How Do You Store Any Leftover Moist Pet Food? Hope NOT In The Can
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
April 6, 2009 1:35am CST
I usually don't run into this problem, since my two fussy pampered kitties like Fancy Feast, so those are very small cans, so I don't have leftovers. But for those of you who might use larger sized cans of pet foods (dogs or cats)---Did you know it's actually dangerous to keep the leftover remaining food in the can even if it's refrigerated??
I only found this out now as I was looking up something in this book I have called The New Natural Cat by Anitra Frazier.. by the way I HIGHLY recommend this book to any cat owner and I believe she has a similar book for dog owners. She's a great advocate of natural and herbal remedies for just about everything and anything. Anyway, so I was looking up something when I happened to come across this:
Store leftover food in a covered glass or plastic container and refrigerate. Do not store in the can. Cans are usually made of aluminum and the can's seam is sealed closed with lead. Once you open the can and break the vacuum, oxygen and moisture are free to mix with the lead and aluminum. Molecules from these toxic metals can then get into the food. Avoid lead and aluminum contamination by removing the food from the can as soon as you open it.
(Source: The Natural Cat by Anitra Frazier page 55 -- my own copy of book)
I always knew cans were made of aluminum but had no idea that the seam was of lead...like sheesh!
So how do you store leftover moist food for your pets? In the can? I think after this you should reconsider placing any leftover pet food in another storage container, otherwise you might be unknowingly creating a lead poisoning situation and aluminum isn't too great either.
9 people like this
43 responses
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
7 Apr 09
Hey pye! I am so happy that you told me about this! I have
been apparently poisoning my poor babies and not knowing it!
I am now going to put the leftover food in a plastic container
for now on! I really want to thank you for finding this out!
I know probably all us pet owners would never have known about
this! How would we know that the seal the can with lead? That
book sounds like a wonderful book to have! Star & Luna say
thanks to "Auntie Pye" once again! lol
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Apr 09
I didn't know this about the cans either. It's rare though that I get large cans of cat food since my two are so fussy and prefer Fancy Feast which is a small can--the two of them share it
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
6 Apr 09
Leftovers? Not in my house!!!
But I don't store anything in the can, nope, never. Was told it was bad, so I don't!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Apr 09
Nope I never have any leftovers....with my two little piggy kitties??? LOL
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
7 Apr 09
I feed my four cats moist food out of 400 gram tins. One tin just about does the lot for one feed, but if there is any left over I just leave it in the tin until the next feed. I feed them three times a day, so the food is not sitting in the can for more than a few hours.
The cans though, are of steel and so presumably are not prone to the things that you mentioned. I do find it unbelevable though that lead, which is a known toxic metal which is banned in paints, should be used to seal aluminium cans. I'll do a bit of research into this.
1 person likes this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
8 Apr 09
I presume that all plants use the same method. Examine a can and see is there is a seam. The videeo says that the inside of the cans are sprayed to prevent metal leaching.
1 person likes this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
7 Apr 09
OK There is no seam and no lead used in the maunfacture. See this Youtube video for the full process. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSvmk15-3MY
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Apr 09
That might be true for that one manufacturing plant but we don't know how other plants operate or use. I do remember reading some controversy about how the inner parts of cans are given a plastic coating and that the chemicals in that might leech into the foods,not just pet foods but human food as well
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Apr 09
My two never eat anything else but Fancy Feast...spoiled brats that they are..LOL
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
6 Apr 09
Hi pye,
That is so strange as I use a medium size cat food tin for my cats but what I have been doing is when I open the can I put it straight into a hard plastic icream container with the lid and keep in fridge, the food only last one day as the have half a can each a day. Good for you pye for bring this to our attention.
Bright Blessings.
Tamara
xxxxx
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Apr 09
I'm glad to hear that you put the food in a different container....thank goodness with those small cans of Fancy Feast I give my cats, there are no leftovers...LOL
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Apr 09
OMG! First I am putting my dog's life at risk by keeping her outside and now I may be poisoning my animals by keeping left over food in the cans! I have been doing it for years! I had no idea it could be dangerous; it makes sense though. There's a habit I'll be changing real soon! Thanks for the info Pye!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Apr 09
She has everything she needs, I was just recalling the information you gave us about people stealing dogs for dog fights; I've been thinking about it since your discussion. Our dog doesn't like being in the house for too long, she loves being with us but gets upset especially if she's left alone indoors. She sleeps in her kennel under the porch and of course she is very well fed and has plenty of water and toys. I know the chances are remote but I would be devastated if someone took her.
At least I can do something about the canned food!
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Apr 09
Oops... it's evening here and I'm tired, I was referring to Pyewacket's discussion about dog fighting, not yours, sorry I think I'm ready for bed!
1 person likes this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
6 Apr 09
how are you risking her life by keeping her outside?
Is she contained or restrained?
does she have shelter, food and water?
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Apr 09
I don't have leftovers, because my pets have dry food mixed with what I cook for them. I have small glass containers to store cook food. My cat doesn't like wet food, unless it is for dogs, she may want to "steel" some..(my dogs let her try whatever she wants). In general storing any food in cans are not good for people and animals.
HUGS
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
8 Apr 09
I think that cat cans are very expensive. My cat doesn't like wet food, she loves dry food only and she doesn't eat much. between my dogs and my cat, I wouldn't afford to spend much on can food. I save a lot by cooking and making dry snacks for my dogs.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Apr 09
I wish my two pampered darhlings would eat more "people" food that I could cook up for them, but they now only seem to like the Fancy Feast. Years ago, when I had more cats, I used to cook up a cat's version of chicken soup, with the broth, chicken, rice and mixed veggies..they loved it...these two now? Just look at me with that "You expect me to eat this?" kind of look.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 Apr 09
Cripes, I thought we had fixed that problem. I feed Banjo out of a large can and it takes him one or two days to get through it. I store the can in the fridge! He seems perfectly healthy...what are the symptoms of lead poisoning? I will go and fix that right away. Thanks Pye.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 09
I'll have to check my cans of cat food to see if it says anything about storing food for three days...but I never have leftover food for my kitties that long...LOL
As far as symptoms of lead poisoning ...I found this site about it
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lead-poisoning/fl00068/dsection=symptoms
(NOT a referral link!)
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
6 Apr 09
leftover pet food?
i never have that problem.
i usually would transfer it to a tupperware if there was any left over.
i prefer reusuable containers than storing any food in a can,people or kittywise.
..and that's also why my cookie canister is full of catnip instead of cookies.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Apr 09
I have TONS of reusable containers to store food. And like you..leftover food for my kitties???...not the way my kitties eat...LOL
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
6 Apr 09
i'm lucky if i have my food to eat sometimes around them..
especially if it's turkey.
1 person likes this
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
8 Apr 09
Wow I did not know that.My kitties always get dry food, but I do remember back in the day my mom would put cat and dog food in the fridge with foil over the can, guess that was not such a good idea now, but the animals never did get sick.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 09
As a treat just now instead of cat food I gave my "deprived" kitties some of the Swanson's canned Chicken Meat....yikes nearly $3.00 a can here...but since I didn't use it all up put it in a plastic container..used to put a cover over the can and in the fridge..so won't do that now
@jdyrj777 (6530)
• United States
8 Apr 09
I dont have this problem. I open one can of food, divide it ino three dishes and serve. They dont eat it all right away. But before too long they do. Usually they just get the one can a day but everynow and then they have one at nite too. They have dry food available all the time.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 09
I have dry food down for my cats all day/night long. As far as the moist food I feed them about two or three time a day
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
6 Apr 09
Hey pye,
thanks for the info. I used to do just that, stick one of those plastic can covers over it and in the fridge it would go. But with Dexter, he's only had dry puppy food. He doesn't even get a snack from the table. We are trying to keep him from wanting table food all the time. It's harder for me than it is for him.xoxoxoxo
leenie
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Apr 09
LOL--Does Dexter make you feel guilty if you don't give him table scraps? I have to compete when I eat my breakfast. My Pyewacket will sit right next to me while I eat breakfast looking at me. If I don't give him some of my scrambled egg voluntarily, he reaches his paw on my place and helps himself....heehee..Rude No?
1 person likes this
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
10 Apr 09
Your Pye sounds really funny. Dexter has never had table food so he doesn't beg. When we eat, he sleeps under my chair but doesn't expect any people food. I was so determined not to spoil him with it. My last Mini Dachshund(Bogie) would be so stubborn, he would refuse to eat his food for days. Dexter eats his own food. We do sometimes over do the treats. Oh well..
leenie
1 person likes this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
10 Apr 09
With 7 cats THERE IS NO LEFTOVER FOOD! LOL
Seriously, this is not an issue for me, they eat every last bit of whatever I put out. They steal my darned food too!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Apr 09
LOL--didn't know you had seven cats. As for my cats stealing my food..Pyewacket "insists" on "sharing" my breakfast. If I don't purposely give him some of my scrambled egg, he helps himself and steals right from my plate..how rude!
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
6 Apr 09
I did know that
its not just pet food either
its all canned food!
never put an opened can of food in the fridge
always put it in another container first
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Apr 09
Since you commented under paula's comments here maybe you missed my discussion about how many dogs are stolen for dog fights since they are used for bait to train them for dog fights. There are videos out about this very thing. Surveillance cameras set up in many urban areas like NYC area have actually caught dog nappers stealing dogs...usually small dogs like toy poodles, yorkies, chihuahuas, and puppies of ANY breed solely for using them as bait for dog fights. These dogs are stolen from the yards of homes here in the NYC area that have small yards where people keep them outdoors thinking their pets are safe, but aren't...as all a person has to do, that wishes to steal these dogs as bait for dog fights is simply reach over and grab the dog..OR...if some pet owner while walking there dog suddenly decides to go "shopping" in a local store will tie the dog on a pole, go inside the store to shop and lo and behold comes out to find their dog missing/stolen. The one cruel very recent case was when burglars ransacked a family's home not far from me, while they were out and besides stealing high priced electronics stole the family pet...a yorkie named Pinky..no ordinary dog either as the girl of the family was deaf and managed to train her dog to understand sign language...you just KNOW the dog was stolen not for it's monetary value but as bait for training for a dog fight.
I urge you to watch this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F29-he5a9hM&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpetfoodtales%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F2007%2F12%2Ffight%2Dfor%2Dkindness%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded
(Warning NOT a referral link but a link to a youtube video}
While this kind of crap is more prevalent in city areas DON'T for a minute it doesn't happen in nice, quaint country areas.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Apr 09
Watch this other "lovely" video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaTKPfqAbxg&feature=channel
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
7 Apr 09
Would you believe I have staff that stores food for people in the cans, and I have to keep getting on them for it. Fruit, especially. It makes me mad. Oxidation ruins the taste of food stored this way even as it leeches toxic chemicals into it, too.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
11 Apr 09
I'm glad your after the staff not to store leftover food still in the cans. I never think of storing people food in cans
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
8 Apr 09
Thanks for the info Pyewacket. I knew not to store anything in a can in the fridge but I didn't think about pet food. I don't really have to worry about leftovers but its nice to know.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 09
I never have leftovers either unless I use the larger cans which isn't often
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
7 Apr 09
Thanks fopr the info. I didn't know this either. Mostly our little fussies eat the Fancy Feast also (or Sheba) and they devour the whole container. However, I keep plastic lids that snap on the larger cans on the rare occasions that we used only a portion of a larger can. I guess I won't be using those lids anymore.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 09
Yes on the larger cans I used to put plastic lids on them too. Like I said though I rarely get the larger cans anyway, since my two cats are so fussy and only eat Fancy Feast too. They don't seem to care for sheba
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Apr 09
When we had pets, we used the dry dog food and when we had cats, we gave them left overs, like mashed up meat loaf or salmons. We never stored food in cans and in the rare cases we had dog or cat food because we were out of dry food, or the cans were on sale, we put them in containers.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 09
I wish my two cats would go back to eating cooked up "people" food but they are too fussy and will only eat Fancy Feast
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
7 Apr 09
i have known this from back when i had cats. i now have a dog and my son has a dog and i just had a discussion with him the other day about NOT giving things to the dogs that is to old for human consumption. i take care of them like babies myself, pets that is.
@csrobins (1120)
• United States
7 Apr 09
No, I had no idea. That makes me a little worried now I am doing things unknowingly to hurt my pet-even though it's a dog. Why wouldn't someone tell us about this. I think it's the food makers responsibility to inform us of these things.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 09
Yes you would think there would be some kind of warning on the labels of pets foods not to store remainder in the can itself.