Pet Cafe

Improperly-stored pet foods can grow stale or draw insects. Here are some ways to prevent these problems, recommended by pet food company Ralston Purina.

• Dry pet food will stay fresh for six to nine months when stored in a cool dry place.
• To keep the food bug-free, it's best to store your pet food in airtight aluminum, glass, or heavy-duty plastic containers.
• Soft-moist pet foods will stay fresh for three to six months kept in their original packages with the top rolled tightly closed.
• Once canned pet food is opened, cover the unused portion and refrigerate. Fido or Mittens will appreciate it if you let the chilled food come to room temperature before serving the rest of the can.

If insects do become a problem, the following steps will help eliminate them:

• Seal infested food in a plastic bag and discard the sealed bag in the garbage.
• Spray areas of infestation with an insecticide using these guidelines:
• Use a household surface insecticide, available at grocery or hardware stores, which has been developed to control crawling insects. Keep children and pets away from the areas you're spraying.
• Do not apply insecticide to any food or food containers. Thoroughly spray shelf surfaces. Sprayed surfaces should be wet but not so wet that the insecticide runs off.
• Let the insecticide evaporate naturally until all surfaces feel dry when touched.
• Periodically, thoroughly clean the shelving where pet food is stored.