Most national and store brand bean dip lids have the same diameter. So if your family eats this treat on a Friday night, or your neighbor has it at a block party, be sure to save those lids.
Once rinsed well, they make perfectly fitting lids for your pet's canned food; saving you $1-2 for a store-bought one. Always remember that if you don't feed your critters canned food, your local SPCA and/or Humane Society does, and they can always use donations.
Canned food can seem pricey, but when used in moderation mixed with dry, it can be an affordable treat for you loved furry ones. I bought a can of IAMS cat food at Target for $.96. When it was mixed with dry food and the rest kept fresh with a lid and in the fridge, it lasted four meals.
By Regan from Houston, TX
This page contains the following solutions.
I have two kitties on prescription food. It is rather expensive, but there is a noticeable break if you buy the larger bag, 17 lbs. However, my discriminating cats don't eat stale food as reliably as when it is fresh.
I have a variety of pets and needed ideas to keep the food clean and out of the way. For the dogs and cats, I use a big Rubbermaid box with a tight fitting lid. It holds a big bag of food and keeps pests out.
The plastic containers meant for pet food were too small for my use, and they are over priced. I bought a large (one that holds 35 -50 lbs.
I am a cat owner with a neat freak boyfriend who prefers that I keep the cat food in those big plastic tubs that you can buy them in, but those cost more money.
I found this old Frito Lay tin at a garage sale, and since I collect tins I grabbed it up. When I got back home, I found that it was perfect to put my dog or cat food inside, where it stays fresh and the mice and insects cannot get into it.
I use the large plastic tub that ice cream would come in for pet food. It has a handle, and you get to enjoy eating the ice cream before using it for storage.
I am a foster parent for my local no-kill animal shelter. I usually have about 10 cats and the occasional dog in my care. I buy dry kibble pet food in bulk. I divide it into one day servings and store it in the zip lock freezer bags.
We buy kitty litter that comes in buckets with handles. After using the kitty litter, wash out the resealable bucket and store pet food in bucket.
I use a "dog food only" garbage bin with the locking handles to store 50 lb bags of dog food. The whole bag goes into the bin which is stored in the garage. It keeps the food fresh and keeps the dog out of it.
I use a new stainless garbage can. Since he has his own corner with elevated bowls, I keep the can right next to them with a scoop inside. It matches my kitchen and keeps his food fresh.
I bought a 5 gallon bucket with a screw-on lid from a local feed supply store. I can put a large bag of dog food in it.
When I buy a big bag of food, I separate it into 1 gallon zip type bags and keep them in a tub. It's easier for me to carry one of these bags to fill bowls as I feed inside and outside. Treats are kept in a mason type jar.
I like to put my pet food in a sturdy, resealable container so that ants and mice don't find a way into it. The larger containers can get a bit cumbersome at times, so my tip would be to get one with rollers. For example, the Suncast 80 qt. rolling bin works great in my kitchen.