Leaving wet food out for a cat could give it food poisoning

But now leading animal nutritionist Jennifer Dean says wet food rapidly develops harmful bacteria when left at room temperature, particularly the dreaded Campylobacter bug that makes humans so unwell.

And it’s not just cats who could end up with vomiting and diarrhoea, because they can in turn transmit the food poisoning back to YOU - should you accidentally come into contact with its faeces and then not wash your hands.

Jennifer, a feline nutritionist with leading British pet food brand Webbox Natural suspects there are thousands of cat owners accidentally making the basic error, saying: "If you’re leaving wet food down all day, it runs the risk of developing a bacterial infestation.

"Dry food, because it has a lower moisture content, is less likely to proliferate bacteria, particularly at a quick rate.

"But leaving wet food out all day is the equivalent of us leaving a packet of ham out all day and then eating it in the evening.

"And we’re talking about the same types of bacteria that cause food poisoning in humans, such as Campylobacter.

"Cats and dogs have a far higher tolerance than humans, but it could still make the animal unwell and cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

"And remember that bacteria breeds rapidly at room temperature and above - which is worth noting if you’re leaving food out in your conservatory during the summer months….”

Instead, Jennifer says, you should take the wet food bowl away after the cat has finished eating and discard the contents.

While some cats might not display signs of food poisoning immediately, they can still be carriers of the bacteria for some time, putting you and your family at risk.

Other cats, particularly those young or old or with other health issues, suffer watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain, cramping, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting and swollen and tender lymph nodes.

A vet will often recommend antibiotics to treat the infection and that cat should be encouraged to take lots of fluids.

And here Jennifer and Webbox Natural reveal their 11 other ways you could be getting your cat’s diet well and truly WRONG:

FEED YOUR CAT THREE TIMES A DAY:

Jennifer says: “You should be looking to feed your cat little and often to avoid overfeeding. And I’d recommend feeding three times a day. The key thing for owners to remember is to weigh the dry food. Wet food comes in pouches so you don’t have to weigh it. And remember that cats generally tend to portion control themselves, but if they are offered more, they will eat more if they are kept in the house all day.”

FEED SMALL AMOUNTS:

“Cats have small stomachs and very small intestines, so feeding small amounts is a much more natural process for them. It actively aids their digestion process. And in turn it could make them more sprightly and less slovenly, meaning they get more exercise and ward off obesity.”

STOP FEEDING YOUR NEIGHBOUR’S CAT:

“I hear this a lot from customers, who say, ‘Oh, there’s a lovely cat next door who comes to my house - what should I feed it?’ The answer is, of course, absolutely nothing! You don’t know what dietary restrictions or allergies this cat has and you could be making it unwell. I think this is a really common problem that needs addressing. A cat flap which only opens for your cat only - operated via the animal’s microchip - is a good idea if neighbourhood cats are coming in and eating the food you put down for your own pet.”

WHEN IT COMES TO TREATS, GIVE AND TAKE:

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong in giving your cat a treat. It’s a really common way to interact and bond with a new animal and can help a cat feel at ease with children in particular. But if you’re feeding treats, feed a few grams less of their wet or dry food to balance things out.”

DON’T IGNORE HAIRBALLS:

“You might think that hairballs are just part and parcel of owning a cat. But if your cat is vomiting while bringing up hairballs, it could also be a sign of inflammatory bowel disease and you may need to book a visit to the vet. The vet may then recommend switching food in order to bring the problem under control. In terms of common hairballs, there’s some new evidence to suggest a diet rich in cellulose - essentially vegetable fibres - can help to push hair through a cat’s system faster, stopping the hair from clumping together and having to be regurgitated.”

ALLERGIES:

“Allergies in cats are fairly common, particularly things like wheat. But if you’re trying to get your cat on a new healthy diet and it’s not reacting well to the food, don’t assume it has an allergy, as you might simply need to persevere with it. If you introduce a new food too quickly the cat can have a digestive reaction to it. But in some cases if you carry on feeding it, the cat will build up the enzymes needed to digest it and the intolerance can stop.”

DON’T OVERDO THE TUNA:

“You should be feeding a maximum of two tuna meals in any week - either from a packet or a tuna can. Tuna has a high mercury content and, as with humans, you run the risk of blood poisoning and neurological problems. Symptoms your cat might be suffering include over-excitement, irritability, incoordination, convulsions, stiff hind legs, tremors and blindness. Tuna is also quite high in saturated fats, too, which isn’t great for feline obesity.”

RAW FOOD DIET IS A HARD WORK DIET:

“The raw food diet, for both cats and dogs, is really trendy at the moment, and it’s supposed to represent the way a cat would eat if it were in the wild. But getting a raw food diet right takes lots of time and effort. All complete foods for cats are balanced, nutritionally, to make sure the animal gets the vitamins, minerals and macronutrients - like protein and fat - that it needs, in the right ratios. Get it wrong and your cat won’t just end up with vitamin deficiencies, they can get some severe infections from vitamin and mineral toxicities. A build-up of too much vitamin A, for example, can cause liver problems. If your heart is set on a raw diet, you really do need to do your homework.”

DON’T HAVE A ‘SENIOR’ MOMENT:

“The differences between the foods labelled ‘Kitten’ and ‘Senior’ are actually really important. A kitten food will be higher in protein and fat because that’s what a young cat needs to grow. The vitamin and mineral content is higher, too. Give that to an adult cat and it could lead to a build-up of vitamin toxicity, as well as exacerbating obesity problems. Senior food on the other hand has less protein, to help prevent kidney problems, as well as more glucosamine and chondroitin to help support ageing joints.”

IS YOUR CAT REALLY OVERWEIGHT…. OR JUST BIG BONED?

“Some cats really are bigger boned than others. So if a vet tells you your cat is overweight, question it, as you may end up UNDER-feeding your moggy. An average British shorthair cat, for example, will weigh around 7kg where a standard domestic cat weighs around 4kg. But because cat breeds aren’t always as distinct as dogs it leads to stereotyping. Your cat may have been put on a crash diet by the vet for no reason! Rather than just weighing your cat, you also need to adopt a tactic called ‘condition scoring’ alongside the weighing scales. It’s just a case of feeling over the main areas where fat can accumulate - the ribs, hips, back and just in front of their tail at the top of their spine. It’s something you can do really easily when you’re fussing your cat. The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) also produce a handy ‘Cat Size-O-Meter’ which could come in handy.”

www.webbox.co.uk