Is Canned Cat Food Ok After Its Expiration Date?

The risks are higher with opened canned food, but even an unopened product can cause severe food poisoning and have lasting effects on your pet’s health.

No owner will intentionally feed their cat spoiled food, but what to do if a cat accidentally ate old food? Unfortunately, such cases aren’t rare, given the short life of wet cat food.

You should be aware of food poisoning symptoms in cats to provide your cat with timely veterinary help and know the signs cat food is spoiled to prevent such situations in the future.

Can a Cat Eat Food That Expired Yesterday?

The short answer to whether a cat can eat food that expired yesterday is no. A cat should never eat food that’s past its expiration date. Even one day can make a difference, especially with meat.

However, if your cat ate expired food accidentally, don’t panic. A day-old food won’t cause severe poisoning but can result in a mild gastroenteric upset with nausea, flatulence, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The consequences also depend on whether the canned food is cooked or raw and whether the can is opened. Cooked cat food deteriorates slower because heat eliminates all bacteria, while uncooked food goes bad faster.

Cat food is cooked right in the can or pouch for hygienic reasons. Until the food is opened, no bacteria can get in the can. Consequently, the risks are lower than with opened canned food exposed to oxygen and humidity.

In other words, your cat should be ok after eating a day-old food that wasn’t yet opened. However, you should watch out for adverse reactions if your cat ate opened food that’s even a day old.

Can a Cat Eat a Week-Old Food?

While a day might not make a big difference, a week-old canned food is almost guaranteed to cause poisoning in your cat. Never give your cat a week-old canned food, regardless of whether it was or wasn’t opened.

Bacteria and mold aren’t the only risks of expired cat food. A week-old food might not lead to fatal poisoning but certainly won’t provide your cat with its advertised nutritional value.

Over time, microelements in cat food break down. Unlike the expiration date, the “best by” date isn’t there to tell you that the food is inedible but that the food no longer contains all the nutrients and vitamins.

Cat a Cat Eat a Month-Old Food?

A month-old food can be hazardous to your furry friend. It’s a no-go territory. A month-old food lacks the advertised nutritional value, so your cat won’t receive any benefit from it.

Even worse, it can be contaminated with bacteria and mold. Such food can make your pet very ill and irritate its sensitive gastroenteric tract.

Month-old cat food is also likely to attract bugs and worms that can carry diseases and pass them on to your pet. Bugs and worms are unlikely to get into sealed cat food but can contaminate an opened food forgotten in the fridge.

Traditional pet food packaging effectively prevents contamination, but biodegradable packaging isn’t as durable. Plus, bugs might get through certain materials.

Can Cat Food Spoil Before the Expiration Date?

Sometimes, canned cat food can get spoiled before the expiration date. The reason for this is usually not a manufacturing fault but incorrect storage.

Strictly follow the canned cat food storage instructions on the packaging to ensure the product doesn’t get spoiled sooner than expected.

Usually, cat food manufacturers recommend storing their products under 80 degrees Fahrenheit, away from direct sunlight. The can should be closed and stored in a dry place.

Although pet food packaging is properly sealed to prevent contamination, high temperatures and humidity can speed up nutrient deterioration.

If the packaging has a tiny gap and moisture gets in, the food can become contaminated with bacteria or mold. In the best-case scenario, incorrectly stored canned cat food will lose its flavor, smell, and color.

Cat food manufacturers recommend storing opened food cans in the fridge and consuming them within five to seven days. However, not every cat owner knows that the food should be stored in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic.

If you simply put an open can in the fridge without a wrap or lid, its contents will spoil sooner because they will be exposed to humidity and bacteria. The temperature inside your fridge shouldn’t exceed 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

If canned cat food is unrefrigerated, it goes bad in several hours. Always remove uneaten food from your cat’s bowl and put it in a zip lock bag or throw it away.

You can warm up the food after the fridge under hot water. Canned cat food can also go bad faster if you transfer it into another container.

Cat food is cooked right in the can for hygiene reasons. Heat eliminates bacteria, so the only way for them to get into the can is if you open the lid.

If you decide to transfer the food from its original can into a zip lock or lidded container, ensure it is clean and sealed properly.

How to Know Canned Cat Food Has Gone Bad

Because cat food can spoil before the expiration date, you should know the signs that canned cat food has gone bad. This knowledge will also be helpful if you’ve torn down the label or transferred the food into a different container.

Pay attention to the food’s smell. You might not find the smell of canned cat food pleasant even when it’s fresh, but it shouldn’t smell sour or rotten. Note the food color. It should be the same as initially, not discolored or darkened.

Another visual cue to look out for is mold – even a tiny piece of green, black, or white mold is a cause for concern and a reason to throw the can in the trash.

Get rid of the food if you notice any bugs or worms – this should go without saying. However, sometimes, the food might look and smell ok, but your cat will refuse to eat it.

If the food is close to its expiration date or you aren’t sure it was stored correctly, don’t force it on your pet. Cats have a stronger smell than humans and usually understand when food is spoiled.

Will Cat Food Last Longer If You Store It in the Fridge?

Canned cat food will last longer in the fridge than at room temperature if opened because high temperatures benefit thriving bacteria. The risk of spoilage is incredibly high if the climate is hot and humid.

However, storing sealed canned cat food in the fridge will have no effect. It won’t last longer than the expiration date, regardless of whether you keep it at room temperature or 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions on the label to maximize canned food shelf life. If the packaging says to store the food in the fridge, do so. Otherwise, keep it at room temperature.

Don’t freeze canned cat food. Freezing can prolong the product’s shelf life, but it can cause the food to lose its flavor and smell, making it unappealing to your pet. Plus, some nutrients might break down at low temperatures.

Consequences of Eating Old Food for Cats

Even if you follow safety precautions, there’s always a risk of giving your cat spoiled food. Maybe you didn’t notice a mild rotting smell, mold began growing in the can’s bottom, or you forgot to throw away uneaten food from the bowl.

If the food is a day old, your cat might not experience any symptoms. However, a mild gastroenteric upset with nausea, flatulence, diarrhea, and vomiting is very likely. The cat might lose appetite and appear lethargic.

In severe cases, spoiled cat food can cause poisoning with extreme vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, excessive salivation, seizures, lethargy, loss of orientation, fever, and panting.

The symptoms usually develop within an hour. Without veterinary treatment, they can progress to convulsions, coma, and end lethally. Sometimes, cats can get botulism and become paralyzed from eating old meat.

The symptom severity depends on a cat’s immune system, gastroenteric tract sensitivity, and how old the food was.

When to See a Vet

Call your vet if you notice any abnormalities after your cat ate spoiled food. Even if your cat has a mild gastroenteric upset, consult your veterinarian and tell them how old the food was and how much your cat has eaten.

Even moderate vomiting or diarrhea can cause dehydration. In this case, the cat will need intravenous fluids. Furthermore, mild symptoms can quickly become severe if the food is contaminated with harmful bacteria.

Without treatment, toxins will attack and break down your cat’s blood cells, causing anemia. Poisoning can have lasting consequences for your cat’s health if you don’t call the vet early.

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