Shelf Life

Canned and vacuum-packed wet foods are pasteurized before sealing and have extensive shelf lives.

They have no added preservatives, come in single-meal or single-day quantities, and are meant to be eaten quickly once open.

Dry foods are cooked under pressure and then dried. Fat is applied to the surface of the dry particles for odor and palatability but fat spoils when exposed to heat, humidity, light, or even oxygen, so dry food needs preservatives to enhance shelf life.

Antioxidants  such as vitamins C and E are preservatives. Vitamins can come from natural sources or be synthesized: curiously, natural antioxidants do not preserve food for as long as synthetic ones.

These dry foods are produced in multi-meal packages. For added safety, transfer your cat's dry food into a sealed container and store it in a cool, dry location.