I feed a few colonies of feral cats in South Africa and it is becoming quite expensive doing it out of my own pocket. I therefore received food donations from a local vet shop, the only concern is that the food has recently expired. Will it be safe to feed these to the cats? I know that many cat food manufacturers donate their expired food to the NPO organisations, so I suppose it won´t do any harm. What are your opinions? Should I take the chance and use the food?

How wonderful that you´re feeding the ferals, sdw!!

The only thing I´ve heard about expired cat food (or any canned food) is not to use it if the top of the can is bulging upwards. This bulging means the food is spoiling inside. I would think if the ends of the cans are not bulging, it would be safe to use.

Most expired food, whether human or animal consumption, have a number of days to go yet. Manufactures and shops tend to be careful, because they don´t want to get sued. I am pretty sure it´s ok, and as marcatmm sais, unless it is bulging then the bacterial content is whithing the normal levels.

Marketa is right. Most expiration/sell by/use by dates are very inexact. For human food as well as pet food, the shelf-life depends largely on proper storage. Canned food is not likely to go bad, even after the expiration, as long as the can has not been punctured (which allows bacteria and other nasties to enter.) Dry food is fit to eat as long as it is stored properly. The expiration date on dry food is probably concerned with freshness, taste, and when it might be stale.

You know something else you can do is to contact your local cat food manufacturer or distributor - find the address in yellow pages/phone book. They often have unsold food just coming up to sell by date or just passed and they are often keen to get rid. You don´t have to be a charity they may do it for you too. They would donate. I don´t think you should worry about the sell by date. The use by date is slightly different but even then you should still be OK for a few weeks - some would say longer. If it smells it isn´t good. If is dried food it should be fine.

Always ask for a ´doggie´ bag if you are in a restaurant as the meat would make a good meal for a moggie too. But unless you are going to do this forever are you really sure you want to make these cats too dependent on you? Kimmy´s Mum xx

If it is as for us, I do not believe whom there is danger if the cats consume expired food in condition, of course, whether the boxes are not deformed or are not inflated.
Moreover, are you already saw a cat eating a damaged food ?

Oups - I validated too early. Sdw, this initiative is great idea !!!

Like micini says, as long as the tins are not damaged or blown up, the food is OK.

Sdw, great initiative indeed!!!!If the cats are eager to eat the food, I think there should be no concern. Cats just know what they should eat and they should not

I can´t imagine any vet giving you stuff that wouldn´t be ok for them. Good work, if they have full tummies they are less likely to hunt the native species.

the alternative is they go without. lou ate lizards and trash when I found him. How wonderful of you to do that!!!

You are a great person to do that! I think the food should be fine especially dry food. Can food I guess perhaps just suss it out before u give it to them i.e does it look/smell normal. I think the food should be fine
I also think it is a great idea kimmytoes to ask manufacturers as they get a lot of returned food which is fine but the animal hasnt liked so the owner gets a refund. Or ask vet clinics for returned food. I know the vets I work at gets food returned if the owner is trying it for the first time and the animal hasnt liked it as iams and science diet offer full refunds if the pet didnt eat it.
Good on u for helping out needy cats!

Hi guys. I mixed the expired food with their usual food and they seem to enjoy it. So far so good. I really enjoy feeding them and spending time with them. So far whe have already managed to trap and sterilise 12 ferals. I am deffinately tking your advice and contacting the food manufacturers, hold thumbs for us that we can get more food, please