it's best to throw out leftovers and wash the dish on a daily basis, to keep Fluffy's food at its freshest. Keep in mind that dry food will grow stale within a day and may not be as appealing to your cat once this happens.
Some other ways to tell are a noticeable sour or rotten smell, growth of mold or bugs, if the food has been exposed to moisture or humidity, or if your pet shows signs of discomfort or illness after eating the food.
Keep the Food Bag Sealed
After you scoop your cat's food from the bag, immediately seal it to prevent unnecessary air and humidity from reaching the kibbles. Both factors help the cat food degrade faster and make bacterial contamination more likely.
Try to avoid using a plastic container to store kibble. However, if you already purchased the container, keep the food in its original bag and place that bag into the plastic container. This will help keep oxygen away from degrading the kibble, and saves you the giant disaster that could occur.
Why do cats get bored of their food? While Mr Whiskers may like consistency in most areas of life, it is possible for your cat to feel bored of the same food. Part of this has to do with the innate nature of cats as apex predators.
As a general average, if you are feeding a commercially produced high-quality dry food with a good quality protein source, then an indoor cat would be fed about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of food per day. This amount of quality food is approximately between 167–250 calories.
The best time frame in which you can store your cat's dry food is 6 months because that is when it is still fresh and fully nutritious. After the “Best By” date stamped on the bag, which is usually up to six months, the food becomes less fresh and can go bad very quickly.
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.
I'd say 6 months, depending upon whether this is all your cat eats or whether it's a supplement. The biscuits keep very well, provided they're properly stored, are good value (especially at Amazon's price) and, above all, are both healthy and very palatable.
Don't Store Dry Cat Food on the Shelf
Dry cat food may seem non-perishable, but it will go bad if it's left on the shelf for weeks on end. Instead, keep Fluffy's morsels fresh for a long time by storing them in the freezer.
You should throw it in the trash or recycle it once the expiration date has passed. Besides, you must determine if your out-of-date dry food is safe to feed your pet.
If you've wondered which is better when it comes to wet vs. dry cat food, they're both excellent choices. Just make sure the food you select is 100 percent complete and balanced for your cat's age and life stage. While some cats (and cat owners) prefer one over the other, the best option may be to feed your cat both.
Cats are meat eaters, plain and simple. They have to have protein from meat for a strong heart, good vision, and a healthy reproductive system. Cooked beef, chicken, turkey, and small amounts of lean deli meats are a great way to give them that.
The obvious reason
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. It's also possible that your cat is filling up on food from another source.
Cats need variety, just like humans! Similar to your cat, you would get tired of eating the same meal every day. If your cat stops eating, try switching the flavor of her food. If she's been stuck on tuna flavor, offer chicken flavor.
Dry Food Might Make Your Cat More Thirsty
If your cat eats only dry food, or only gets wet food every once in a while, then she may be more prone to frequent trips to the water dish. Depending on other factors and conditions, this may be normal for her based on her diet.
In general, dry pet food should be stored in an airtight container that's placed inside a cool and dry place. A tight seal limits the amount of air that the food is exposed to, and helps keep it from getting contaminated by bacteria—so it can last as long as possible.
Glass jars are another great storage option for your cat's dry food. Glass jars come with screw-on tops or clamped tops to ensure a secure, airtight seal.
However, you should avoid saving uneaten kibble for more than a day or two (and avoid putting it back in the unused storage bag or container) because it can spoil and degrade when left out.
Causes of spoilage include air, moisture, and high temperatures, so as long as the pet food is unopened and stored in a cool, dry place, you shouldn't have problems. Unopened dry food can be safe to eat for a year after manufacture, and unopened cans have a shelf life of two years.