Cat Won’t Eat Leftover Wet Food (Why? + Solution)
If you have saved your cat’s leftover food to save waste but she is not eating it you may be left confused and scratching your head.
Why won’t your cat eat the leftover wet food?
Your cat won’t eat the leftover wet food because the smell is not as tempting as it was and the temperature is too cold for it. The refrigeration process loses the food’s potent smell and makes it cold and undesirable.
Now that you know why your cat is not eating the leftover wet food. Keep reading to learn how you can get her to eat the food, how long you can leave leftover food out, the best way to store it, and so much more.
Is it okay to warm up wet cat food?

A white microwave oven.
Now that you have discovered why your cat is not eating the leftovers. You may be wondering if you can just throw it in the microwave and offer it to her.
You can warm up wet cat food. But, it is easy to overdo it and make your cat not want it. This is one of the reasons some people say it won’t work because they overheat it. The idea is to gently warm it, not to cook it.
So, you have learned that you need to gently warm the food to make it effective. Keep reading for a step-by-step method to entice your cat to eat the leftover food.
How can you entice your cat to eat leftover food?

A brown cat eating food from a bowl.
Now that you know why your cat is not interested in the leftover food you may be keen to know if there is a way to entice her to eat it to save you from wasting it. The good news is, there is a way and it has three steps:
- Choose a cat food with a strong smell.
- Keep the food covered.
- Microwave it (but in a special way)
Choose a cat food with a strong smell.
Cats have an excellent sense of smell. Therefore, you need to play this to your advantage. It’s best to purposely buy one that has a potent smell that makes her want to eat it after you complete these steps.
Keep the food covered
Before you microwave it you need to make sure it is covered correctly. If you get this wrong it will not lock in the moisture correctly and make the food get dry and turn off your kitty, are you with me?
Microwave it (but in a special way)
Warming up the food is important. But, get it wrong and you will have the same problem, she won’t eat (Click here if she is hiding as well) it. The key is to “warm” it, not cremate it, are you with me?
This means, you gently warm it by only doing it for bursts of a few seconds and testing the temperature. Ultimately you want it close to room temperature. This will emulate the warmth of live prey like there were in the wild.
Switch The Food Container
Before you store excess wet food in the fridge to stay fresh, transfer it from the can to a glass or plastic container. This removes any risk of metallic scent overwhelming the food, which your cat won’t like.
Before serving this refrigerated wet food to your cat, try putting it in the microwave for a few seconds. This will reactivate the food’s scent, which is what attracts your cat to the food. Just be sure you don’t serve the food to your cat when it’s hot.
In Summary
Getting the food to the right temperature and locking in the temperature is key to getting her to lap up your leftover food and cut down on waste. Keep reading to learn how long the leftover food can sit out before going off.
How long can wet cat food sit out before going bad?
Now that you know how to entice your cat to eat the leftover food, to avoid waste. It is also good to know how to avoid further waste by knowing how long the wet food can sit out.
Wet cat food can sit out for 4 hours before it goes bad. This is assuming that the room temperature is adequate, which should be approximately 50°F. If it stays out longer it is better to dispose of it to avoid bacteria forming.
So, now you know that 4 hours is the maximum amount of time to keep wet food out for. Keep reading to learn the best way to store the leftover food to make it reusable.
What can I do with leftover wet cat food?
As you learned earlier, storing the leftover cat food is important for you to get her to eat it at a later date. But, what is the best way to do this?
Leftover cat food needs to be stored in a fridge within 4 hours. But, it must be transferred from the metal can to a suitable container. This container will need to be airtight to make it effective. This will lock in the moisture and make it easier for feeding later.
Now you know how to store the leftover cat food to improve your chances of serving it to your cat later and getting her to eat it. Keep reading to see why some cats just seem to lose their appetite.
What causes a sudden loss of appetite in cats?
If you have done everything to try and get your cat to eat, but he just seems to not want to eat, you may be wondering why this is happening.
Your cat may lose its appetite for basic reasons, such as not liking the new food you have offered. But, if nothing has changed, it could be more serious. For example, it could be a health issue, like kidney failure, intestinal issues, pancreatitis, or worse.
So, you now know that this loss of appetite could be something small, or quite serious. If there is any doubt it’s worth getting it checkout out by your vet to be safe. Keep reading to learn if wet cat food can be left out overnight.
Can wet cat food be left out overnight?
Even though it is clear now that leaving wet cat food out for too long will not be safe, there will be some that still wonder if they can leave it out overnight.
No, you can not leave wet cat food out overnight. This is because it is only safe if it is consumed within 4 hours. And, the chances are you will sleep longer than 4 hours. This means you can’t tell if the food will be consumed within this limit.
So, you have learned that leaving wet cat food out overnight is not a good idea. But, keep reading to learn how often you should be feeding it to your cat in general.
How often should I feed wet food to my cat?
If you are a new cat owner, or just want to make sure you have been doing it right, you may be wondering how much-wet cat food is sufficient for your cat.
Your cat can eat wet cat food daily. It’s best to check the food label to follow their guidelines because it varies depending on its ingredients. But, as a general rule, one 3 oz can per 3.5 lbs of body weight is usually enough.
However, another factor is dry food and snacks. If you are also feeding your cat other food items, you need to adjust these portions to consider that.
So, you have learned a rough guideline on how much-wet food (Click here to see why some cats go off wet food) for your cat. Keep reading to learn, once and for all, if tuna is a good idea or not.
Is it OK to feed a cat canned tuna?
There is a chance that you have heard rumors about tuna. Some say it’s great, others say it’s not good for cats, so which is it?
Cats can eat tuna but in moderation. You will find most cats will love the taste, but it’s still not an ideal replacement for a well-balanced diet. This is because it does not contain sufficient nutrients for your cat on its own. Also, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning.
You have learned that cats can have tuna, but not too much. Keep reading to see what you can do to get your cat’s appetite back.
How can I get my cat’s appetite back?
If your cat is off its food and you are concerned you may be looking for some ways to get his appetite back. There are three things you can try:
- Strong smelling wet food.
- Baby food laced with tuna juice
- Low sodium chicken broth
Strong smelling wet food
Cats have a strong sense of smell. You can use this to your advantage by offering them some strong-smelling food to arouse their appetite.
Baby food laced with tuna juice
Earlier I mentioned that cats like the taste of tuna, remember? Well, you can use this to your advantage. Get some meat-based baby food and lace it with some tuna juice from a can. Hopefully, she will lap it up and get her appetite back.
Low sodium chicken broth
Another trick is adding chicken broth to your cat’s food. But, make sure it’s low-sodium chicken broth. And, do not put too much in there, just enough to arouse her interest.
Do Cats Get Bored Of The Same Food?
Cats can start to get bored of eating the same food each day, especially if it lacks flavor or the right nutrients. Trying to break up the type of food you give them throughout the day can be of benefit. For example, let them have dry kibble most of the day, and give them some wet food either at breakfast or dinner.
Since cats tend to love wet food more, you can opt to give them a higher percentage of wet to dry food. Just be sure you’re watching the calories and nutritional benefits of the food, as wet food is often higher in calories and lower in much-needed nutrition.
How Long Can You Leave Wet Cat Food In The Fridge?
You should not leave wet cat food in the fridge for longer than one week. It will start to diminish in quality, taste, and scent, and your cat is likely to turn its nose up at it if it’s been in the fridge for any longer.
As wet food sits in the fridge, the scent and flavor start to diminish over time. This is despite how tightly sealed your container of choice is. As such, over time, the food becomes less appealing to your feline friend.
Why Do Cats Suddenly Not Like Their Food?
If you purchase very large bags, it could be that their kibble is going stale before your cat has the chance to work through the bag. When it comes to kibble, quality can start to diminish as soon as your bag is opened.
With wet food, your cat might still like the food you’ve presented, but they might not want to eat it if it’s too cold. Cats aren’t fans of cold food, so you want to ensure you warm up the wet food if it’s been in the fridge or has been sitting in their dish for a while.
You should also be sure you’re feeding your cat out of a clean dish. Don’t reuse dishes often before washing them, as your cat won’t want to eat out of a dirty dish.
How Do You Throw Away Cat Food?
One way to dispose of cat food is to pour it into a ziplock bag that is stored in the fridge or freezer. Once the bag is full, you can throw it away in the regular garbage. You can just scrape the excess wet food into the garbage, but the smell is so pungent that it’ll radiate through the area until you get rid of the garbage.
Can I Flush Wet Cat Food Down The Toilet?

A white toilet with the lid open.
Cat food, or any food, should never be flushed down the toilet. Our waste systems are not meant to handle undigested food, and you could end up with a clogged toilet or backed-up sewage system.