How to portion off the big cans?

juliacat · Jun 29, 2015

Thinking about going to big cans to save money...this would also be a consideration if I started making homemade cat food.

I only have two cats, we go through 3 medium-sized cans every 2 days, with the food coming out of the refrigerator every other meal. They will eat it, but I don't think they would eat it if it had been refrigerated any longer than that. How would it work if I bought big cans, or made my own? Would I divide the food into glass dishes and microwave it for them? Does anyone else buy big cans to save money and then have to figure out how to store the food between meals?

jcat · Jun 29, 2015

A lot of people divide big cans. If it's just for half a day, I put a plastic lid on the can and put it in the fridge, then microwave the food in the (glass) food dish for a couple of seconds before feeding Mogli. If it's going to be saved over night it goes in a small glass baby food container that can be microwaved. For a while I was buying even larger cans and freezing half in BPA-free plastic containers for baby food, but the cost savings wasn't really worth the effort and freezer space, so I went back to medium-sized cans. There was also some doubt about how safe even the BPA-free plastic is.

LTS3 · Jun 29, 2015

Just portion the can out into food storage containers (plastic, glass) and store in the fridge. You can also store the containers in the freezer and take them out as needed, taking into account time needed for the food to thaw in the fridge. You can warm the food up in a bowl of hot water or for a few seconds in the microwave on low power (maybe 50% power or less if you have such a function).

juliacat · Jun 30, 2015

Can you mix refrigerated canned cat food with hot tap water, thereby avoiding the microwave, improving the temperature, AND adding hydration to the meals? Because I really might do that if it is easy to do and saves money.

2cats4me · Jun 30, 2015

Juliacat said:
Can you mix refrigerated canned cat food with hot tap water, thereby avoiding the microwave, improving the temperature, AND adding hydration to the meals? Because I really might do that if it is easy to do and saves money.

Definitely , That is the only way my cats can/will eat their Fancy Feast Classic . They like it very watered down . A 1/2 can of FF and 3/4 can of very hot water . I give them each two meals of wet and one meal kibble .

juliacat · Jul 2, 2015

Okay, I tried it with some leftover Grreat Choice pate and hot tap water. Mr. Friendly picked out as much pate as he could and left the "gravy." Miss Timid looked at me like "are you nuts" and backed away slowly. Not so much of a success! However, the refrigerated food was in a glass container and it had only been there 24 hours, so I bet they would have eaten it (as opposed to still in the can and picking up who knows what odors from that). I will try again next week.

juliacat · Jul 2, 2015

...the dog, however, absolutely LOVED it.

2cats4me · Jul 2, 2015

Juliacat said:
Okay, I tried it with some leftover Grreat Choice pate and hot tap water. Mr. Friendly picked out as much pate as he could and left the "gravy." Miss Timid looked at me like "are you nuts" and backed away slowly. Not so much of a success! However, the refrigerated food was in a glass container and it had only been there 24 hours, so I bet they would have eaten it (as opposed to still in the can and picking up who knows what odors from that). I will try again next week.

I guess they don't like the added water .. I am sure not all cats like it that way . Mine like it very watery that is why I have to give them one meal of high quality kibble too ..

marc999 · Jul 10, 2015

I try to feed ~ 200 kcal per day.

Let's assume a given large can of cat food has ~ 400 kcal.

I use a kitchen weigh scale and divide either the grams or ounces by 4, then weigh out the appropriate amount, per meal = ~ 100 kcal.

-----------------------------

Or - just eyeball it and scoop out 4 portions, not a big deal.

Kat0121 · Jul 10, 2015

Juliacat said:
...the dog, however, absolutely LOVED it.

My cat's dishes have to stay off the floor for the same reason. My dog will inhale their food. I had to taken them off the kitchen table and put them on the floor a couple of weeks ago because I had an AC repairman over and he needed the table to make up the bill. The dishes were on the floor all of 60 seconds and the dog got to them. The dishes looked like they had just come out of the cabinet. Empty and clean. The cats weren't pleased. As soon as he left, I refilled the dishes and back on the table they went.

juliacat · Jul 10, 2015

I leave the dog crated while I feed the cats, then I take the dog outside for a few minutes, then he comes back in with me and makes a beeline for the cats' dishes. USUALLY they've finished eating by then, but if not, double breakfast for doggie! The cats don't like it, but they back away slowly instead of attacking.

How to portion off the big cans?

juliacat

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jcat

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