Feeding your cat a raw diet is like hosting a private steakhouse for felines. But before you serve that dish of meaty goodness, there’s one step you can’t skip: proper storage. Whether you’re using pre-packaged raw cat food or preparing it at home, the way you store it can make or break your cat’s health, literally.
Let’s break it down like a butcher prepping chicken thighs. This guide walks through safe storage practices that keep bacteria at bay and keep your cat’s meals meow-worthy.
The Basics of Raw Cat Food Safety
Raw cat food isn’t like dry kibble, you can leave it in a bowl all day. It’s packed with fresh meat, organs, and sometimes bones, all of which can spoil quickly. A raw diet for cats brings with it the need for extra care, especially in warmer climates where bacteria thrive. Getting storage wrong is one of the most common mistakes new raw feeders make.
Once raw food is exposed to air and room temperature, it enters the danger zone. That’s around 4°C to 60°C, where bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli love to party. Your cat may have a tougher stomach than you, but that’s no reason to test it.
Freeze First, Ask Questions Later
If you’re buying frozen BARF cat food from a pet shop or online, it should go straight into your freezer when you get home. Don’t leave it in the car, don’t let it sit on the counter, and don’t “just thaw it a little” to speed things up. Freeze it at -18°C or colder.
The same goes for home-prepped raw meals. Portion them out before freezing. This lets you defrost only what you need without wasting a full batch or playing risky fridge games with half-used meat.
Thawing Without Drama
Thawing should always happen in the fridge, not on the counter. This helps the food stay cold enough to stop bacteria from growing while it softens. Depending on the size of the portion, it can take anywhere from 8 to 24 hours. If your raw cat food is part of a weekly meal plan, it helps to move the next day’s portion to the fridge each night to keep the routine smooth.
If you forgot to thaw dinner and your cat is giving you the evil eye, place the sealed portion in a bowl of cold water. It’s faster than the fridge and safer than using a microwave, which can create hot spots that alter the meat texture or even cook parts of it.
Once thawed, raw food should be served within 24 hours. Any leftovers? Toss them. Cats may act tough, but their digestive systems prefer fresh over funky.
Fridge Space: Clean and Separate
Treat raw cat food like raw chicken for people. Keep it in a sealed container and place it on the lowest shelf of the fridge. That way, if anything leaks, it doesn’t drip on your own groceries.
Use containers with tight lids, preferably ones labelled specifically for pet use. Keeping pet and human food separate avoids cross-contamination, especially if your fridge doubles as a cat café and family kitchen.
Feeding Tips to Keep It Fresh
When it’s feeding time, don’t leave the food sitting in the bowl for more than 30 minutes. After that, bacteria start to build up, and your cat may not be too thrilled about warmed-over meat. If your feline’s a slow eater, serve smaller portions more frequently.
Make sure feeding bowls are cleaned thoroughly after every meal. That means hot water and dish soap, not a quick rinse. Stainless steel bowls are easier to sanitise and less likely to hold on to bacteria than plastic ones.
Know When It’s Gone Bad
Spoiled raw food smells wrong, feels slimy, and changes colour. If your raw diet for cats suddenly turns grey, mushy, or has a sour odour, don’t gamble. Bin it. Cats may be curious, but even they draw the line at questionable meat.
Cats are also good at self-regulating. If yours suddenly refuses a meal they normally enjoy, check the smell and texture before blaming them for being picky. Their nose often knows.
Choosing Safe BARF Cat Food Options
If you’re buying BARF cat food from a shop, go with a brand that’s transparent about sourcing, prep, and storage. Look for packaging that includes handling instructions and expiration dates. Some local providers in Singapore offer vacuum-sealed packs that make long-term freezing and daily thawing a breeze.
Even better, see if the company uses third-party lab testing to verify bacterial safety. Feeding raw shouldn’t mean playing guessing games with your pet’s health.
Check out BOM BOM to find raw meals that are easy to store, simple to serve, and feline-approved at first sniff.