Smalls Fresh Cat Food Delivery | Our Honest Review and All Your Questions Answered

It is not uncommon for a cat to live for 15 years or longer. A long life isn’t a guarantee, however. Your cat’s lifespan depends on a number of factors but one of the most important is his diet.

Your cat has specific nutritional requirements that need to be met to maintain optimal health and wellness. Not only does your cat need certain nutrients, but they need to come from specific sources to provide the highest benefit. Cats are obligate carnivores, so they derive nutrition best from animal-based ingredients like poultry, meat, and fish rather than plant sources.

If you’re interested in improving the quality of your cat’s diet to boost his health, consider making the switch to fresh food. Not only is fresh cat food typically made from better ingredients, but it is less processed which makes it easier for your cat to absorb the nutrients.

Smalls is a fresh cat food delivery service that offers a variety of cat food products sent straight to your door on a regular basis. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Smalls, one of the best fresh cat food delivery services on the market. You’ll learn everything you need to know to decide if this is the right company for your cat.

Why You’ll Love Smalls: 

Your cat’s diet provides the nutrition he needs to be healthy now and into the future. The quality of that diet matters greatly, a fact Smalls understands completely. Smalls offers fresh food for cats as well as freeze-dried cat food, dry cat food, and even cat litter. This company uses only human-grade ingredients in all of their products and does everything with your cat’s best interests in mind (as well as your own). If you’re looking for a premium brand of fresh cat food, we recommend you consider Smalls. 

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Smalls fresh cat food.

History of Smalls 

Smalls is a cat food delivery service that offers fresh cat food, freeze-dried cat food, dry cat food, and treats as well as a limited selection of toys and cat litters. The brand was founded by Matt Michaelson and Calvin Bohn when they paired up with Susan Lauten, Phd. Lauten owns a pet nutrition consulting firm, so she helped Michaelson and Bohn turn their dream of creating a high-quality fresh cat food line into a reality. Though Smalls has only been around for a few years, they’ve grown quickly.

Though Smalls was created in New York City, their products are currently being produced in Chicago, Illinois. Smalls guarantees that all of their recipes are prepared in the United States with human-grade ingredients. Every batch is tested for food-borne pathogens and gently cooked to preserve nutrition.

What Should You Know About Smalls?  

Choosing a cat food is a big decision, though you may not realize it. It’s your responsibility to provide for your cat’s needs, and that includes his nutritional needs. All cat foods are not created equal and it’s your job to do some research to pick out a good brand you can both be happy with.

Here’s everything you need to know about Smalls and how their subscription service works:

What Products Do They Offer? 

Smalls offers a wide variety of cat food products including fresh cat food recipes, freeze-dried raw cat food, and dry cat food. They also offer a limited assortment of treats, toys, and cat litters.

What you’ll notice about Smalls cat food is that all recipes are made with human-grade ingredients. It’s not a problem, but it’s worth noting that while Smalls uses the term “human-grade” freely on their website, the products don’t technically meet the FDA definition of human-grade. The FDA uses the term “human-grade” in reference to the final product, requiring it to be made from human-grade ingredients AND produced in a USDA-inspected human food facility.

Here’s what Smalls has to say about it:

“When we say that Smalls food is human-grade, we mean that our food is made with human-grade ingredients. The chicken in our food is the same chicken you’d buy at the grocery store for yourself– and the same goes for all our wet and freeze-dried recipes.”

The only thing to know here is that Smalls cat food doesn’t technically meet the FDA definition because it isn’t prepared in a human food facility. We couldn’t find much information about exactly how the food is prepared, but there’s no reason to assume there’s anything to worry about. It’s just a technicality.

Where is it Made? 

Every Smalls cat food recipe is made with human-grade ingredients here in the United States. Their wet food recipes are cooked in Chicago, Illinois while their dry and freeze-dried foods are prepared in Minnesota and Wisconsin, respectively.

Of their ingredients, Smalls says the following:

“At Smalls, all of our fresh ingredients come from the United States or Canada. Our custom supplement mix is also made right here in the U.S.!” 

Smalls takes great care to ensure the quality of their products. Each recipe starts with a real source of animal protein like chicken, turkey, and beef along with fresh vegetables. Smalls decided to include veggies in their formulas in an effort to include natural sources of essential nutrients and because it mimics the natural diet of wild cats. After all, wild cats consume some vegetable matter in the stomach contents of their prey. Smalls keeps their veggie inclusions under 10%.

How Much Does It Cost? 

It should come as no surprise that Smalls probably costs more than the kibble or canned food you’re currently feeding your cat. The truth is fresh cat food costs more because the ingredients are usually better and the food is less processed. Smalls is made with human-grade ingredients, remember.

Though Smalls cat food may be more costly than your cat’s current diet, you need to think about it as a long-term investment in your cat’s health.

Here are some of the benefits of fresh food for cats:

• Improved digestion and nutrient absorption
• Higher energy levels, more vitality
• Smaller, firmer stools with less litter box odor
• Healthier skin and coat, fewer skin issues
• Potential relief from allergies caused by low-quality food
• Improvements in healthy weight management

The benefit Smalls has to offer over other fresh cat food delivery services is that they also have freeze-dried raw cat food and dry food. You can choose a fresh food only plan or mix in some of the other products according to your preferences for convenience as well as your budget.

Of their pricing, Smalls says the following:

“We’re committed to crafting a feline meal plan that’s good for both your cat and your wallet. You can find prices for our recommended plans below. Any of these plans can be customized with different flavors, textures, or quantities at any time!”

For a 100% fresh food diet, the average price is about $108 per month for a single cat. Swapping in 25% Essential Kibble with 75% fresh food brings the price down to about $86 per month. Their most economical plan is the 100% Essential Kibble diet which only costs about $30 per month and their most expensive is the 50/50 blend of fresh food and freeze-dried raw kibble for about $120 per month.

Does Smalls Have Any Recalls? 

When you’re doing research on a pet food brand, there are many factors to consider. Aside from the recipe variety and the ingredients and process used to create them, you should also take a look at other hints at the quality of the brand as a whole such as the recall history.

It’s the role of the FDA to regulate the labeling of pet foods and to set certain standards for quality. The FDA has the authority to issue product recalls if a certain product doesn’t meet these requirements, though companies can voluntarily recall products themselves as well. Recalls can be issued by the FDA in response to consumer complaints or product testing, often for issues like contamination with food-borne pathogens, formulation issues, or simple labeling errors.

To our knowledge, Smalls has never been recalled.

While it’s not necessarily an indication of a bad brand if there’s a recall or two, it can only be considered a good thing that Smalls doesn’t have any recalls. It’s a little more common to see recalls for larger companies that mass-produce their foods or outsource manufacturing, so it’s really not surprising to see that Smalls hasn’t had any product recalls in their history.

How Do You Order Smalls? 

Smalls cat food is not available in stores, so you’ll have to place an order online. Like many fresh cat food deliveries, Smalls is a subscription-based service. When you place your first order, you’ll receive a two-week trial of your custom meal plan which will renew automatically.

Here’s an overview of the process to order Smalls cat food:

1. Click “Get Started” on the home page
2. Indicate how many cats you have and their names
3. Provide information about your cat’s current diet
4. Indicate your priorities regarding budget for cat food
5. Fill in the details about your cat’s sex and age
6. Indicate your cat’s alteration status and body type
7. Choose from the recipe plans suggested or view them all
8. Add extras like treats, cat toys, and cat litter (if desired)
9. Fill in your billing and payment information then submit

After ordering Smalls, you can always log into your online account to change your delivery schedule, swap recipes, or adjust your meal plan. In addition to logging into your account, you can make changes by contacting Smalls via email or phone.

Smalls Cat Food Pros and Cons

If there’s one thing that plays a significant role in affecting your cat’s long-term health and wellness, it’s the quality of his diet. Unfortunately, all cat food is not created equal and it can be tricky to separate the good from the bad. Choosing fresh cat food is a great way to boost the quality of your cat’s diet, but it’s still a good idea to do your research on any individual brand before you make your decision.

It’s important to consider the pros and cons of a cat food brand before making your final choice.

Here are some of the pros for Smalls:

• Fresh human-grade cat food made with all-natural ingredients high in protein.
• Recipes are formulated by animal nutritionists for complete and balanced nutrition.
• Choose from several meal plans according to your budget and preferences.
• High-protein recipes available in fresh food, freeze-dried food, or dry food and treats.

Here are some of the cons for Smalls:

• Fresh cat food tends to be more expensive than kibble or canned food.
• Meals are not portioned for individual cat’s calorie needs, some measuring required.
• Limited number of protein options, not ideal for cats allergic to chicken or beef.

Overall, we’re big fans of Smalls fresh cat food but we don’t expect you to simply take our word for it. It’s our goal to provide you with the information you need to understand the brand and to determine for yourself whether it’s the right pick for your cat. We hope we’ve given you adequate insight into the Smalls brand to make an informed decision. Best of luck!

Smalls Fresh Cat Food FAQs 

Is Smalls grain-free?

Yes, Smalls cat food is grain-free and gluten-free. Though their recipes are free from grains, they do contain some vegetables like green beans, peas, and kale. Smalls maintains that their recipes are primarily meat-based but contain small amounts of veggies under 10%.

Is Smalls a good option for cats with food allergies?

Yes, Smalls can be a good option for cats with food allergies if you know what your cat is allergic to. If your cat is allergic to grains, fillers, by-products, or artificial additives, Smalls will be a good choice. Unfortunately, if your cat has a chicken or beef allergy, you may need to avoid Smalls.

How do I get samples of Smalls cat food?

Smalls doesn’t offer samples in the same way dry cat food manufacturers do. Because Smalls is a subscription service, you’ll need to actually sign up and place an order online. When you do, you’ll receive two weeks of food at a 25% discount along with instructions for transitioning your cat onto the food (and a few treats). If you don’t want to continue your subscription after the two-week trial, simply cancel your account online or contact customer care.

Can I control my subscription online?

Yes! You can easily control your Smalls subscription through your online account. The web portal makes it easy to adjust your delivery schedule, swap recipes, or even pause and cancel your account. If you can’t access your account online, you can always contact Smalls via email or phone.

What other products does Smalls offer?

Though Smalls is best known for their fresh food products, they also offer freeze-dried cat food, dry cat food, cat treats, and cat litter. Smalls offers cat litter made from natural materials like millet as well as alternative materials like silica. You can also enjoy crocheted cat toys.