Do cats prefer cold or warm wet food

Should I Warm Up Cat Food? (According to Veterinarians)

Yes, it is generally a good idea to warm up wet canned cat food or refrigerate leftover cat food before feeding it to your cat. Warming the food enhances the aroma and taste, makes it more appealing and appetizing to cats, and provides some health benefits.

Do Cats Like Warm Food?

Cats typically prefer their food slightly warmed up instead of served cold from the fridge. In the wild, cats are used to eating fresh prey which would be warm.

The aroma of warm food is more appealing to your cats sense of smell, which is 14 times better than humans. Warm food also tastes better for cats as the flavor profile becomes more pronounced after heating.

The texture and moisture content also become more palatable. All of this makes warm cat food more enticing and can encourage picky cats to eat.

Benefits of Warming Up Cat Food

There are a few benefits to warming your cats wet food before mealtime:

Enhances Aroma and Taste

As mentioned, heating up the food releases more aroma and flavor compounds, making it more enticing for fussy felines. The smell and taste become stronger, which cats naturally find more appealing.

Makes it More Appealing to cats

The enhanced aroma, taste, moisture, and texture of warmed food make it more palatable and appetizing. Even finicky cats will be more inclined to eat warm food. This ensures your cat is getting adequate nutrition.

May Support Digestion

Some cat owners find that serving food at room temperature or slightly warmed aids their cats digestion. The warmer temperature may be gentler on your cats stomach.

Reduces risk of Gulping Air when Eating

Cats may gulp down cold, refrigerated food faster, inadvertently swallowing air as they eat. This can lead to gas, bloating, or indigestion. Slightly warmed food prevents this.

Brings out the Natural Flavors

Heating food releases more of its natural taste compounds, allowing the flavors to shine through. This can make it more appetizing and satisfying for cats.

How to Warm Up Cat Food?

Never serve cat food piping hot or straight from a hot pan! It should be warmed gently to around body temperature. Here are some safe methods:

Microwave Method

• Microwave the cat food in 5-10 second bursts, stirring in between, until warmed through. Be careful not to overheat any one spot.
• Test the temperature before serving. It should feel lukewarm, not hot.
• Transfer the food to your cats dish. The dish itself can help further cool down the food if needed.

Adding Hot Water

• Scoop out the refrigerated or canned food into your cats bowl.
• Add a spoonful or two of hot (not boiling) water and mix thoroughly to evenly distribute heat.
• Let it sit briefly until the food is lukewarm before serving.

Heating the Food in Water

• Place the sealed can or refrigerated packets of cat food into a bowl.
• Pour hot tap water around and over the food, like creating a hot water bath.
• Let it sit for 5 minutes so the food gently warms up to room temperature or lukewarm.
• Open the can or pouches and mix the heated wet food before serving.

No matter which warming method you use, always stir thoroughly and check the temperature to make sure its not too hot before feeding your cat. With a little trial and error, youll find the ideal serving temperature to enhance taste and aroma without overheating.

While dry kibble can be served at room temperature, warming up wet canned or refrigerated cat food can make it more palatable and appetizing.

The enhanced smell, taste, and texture entice finicky felines to eat up. Start by trying your cats favorite wet recipes warmed up to see if they enjoy it. Just be sure to warm it gradually and test the temperature first.

With a few added seconds in the microwave or soaking in hot water, you can bring out the flavor and aroma to enhance mealtime for your cat.

How to Warm Up Cat Food Without Losing Nutrients?

1. Use Low Heat When heating cat food, use low heat methods like a warm water bath or microwave at 50% power. High temperatures can denature proteins and degrade vitamins.

1. Dont Overcook Just warm the food until it reaches body temperature, not piping hot. Overheating for too long can break down nutrients.
2. Microwave in Short Bursts Microwave in 5-10 second intervals, stirring in between to prevent hot spots. This minimizes exposure to high heat.
3. Dont Reheat Leftovers Multiple Times Reheating leftovers once is fine but overdoing it can deplete nutrients. Discard any uneaten portion after 2 days.
4. Add Some Warm Water Mixing in a bit of warm water raises the temperature without microwaving further. The water also adds moisture.
5. Serve Immediately Once warmed, serve the cat food right away. Letting it sit could allow nutrients to dissipate over time.
6. Dont Refrigerate Again Refrigerating wet food again after warming up to room temperature further diminishes nutrient content. Discard any uneaten portion.
7. Check Ingredient Quality Choose cat foods with premium, natural ingredients to start with the highest nutrient content possible before warming.
8. Rotate Foods Rotate multiple flavors and brands of wet foods to ensure variety of nutrients in your cats diet.

Can Cats Eat Cold Wet Food? + How to Warm Up Cat Food

Cats are extremely fussy creatures. They love their routine and hate if you change something suddenly. And one of the things cats are fussiest about is their food. Some cats will only eat wet food, other cats will only eat dry food. Then you have cats that will only eat fish but not chicken, or cats that only eat one particular brand.

I feed my cat wet food as this is her preference. But I noticed she never seems as happy with her food when I serve the second half of the can from the fridge. This got me thinking, can cats eat cold food? Or is she just being a fusspot like usual? And does wet cat food even need to be refrigerated?

So, I did my research and it turns out that cats can eat cold wet food. However, more often than not felines will turn their nose up at it. It doesnt smell as strongly and the cool sensation in their mouth might not feel pleasant. I run through this in more detail in this article, plus offer some methods of warming cat food up.

Can Cats Eat Cold Wet Food?

The simple answer to this question is yes. Cats can eat cold wet cat food. But then again, cats can eat anything if they really want to. Therefore, a better question to ask is should cats eat cold wet cat food, and the answer is no they shouldnt.

Eating food straight from the refrigerator wont do your cat any harm, but as cats are known to be fussy it is best that they dont. This will increase the likelihood of your cat eating their dinner and getting the nutrients they need. There are several reasons why cats turn their nose up at cold food, which I cover more in the below sections.

With this all being said, if youre cat doesnt seem to have a problem with eating refrigerated cat food then you can continue doing as you are. If there isnt a problem, dont try and solve it!

1. It Doesnt Mimic the Temperature of Prey

The main reason cats dont like eating cold wet cat food is because it doesnt mimic the temperature of prey. In the wild, cats eat small rodents and birds for food. The meat from these small birds and mammals will be the same temperature as the animal itself. The warmer the meat is, the fresher it is. And the colder it is, the more likely their prey died a while ago.

For this reason, cats have a natural preference for warmer meat. This means it is fresher and less likely to have gone off. Although cats especially indoor-only cats arent relying on hunting for food and survival, the instinctive preference for warmer meat persists. Even though the food in your fridge is fresh, your cat wont see it this way.

2. Colder Food Can Make Cats Sick

There is also a chance that eating cold food might make your cat feel sick. This can start as soon as putting the food in their mouth. The cold temperature can make strange sensations in your cats mouth that they dont like. If your cat has sensitive teeth, biting down on the cold food to chew it can also cause them pain.

For this reason, many cats that eat cold wet cat food will eat it quickly without chewing it properly. These larger lumps of food eaten at record pace and make your cat sick. Some will just feel a little uncomfortable for a while, whereas others might go as far as to regurgitate their dinner all over the floor!

3. It Doesnt Smell as Appetizing

The warmer food is, the smellier it is. The added heat gives more energy to the molecules in the food, leading the odor-causing compounds to release into the air more easily. Cats already have a powerful sense of smell, but having warm food can really entice them to eat every last mouthful.

On the other hand, cold cat food has a much less intense odor. This is a great perk for us I dont miss the smell of fish lingering in my home! However, for cats, it can put them off their dinner. If it doesnt smell tasty, why would they want to eat it?

How To Warm Up Refrigerated Cat Food

If you do have a fussy cat that isnt eating cold wet cat food, youll want to heat it up. Ideally, the food should be at room temperature. This will be closest to the temperature of prey that cats instinctively show a preference for. Besides, too warm and you run the risk of burning your cats mouth.

So, how can you warm up refrigerated cat food? Can you microwave cat food? Or is there another way of heating it? Here I look at a few different methods you can try at home.

1. Microwave Cat Food

The first option available is to simply microwave the refrigerated cat food. If you want to microwave your cats food, follow these steps:

• Start by putting the wet cat food into a microwaveable bowl. Putting metal in the microwave is very dangerous, so never leave the cat food in the can.
• Turn the microwave down to the lowest setting. You dont want to heat the food on full blast or it could become too warm for your cat to enjoy.
• Heat the cat food in the microwave for 30 seconds, then give it a stir. Stirring helps the heat to dissipate through the food so it is all the same temperature.
• Check the temperature of the food using a clean finger, and repeat step 3 as many times as necessary. Then put the food in your cats bowl and let them enjoy it.

2. Heat it Using Hot Water

If you dont have a microwave, this is another great method. It is also easier to keep track of precisely how warm the cat food gets so you never overheat it. To use this method, follow these steps:

• Boil the kettle and pour a small amount of boiling water into a shallow bowl. You will be putting the can of food in this, so ensure the water level isnt too high.
• Get the cat food from the fridge and place the can directly in the bowl of water. Let it sit here for a few minutes, stirring now and again.
• The heat from the water will travel through the can and slowly heat the food up. Once it is an appropriate temperature, serve it to your hungry cat.

3. Leave it On the Kitchen Counter

Finally, you can heat cat refrigerated cat food simply by leaving it out on the side. Through a gradual process, the heat will penetrate the cat food and the coolness will leave. The benefit of this method is that the cat food will only ever reach room temperature and never higher. Therefore, you never need to worry about heating the food too much.

However, this method does have some drawbacks. For one, you need to be prepared! It will take around an hour or more for the food to reach room temperature. This is not one for busy owners or anyone who is remotely forgetful!

Also, leaving wet cat food out on the side can run the risk of going off. How long can canned food sit out? Never leave the food out for longer than four hours. Ideally, cover the cat food with clingfilm as you leave it to warm up. This will help to keep bacteria out so it stays fresher.

Other Feeding Options for Cats

If you dont want to heat wet cat food, dont worry. There are a few other options available to you, which include:

• Dry Cat Food: Switch to dry cat food that doesnt need to be refrigerated. You can simply get this out of the bag and it will already be at room temperature voila! If you do switch to dry food from a wet food diet, be sure to introduce the new food slowly. This will help encourage your cat to accept the change and reduce associated stress. Bear in mind that young kittens need wet food, so dont switch to dry food before your cat is old enough!
• Smaller Portions: Another option is to simply purchase smaller portions of wet cat food. This means you can feed your cat an entire can each mealtime, and there wont be any leftovers that need to be refrigerated. Of course, this might not be an option for all brands of cat food, but see if it is available. If its not, you could consider switching brands. Again, switch to the new brand slowly for the highest chance of approval from your cat.
• Automatic Cat Feeder: You could also consider purchasing an automatic wet cat food feeder. This way, you can put your cats food into the different sections when you first open the can. Ice packs below the sections of the feeder keep the food fresh throughout the day, without cooling it down too much. A lid then covers the food to prevent bacteria from getting inside, while simultaneously stopping your cat from accessing all their food at once.

I personally use the automatic cat feeder option. Not only do these feeders remove the need for me to heat cat food, but they also make it easier to stick to a feeding schedule. I know Im never going to forget to feed my cat, and she loves the consistent routine.

These pieces of kit are so popular that youre spoilt for choice. From dog-proof cat feeders to cat feeders with a collar sensor, the choice is yours. Have more than one kitty? Dont worry! There are even automatic cat feeders for multiple cats on the market.

Does Wet Cat Food Need to be Refrigerated?

Hold on cant we just not refrigerate cat food? Wont that solve the issue? Unfortunately, that isnt an option. Wet can food needs to be stored correctly. Otherwise, bacteria can grow on the food. When your cat ingests this bacteria, it will fall sick. Incorrect storage can also impair the taste and the nutritional value of the food.

How you store wet cat food depends on whether it is opened or unopened:

Unopened Wet Cat Food

Unopened wet cat food does not need to be refrigerated. Instead, you need to keep the food at room temperature. Leaving the cans in a cupboard or on a shelf is perfectly fine. However, try to choose a place that doesnt deal with extreme temperature fluctuations as this can impair the taste.

Youll also want to keep the food in a dark place where possible. Prolonged sun exposure can make the contents of the cans spoil more quickly than they should. A dark cupboard in your kitchen tends to be the best place for this reason.

Opened Wet Cat Food

Once you open a can of cat food, any remaining leftovers need to be refrigerated. This helps stop the food from growing bacteria and keeps it fresh. Cover the open can and put it in your fridge. It can last here for up to 5 days, but any longer and you will need to throw the contents away.

In terms of the wet food in your cats bowl, this will be good for around 4 hours. If there is any food your cat hasnt eaten 4+ hours after feeding time it needs to be thrown away.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

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 wont smell as appetizing, plus cats instinctively prefer eating warmer food that is at the same temperature as their prey.

If you are feeding your cat wet food thats been in the fridge, try heating it up first. I can almost guarantee your cat will happily eat it as if it was a fresh can!