List of Nonperishable Food Items for Pets

Canned Pet Foods

• Store canned food at room temperature, keeping the food under 90 degrees F to prevent degradation and spoilage. While you can store canned foods at temperatures below 50 degrees, this may change the appearance, texture and palatability but will not affect the nutritional value, according to the experts at pet supply cataloger Doctors Foster and Smith. Canned cat and dog food normally lasts about two years from the date of manufacture when stored in a cool, dry cabinet. Some canned pet foods list an expiration date on the bottom of the can, so keep track of this when storing and using it. Opened canned pet foods require refrigeration and will last three days if stored with a tight-fitting lid. If putting together an emergency kit for your pets, store three to seven days worth of canned food for each of your pets and rotate the food every two months to use it before the expiration date, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advises.

Dry Pet Foods

• Dry pet foods, also called kibble, last about one year from the date of manufacture. Many of these foods, like canned foods, list an expiration date somewhere on the packaging. Always use these foods before that date. Foods preserved with natural chemicals such as vitamin E have a shorter shelf life than those preserved with artificial chemicals, such as ethoxyquin, BHT and BHA. Though they preserve the food longer, some controversy exists concerning the safety of the use of these artificial chemicals in pet foods. When storing dry pet foods, keep them away from oxygen, heat, light and moisture, which will degrade the nutritional value of the food and lead to oxidation. Oxidation makes the food taste rancid and leads to mold. Store food in its original bag when opened and place the bag into a larger, air-tight container to preserve freshness and keep out rodents, bugs and other pests. Throw out any food that is past its expiration date or that looks or smells spoiled.

Pouch Sealed Foods

• Pet food that comes in pouches has a similar texture and shelf life to that of canned foods. Food pouches last about two years when stored in a cool, dry place, and they usually contain meats and gravies. Like other pet foods, many of these pouches have a manufacturer expiration date listed on the pouch, usually in day, month and year format. Once opened, store the food from the pouch in a sealed plastic container and refrigerate it for up to three days. Lighter than cans, these portable pouches take up less room in emergency kits for pets. If you want to freeze pouch foods, remove the food from the pouch, place in an air-tight container, and then freeze.

Freeze-Dried Pet Foods

• Found in specialty pet stores, freeze-dried pet foods come in bags or pouches and generally last about six months to one year from the date of manufacture. These foods consist of raw or cooked meat and vegetables. After a freezing process, the manufacturer removes the moisture from all of the ingredients without the use of heat, according to Vetinfo.com. This preserves the natural nutrients of the food without the use of chemical preservatives. Lighter than other foods because of the lack of water, these foods require water to reconstitute them before you feed them to your pets. If storing these foods for emergency preparations, take into account the amount of water the foods require for feeding and put aside that much extra bottled water (in addition to drinking water for you and your pets) in the emergency kit. Store these foods in air-tight containers to keep out moisture, in a cool, dry place.