Can cats eat cold wet food?
When people ask ‘can cats eat cold food?’, they’re normally talking about wet food. That’s because there’s no need to store dry cat food in the fridge. It will stay fresh in a cool, dry place like a cupboard as long as you fasten the bag properly. Wet food, on the other hand, is different. Once you’ve opened it, you have to seal it and keep it in the refrigerator. What’s more, you should use it within just a couple of days, or it will go off.
Storing open wet cat food in the fridge for freshness leads us to another question: can cats eat refrigerated food? The good news is yes, they can. Cold cat food doesn’t pose any kind of health risk to your beloved pet. The bad news is that they might not tuck into it as readily as they do when you fetch a new tin or pouch from the cupboard. This is where your kitty’s personal preferences come into play.
Do cats like cold wet food?
Can cats eat cold food? Yes. Do cats like cold food? That’s a different story! We’ll preface this answer by saying that all animals are unique, with their own personalities, likes and dislikes. The only way to know if your fur baby enjoys cold cat food is to try serving it to them. Having said that, chances are they won’t be a fan.
Most felines prefer their wet food to be at room temperature. This is closer to what they’d experience in the wild, where they would have no fridges and hunt live prey. In fact, you might discover that your moggy actually likes their food to be nearer to body temperature (about 35-37℃). Research has revealed that ageing cats with decreased food intake find warm food more palatable.(1) This may be because heating their meals improves the flavour profile and aroma of the ingredients. Conversely, chilled chow was the least favourite option for the cats in the study. All of which means it’s likely your kitty won’t be a fan of cold cat food.
Can kittens eat cold wet food?
Cats have different needs and preferences regarding food depending on their age. That’s why it’s important to buy them dry and wet food which is designed for their stage of life. As such, the answer to the question ‘can cats eat cold food?’ may differ according to how old your pet is. We’ve seen above that while adult cats can eat cold cat food, they might not want to. And older cats in particular seem to show a preference for warm meals. So, what about younger moggies? Can kittens eat cold wet food?
The answer is pretty much the same as for adult cats. While kittens can eat cold wet food, they normally prefer it to be room temperature or prey temperature. Again, this is because it’s more natural and enhances the smell and flavour of the meal. We recommend serving your kitten their wet food at different temperatures and seeing which they like best. That way, you can make sure mealtimes are as enjoyable as possible for your little bundle of fluff!
Tips for serving cats wet food
Let’s recap. Can cats eat cold food? Yes. Do cats like cold wet food? It’s probably not their favourite. So, what’s the best thing to do when serving your feline friend fare that you’ve stored in the fridge?
Ideally, you want to take your pet’s wet food out of the fridge about 15 minutes before feeding time. This lets it warm up to room temperature and makes it more appetising for your cat. Another option is to stir a small splash of warm water into the food. You can also heat your moggy’s meals in the microwave. However, be very careful that they don’t get too hot if you do this. Otherwise, you run the risk of your kitty burning their mouth.
Of course, serving enticing wet food doesn’t only come down to knowing can cats eat cold food or not. There are plenty of non-temperature-related tips you might try that could make your kitty’s meals more enjoyable. For example:
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Mix a little dry food into their wet food to give it a combination of textures.
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Add a topping to their wet food to provide some variety. This could be one of the human foods that cats can eat, like lean cooked chicken or cooked, deboned fish.
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Add a functional food to your pet’s wet food to support their wellbeing. For example, that could be ashwagandha for anxiety or Jerusalem artichoke for gut health.
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Always use clean bowls and have separate dishes for wet and dry food. Cats tend to prefer eating from shallow, wide bowls.
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Don’t feed your kitty near their litter tray, or in noisy and busy areas.
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Many moggies like to eat little and often, rather than having one or two big meals a day.
The verdict on cold cat food
In conclusion, the answer to the question ‘can cats eat cold food?’ is ‘yes, but they prefer not to’. When feeding your fluffy friend food from the fridge, be sure to let it warm to room temperature first. Adding a splash of hot water to bring it up to body temperature can also be an effective way to make wet food even more appetising. We recommend trying it if your cat isn’t eating well, for example because of stress or age. Or just to give your beloved kitty a treat!
