Keep dry cat food in its original, well-closed bag in a cool, dry, secure place. Refrigerate unused opened wet food promptly, covered and according to its label. Clean serving equipment between uses. A tidy container is useful only when it preserves the food's storage instructions and keeps the contents identifiable.
Keep the dry-food bag, even if you buy a storage tub
The FDA's pet-food storage guidance recommends placing the original bag inside a secondary container rather than pouring the food straight into it. Retain the product name, manufacturer, batch or lot number and best-before information. Clean and dry the outer container between bags.
Choose the tub around the bag you actually buy. If the only way it fits is to empty the food into the tub and throw away the label, a larger or differently shaped container may be more practical. Check that the lid closes fully with the bag inside and that the cat cannot open the storage location.
Date opened wet food
The FDA's handling guidance advises prompt refrigeration of unused or leftover canned and pouched food, or disposal. Cover refrigerated food and follow the product's directions for how long it can be kept after opening. The unopened best-before date does not answer that question.
A simple label can say:
- Full food name and flavour.
- Date and time opened.
- Use-by point calculated from the packet's after-opening instructions.
Keep the manufacturer's instructions available if the food goes into another covered container. Do not give an unknown-age portion to the cat because there is only a little left. Nor should you assume that all brands permit the same refrigeration time.
Separate food storage from the used bowl
Wash hands before and after handling food. FDA guidance recommends washing food bowls and serving utensils after use, and using a dedicated scoop rather than dipping the cat's bowl into the food bag. This keeps the stock container out of the serving-and-cleaning cycle.
For a stand such as Kitty Buffet, the ceramic bowls and bamboo frame are separate cleaning tasks. Follow the supplied care instructions for each; the material name alone does not prove dishwasher compatibility.
Make the next meal easy to identify
Put the older suitable portion where it will be noticed, with its label facing out. If several people feed the cat, agree where opened food belongs so one person does not open another pouch while the existing portion goes unnoticed.
Keep a clean serving utensil available and leave a clear place for used equipment. This is especially helpful in a small kitchen, where clean bowls, tools and packaging can otherwise become mixed together. Our compact feeding-kit guide covers organising the accessories around that preparation route.
Keep the label when something seems wrong
Do not serve food from swollen or leaking packaging or food that appears spoiled. Keep identifying details for the manufacturer, and contact your vet if your cat becomes unwell after eating it. A photo of the front of the packet is less useful than a clear image that also includes its batch code.
Sources checked 12 September 2026. Follow the exact food's storage directions.
