How long can you leave out wet food?

I've had Momo for about 2 weeks now and I've started to introduce wet food to him (thankfully he's been eating most if it). With it being summer now, it tends to get a bit warm inside, what I was wondering how long can you leave out wet food? I usually put out the wet food after I come home from work and before I head to bed, but some times he finishes it in one sitting and most of the time in multiple sittings. Also how long can you leave wet food in the fridge before it goes bad? I usually buy the 12.5 oz cans and put the leftovers in a glass container. 

Congrats on the new addition!

As far as leaving canned food out, you're going to hear a variety of answers. Some people will say, only leave it out for 30 minutes, then others will say a few hours. 

The longer wet food is left out, the greater risk for bacteria growth because of the moisture. And on that point, feeding wet food has the added benefit of making sure your cat(s) are staying hydrated. When wet food starts to dry out, what's the point?

Personally, I don't have to leave wet food out for long because my cat loves it. However there is an odd time, when she takes her time to eat it, so I let it sit for an hour, before throwing the rest out.

I buy the 5.5 oz cans because that's the biggest size for the brands I feed, so I put the rest in the fridge too. I use it up within 24 hours of being opened and refrigerated. I do know that the longer it sits in the fridge, some cats won't touch it because it's not fresh anymore. It's a good idea to place what's left in a glass container, as the tin can leave a metal smell/residue that some cats can pick up on. 

Nora1 said:

Congrats on the new addition!

As far as leaving canned food out, you're going to hear a variety of answers. Some people will say, only leave it out for 30 minutes, then others will say a few hours. 

The longer wet food is left out, the greater risk for bacteria growth because of the moisture. And on that point, feeding wet food has the added benefit of making sure your cat(s) are staying hydrated. When wet food starts to dry out, what's the point?

Personally, I don't have to leave wet food out for long because my cat loves it. However there is an odd time, when she takes her time to eat it, so I let it sit for an hour, before throwing the rest out
I buy the 5.5 oz cans because that's the biggest size for the brands I feed, so I put the rest in the fridge too. I use it up within 24 hours of being opened and refrigerated. I do know that the longer it sits in the fridge, some cats won't touch it because it's not fresh anymore. It's a good idea to place what's left in a glass container, as the tin can leave a metal smell/residue that some cats can pick up on. 

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Surely once you warm it up after it comes out of the fridge it tastes fresh.

I'm probably in the minority, but I leave it out while I'm at work. Sometimes they eat it all immediately, sometimes they come back an hour later. Usually it's all gone when I get home, but sometimes not. If not, it's gross and hard when I get home so I scrape and clean the bowls then feed their afternoon meal. Repeat for their "midnight snack" meal right before I go to bed, which they usually eat immediately- but I leave the food out overnight. It's always gone in the morning.

When keeping in the fridge, I just use common sense and don't leave it longer than I would leave leftovers for myself, which is about 3-4 days.

In the hot days No longer than half to one hour. Before it dries up. You can always put it into the fridge but warm it in the microwave when you take it out. It enhances smell and taste

Just don't make it too hot so that they can't eat it.

Stewball said:

Surely once you warm it up after it comes out of the fridge it tastes fresh.

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That's true, forgot to mention that! Or add a tiny amount of warm water, stir, then serve! 

Nora1 said:

That's true, forgot to mention that! Or add a tiny amount of warm water, stir, then serve! :lol3:

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Nora1 said:

That's true, forgot to mention that! Or add a tiny amount of warm water, stir, then serve! :lol3:

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Still needs to be warm.

chloe92us said:

I'm probably in the minority, but I leave it out while I'm at work. Sometimes they eat it all immediately, sometimes they come back an hour later. Usually it's all gone when I get home, but sometimes not. If not, it's gross and hard when I get home so I scrape and clean the bowls then feed their afternoon meal. Repeat for their "midnight snack" meal right before I go to bed, which they usually eat immediately- but I leave the food out overnight. It's always gone in the morning.

When keeping in the fridge, I just use common sense and don't leave it longer than I would leave leftovers for myself, which is about 3-4 days.

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I leave canned food out like this, too. One of our cats actually really likes the "aged" stuff. I throw the food out earlier if the weather is hot but that's not a very big problem in Maine!

The cats do prefer some of pate leftovers from the refrigerator with warm/hot water added but they eat shreds and raw food right after they're taken out.

There was another thread about this recently, and there was a whole range of answers for leaving it out for kitty to eat. It went from 20 minutes to all day. I'm in the 2 hour range, figuring that's about how long I'd feel safe leaving my own food out.

Storing in the fridge, about 2-3 days. If there was food that I knew was getting old, I'd just sniff. Fortunately a few times kitty refused and I found the food spoiled when I smelled it.

Thanks all for the help guys and gals, all this is super helpful for a cat noob as myself. It pretty much comes down to case by case basis, just put myself in their place. Does it still smell okay,looks appealing,is it warm enough, etc.