The Ultimate Review of Smalls Cat Food: Healthy and Convenient Meals for Your Feline Friend
What is Smalls Cat Food?
Smalls is an online cat food brand offering high-quality, human-grade meals focused on natural ingredients and digestibility. Founded in 2017 by entrepreneurs Matt Michaelson and Calvin Bohn, Smalls aims to provide cat owners with a convenient way to feed their cats fresh, wholesome foods without mystery ingredients.
The key pillars of the Smalls brand are:
- Humanely raised meats and sustainably-sourced ingredients
- Grain-free recipes made with real, recognizable foods
- Gently cooked meals and freeze-dried raw options
- Subscription home delivery service across the contiguous U.S.
- Transparent about every ingredient they use
The brand promises that its recipes can help with issues like smelly litter boxes, hairballs, picky eating, low energy levels, and poor coat health.
Overview of the Smalls Product Line
Smalls offers two main product lines: Human Grade Fresh and Freeze-Dried Raw.
Human Grade Fresh
The Human Grade Fresh meals contain USDA certified meats and vegetables that are gently cooked to retain nutrients. There are 9 recipes to choose from across 3 different textures – smooth pâté, shredded, and ground. Flavors include chicken, turkey, beef, and mixed blends.
A 2 oz serving ranges from $2.25-$2.75 depending on the recipe. The food comes frozen in recyclable, BPA-free packaging.
Freeze-Dried Raw
The Freeze-Dried Raw formulas are made by freeze-drying raw duck, chicken, or turkey meat into crunchy, shelf-stable pieces. They deliver the convenience of kibble with more retained nutrients.
A 2 oz serving costs around $7.50. The pieces come in a resealable bag to maintain freshness.
In addition to the main meals, Smalls offers broths, treats like chicken chips, and supplements like probiotics.
How Does the Smalls Subscription Work?
Smalls operates on a subscription model to simplify your cat food needs. You can select to receive automatic recurring shipments every 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks.
All plans come with free carbon-neutral shipping. The minimum is 5 lbs of food per box which is about 11 meals. There are multiple textures and proteins to choose from in each shipment.
You can easily update, pause, skip, add to, or cancel your subscription online at any time. First-time orders also give you the option to try a sampler pack and you get 14 days to decide if you want to continue with the subscription.
Smalls Cat Food Nutrition Analysis
When reviewing Smalls, I analyzed several of their best-selling recipes to better understand their nutritional value. Here is what I found:
Human Grade Fresh Pulled Chicken Recipe
- Crude Protein: 10% min
- Crude Fat: 6% min
- Crude Fiber: 0.5% max
- Moisture: 78% max
This wet food recipe has an excellent protein content and low carbohydrates. The moisture level is also fantastic for promoting hydration.
Freeze-Dried Raw Chicken Recipe
- Crude Protein: 70% min
- Crude Fat: 15% min
- Crude Fiber: 2% max
- Moisture: 4% max
While the freeze-dried formula contains less moisture, it boasts very impressive protein and healthy fats. The low moisture makes it quite calorie-dense compared to the fresh recipes.
Overall, Smalls meals provide excellent nutrition from premium ingredients. They are comparable to, if not better than, high-end prescription cat foods.
Where Does Smalls Source Their Ingredients?
Smalls states that all of their meat and vegetable ingredients come from vendors in the United States. This includes major meat suppliers like Tyson Foods.
The brand focuses on responsibly raised, antibiotic-free meats whenever possible. Their beef is grass-fed and the poultry certified humane. Fish options like salmon are sustainably caught wild varieties.
In my opinion, Smalls sets a high standard for transparency and traceability from farm to bowl.
How Are Smalls Cat Food Meals Made?
For the fresh cooked meals, Smalls gently cooks batches of food in their own facilities in Everett, Washington. They have strict protocols in place for handling raw ingredients and quality control during processing.
The food does not contain common allergens like corn, wheat, or soy. Preservatives are also prohibited.
After cooking, the chilled meals are quickly frozen and sealed in BPA-free packaging. They remain frozen until consumed to maximize safety and nutritional value.
The freeze-dried line is made by rapidly removing water from raw meat chunks. This preserves the natural texture and locked in nutrition. These pieces do not require refrigeration and are gently warmed back up when it‘s mealtime.
Is Smalls Cat Food Right for My Cat?
Smalls is an excellent solution for nearly any cat owner wanting to feed higher quality nutrition. Some key benefits include:
- No corn, wheat, soy, by-products, or artificial ingredients
- Veterinarian-approved recipes suitable for everyday feeding
- Grain-free and low carb fresh food ideal for diabetes or weight loss
- Limited ingredient recipes available for food sensitivities
- Raw and gently cooked meals for increased palatability
- Kittens over 12 weeks, adults, and seniors can all eat Smalls
I would recommend Smalls to any cat parent looking for convenient, healthy homemade-style meals without the hassle. It can work for picky eaters, cats with allergies, or those needing grain-free.
How Does Smalls Compare to Other Brands?
Smalls occupies a unique space between raw/fresh brands like NomNomNow and subscription kibbles like Ollie. Let‘s see how they stack up:
vs. NomNomNow
- Smalls has more protein-packed recipes while NomNom features more veggie and broth options
- NomNom specializes in customization while Smalls offers a more grab n‘ go approach
- Smalls has more legume-free choices for cats with sensitivities
- NomNom pricing can be 20-40% higher on average
vs. Ollie
- While Ollie has nutritious kibble recipes, Smalls offers superior fresh/raw proteins
- Ollie has products for both dogs and cats while Smalls just focuses on felines
- Smalls puts emphasis on whole prey model foods which mimics a cat‘s natural diet
- Ollie subscriptions may be cheaper for multi-pet households
When it comes to health and convenience, Smalls is definitely a stand-out in the digital pet food space.
What Do Customers Think About Smalls Cat Food?
Reading through Smalls cat food reviews, it is clear that most felines AND their owners give this brand two enthusiastic paws up!
On their website, Smalls highlights numerous glowing testimonials:
"His coat is very shiny now and he has maintained a healthy weight since he started eating Smalls food."
"This is the first wet food my cat eats completely until the container is clean!"
The brand has received over 500 Facebook reviews with a fantastic average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Some themes in positive Smalls cat food reviews include:
- Noticeable improvements in energy, skin, coat, weight, and digestion
- Picky cats seem to love the taste and textures
- Convenience of auto-shipping makes owners‘ lives easier
- Stellar customer service experience
- Cats eagerly await their meals and treat time
Based on social proof, Smalls appears to be a big hit in most feline households!
Of course, no cat food is universally loved and there are some negative reviews from cats rejecting the new food or having an upset stomach transitioning to Smalls. But the overwhelming majority seem extremely satisfied.
Smalls Cat Food Deals, Discounts & Promotions
As a relatively new brand, Smalls does not always offer promotions or have a lot of retailers selling their products yet. However, here are some ways to save on Smalls cat food:
- Check their website frequently for limited-time discounts on first orders for new customers
- Consider the auto-ship subscription and save 5-10% on every order
- Buy larger quantity bundles to lower the per-meal price
- Refer friends and get $25 in Smalls credits for every one that signs up
- Qualify for 10% off by signing up for repeat donations to animal shelters
Follow Smalls on social media to catch seasonal sales or partner promotions down the line as the company grows.
Where Can I Buy Smalls Cat Food?
Smalls Cat Food is currently only sold through the brand‘s website. You can choose one-time purchases for trial sampler packs or sign up convenient auto-shipping subscriptions to be delivered fresh to your door.
Given the perishable nature of their fresh and raw products, Smalls does not sell in physical retail stores or on sites like Amazon at this time. So for maximum freshness and safety, order directly from the source!
The Verdict: Why I Recommend Smalls for Your Cat
In this exhaustive Smalls cat food review, it becomes clear why they have a cult following of happy kitties nationwide. What started from two cat dads wanting better nutrition has quickly become a full-fledged movement towards higher quality, convenience, and transparency in the pet food industry.
From meticulously sourced ingredients to state-of-the-art production standards, Smalls offers uncompromising nutrition tailor-made for cats. The incorporation of fresh-frozen and freeze-dried raw formulations works brilliantly to keep even persnickety palates content.
For cat owners frustrated by vague labeling, mystery meats, and less-than-stellar nutritional content from big classic brands, Smalls proves there is a better way.
So if you want restaurant-quality dining for your fur baby, improved litter box aroma, and the ultimate convenience of auto-shipping to your door, look no further than Smalls cat food!
