pets

**marlas1too** · 08-18-2011, 04:20 PM

i was just thinking-- has anyone with pets stockpiled food for them-i have just my 6 cats and already have stocked around 200 lbs. of their favorite dry food in a seal-able 40 gal. barrel i will continue to store more but will seal the next batch in 5 lb. vacuum bags--hugs to all fv

**thefrug** · 08-18-2011, 07:20 PM

So far I have 100# of rabbit food and a 50# bale of alfalfa for the ungrateful creature my rabbit. Also 100# of dog food, but they can go thru some food in the winter, so I'm needing to stock more.
Been looking for some recipes for making my own dogfood if/when necessary

**Spirit Deer** · 08-18-2011, 07:29 PM

I wouldn't get too far ahead with dry pet food. It has oil in it which gets stale and can get rancid, especially in hot weather.

**mh3rdwheel** · 08-18-2011, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by thefrug

So far I have 100# of rabbit food and a 50# bale of alfalfa for the ungrateful creature my rabbit. Also 100# of dog food, but they can go thru some food in the winter, so I'm needing to stock more.
Been looking for some recipes for making my own dogfood if/when necessary

The frugal there are some in the complete tightwad gazette.

I don't stockpile food for Tweety (our mini chichuahuha) she mostly only eats hamburger. I stock pile that.

**nodmicks** · 08-18-2011, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

I wouldn't get too far ahead with dry pet food. It has oil in it which gets stale and can get rancid, especially in hot weather.

I worried about this about a year ago. I had awesome coupons and wanted to stock up. I bought five 20 lb bags. Someone here had suggested the freezer for some of the bags. BOY if I didnt get confused looks when people saw that in the freezer!

**Spirit Deer** · 08-18-2011, 07:46 PM

We've kept bird seed in the freezer at times. I really don't like to do that. It works, but it takes up too much room so then I'm losing money on the grocery bargains I can't take advantage of.

We tend to buy pet food farther ahead in the winter when it can be stored in an unheated porch.

**Daisygirl** · 08-18-2011, 08:47 PM

Pet food recipe:

equal parts:

meat, rice and veggie

I often make this mixture because my old dog doesn't have a lot of teeth and my pup loves it in her Kong.

I use dark meat chicken, boiled and finely chopped, cooked rice and canned peas and carrots, drained. I use a potato masher to blend and mush it up. The poochies love it and it isn't terribly expensive.

**frugalwarrior2** · 08-18-2011, 11:34 PM

I store my dog and cat food in the dry bsmt. in the original pkg. in storage tubs. Currently am good thru the end of the year on cat food and dog food plus dog cookies.
Also have sentinel for the dogs thru dec. and will pick up again in about april.
We just watch the expiration dates. Don't store it in the garage. Even in tubs the critters will smell it and come.

**Neeley** · 08-19-2011, 01:27 AM

Dry dog and cat food is not something I stock up on. I worry it will go bad, get stale and attract bugs or other critters.

**MTS04** · 08-19-2011, 02:29 PM

Becareful storing dry food. It will go rancid. If you are purchasing ahead, vacuum pack it and freeze it in small portions. once thawed, the oils will begin to turn rancid.
Canned food is usually good for 2-3 years from package date.
Good luck to you

**bumplett** · 08-19-2011, 05:54 PM

ROFLMAO!!!

My first thought when I saw the title "pets" in the forum for 'stockpiling' was.... "well, yes, I do sorta stockpile pets"

**bumplett** · 08-19-2011, 05:58 PM

Oops.

To answer the question though:

I do try to buy all the dog/cat food I can when it's on sale (and coupons)

anytime those little 3 lb bags are less than $1 or so, I get as much as I can.

Not an issue here of it ever going bad though, there's always someone eating it

I also like to get the tidy cat litter when it's BOGO at Publix (and a coupon) I get as many as I can.

I had a rescue friend pay me for work with dog food also - that's a great deal!

**l8eebugg** · 08-19-2011, 09:14 PM

Spirit Deer- WOW..thanks for the hint, I always have problem if I buy too much bird food ahead. Freeze it, why didn't I think of that.
I stockpile dog and cat food, litter.
I do not stockpile food for our chinchilla. Does naybody know if it is safe for these little guys. I know they are sensitive.
Stockpile turtle and fish food.
I just filled two very large containers with wild bird food and lots of 48 cakes of suet. Kinney Drugs was closing out stock and had for about 1/3 the price. We go through lots of it...I love my wild birds and choose not to stop feeding them.

**shoiji** · 08-25-2011, 03:14 PM

I guess you can say I stockpile catfood and cat litter. Especially in the winter when it is harder to get around. As long as the expiration date will hold up then I will buy the dry cat food. The bag is large so it lasts about 1 1/2 months. I do try to make sure I have a new bag when the first bag is just opened. Then I don't have to worry about getting to the pet store to buy it. Being carless does have its draw backs.

**jettsmom** · 08-25-2011, 03:20 PM

I usually buy as much as I can when it's on sale. I don't store a lot of dry food, because it can go bad.

Dogs can eat a lot more table food than we think. There are sites that tell you what NOT to feed them, such as onion, grapes, macadamia nuts and walnuts. Those are the worst for them.

One of their favorite meals is rice, hamburger or ground turkey, scrambled eggs, green beans or carrots seasoned with some ginger. When we have fried rice, I make a lot and give some to the dogs.

Rachael Ray has many dog food recipes. I've used a few of them.