{"id":631965,"date":"2024-07-22T13:22:46","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T17:22:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=631965"},"modified":"2024-09-17T10:26:05","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T14:26:05","slug":"how-long-can-you-leave-wet-cat-food-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/cat-health-care\/how-long-can-you-leave-wet-cat-food-out\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Can You Leave Wet Cat Food Out? Vet-Verified Health & Safety Info"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\n Click to Skip Ahead \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n \r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/path>\r\n <\/svg> <\/div>\n
\n <\/span>\n \nHow Long Can You Leave Wet Cat Food Out?<\/a>
\nDangers<\/a>
\nSigns of Foodborne Illness<\/a>
\nStoring Leftover Wet Cat Food<\/a>
\nGetting Your Cat to Eat Their Food<\/a>
\nCan Dry Cat Food Be Left Out Longer?<\/a>
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The clock starts ticking as soon as you open your cat\u2019s can of food. Feline wet food will grow bacteria, accumulate bacterial toxins, and spoil much faster than dry food.<\/p>\n

Generally, wet cat food can only stay out for around 2 to 4 hours before becoming potentially dangerous for your cat to eat.<\/strong> However, you can safely leave it in the fridge for 3 days. We\u2019ll explain how long you can leave wet cat food out and offer tips for keeping your cat healthy and safe.<\/p>\n

\"divider<\/p>\n

How Long Can You Leave Wet Cat Food Out?<\/h2>\n

Wet cat food usually contains roughly 80% moisture and plenty of organic material, making it ideal for microbes to breed. While mold doesn’t begin growing for at least 24 hours, bacteria can double in only 20\u201330 minutes under optimal conditions, quickly making food unpleasant and hazardous.<\/p>\n

\"a
Image Credit: Jiri Hera, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dangers of Leaving Wet Cat Food Out<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t leave wet cat food out for more than 4 hours when the room temperature is above 50\u00b0F. Bacteria like Salmonella<\/em>, E. coli<\/em>, and Campylobacter<\/em> thrive as temperature, nutrition, and moisture rise, and wet food offers the ideal environment for contamination. If the room is hot. humid, or poorly ventilated, spoilage can accelerate, with food often going bad in as little as 2 hours.<\/p>\n

As wet cat food goes bad, it dries and gels to give the food an unpleasant texture and taste. Paired with the cat\u2019s natural aversion to spoiled food, this is often enough to keep them from eating an old meal, lowering the risk of illness. However, if they do choose to eat spoiled food bacteria can lead to infection of the gastrointestinal tract. If mold has grown on the food there is the risk of mycotoxins causing signs of toxicity from tremors to vomiting.<\/p>\n

Signs of Foodborne Illness<\/h2>\n

Age and health status can affect a cat’s susceptibility to illness, as the potential is higher for young, senior, or immuno-compromised pets.<\/p>\n

Depending on the pathogen, food poisoning can be apparent within a few hours or several days after your cat eats the contaminated meal.<\/p>\n

Signs of bacterial infections include:<\/div>
\n