Smalls cat food is one of those brands that keeps popping up when you start looking into better-quality cat food, and for good reason. It’s fresh, it’s customizable, and made with ingredients you can pronounce.
I’ve been testing it with my crew, and I’ll just say this upfront: when even the pickiest cat in the house eats something new, I pay attention. Let’s break it down.
Big Pet Food prioritizes profits over cat health and they pack cat food with preservatives and fillers. Smalls believes cats deserve better and uses natural ingredients and added vitamins and minerals in our food. The fresh food come in many delicious flavors and textures.
TL;DR Summary
Let’s start with a “TL;DR Quick Summary.” Then we’ll talk pros, cons, and more.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Fresh, human-grade cat food (smooth pâté or shredded “pulled” style) |
| Best For | Picky eaters, multi-cat households, pet parents who want minimally processed food |
| Rating | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (Excellent – 92/100) |
| Top Benefit | High-quality, fresh ingredients with customizable meal plans |
| Main Concern | Premium pricing and limited transparency before starting the quiz |
| Calorie Content | Varies by recipe (generally high-protein, moisture-rich formulas) |
| Life Stage | All life stages |
| Formulated To Meet | AAFCO nutritional guidelines |
| Made In | USA |
Smalls Top Highlights at a Glance
Ingredients & Overall Quality
Smalls leans hard into fresh, human-grade ingredients, and it’s not just marketing fluff. You’ll see real cuts of meat, organs (which cats actually need), and simple add-ins like veggies and supplements to round things out on the ingredient labels.
There’s a noticeable lack of the usual suspects you see in cheaper foods, like mystery meat meals, fillers, and vague “by-products.” Instead, you’re getting recipes built around named proteins, and a nutrient profile that’s clearly designed with obligate carnivores in mind.
The moisture content is another thing worth mentioning. Since this is fresh food, it naturally contains more water than dry kibble, which is important for hydration.
Cats aren’t big water drinkers by nature (they didn’t exactly evolve hanging out at water bowls all day), so they typically get most of their moisture from their food. Feeding something with higher moisture helps support that natural pattern, instead of working against it.
Because each recipe is slightly different, you’re not looking at a one-size-fits-all ingredient list. Instead, the focus is on consistency in quality rather than identical formulas across the board.
Smalls Pros and Cons at a Glance
| ✔ Pros | ✖ Cons |
|---|---|
| High-quality, fresh, human-grade ingredients | Higher price than traditional canned or dry food |
| Multiple textures (Smooth and Pulled) for picky eaters | Can’t view full recipe lineup without starting the quiz |
| Wide variety of proteins (chicken, beef, pork, turkey, fish) | Some recipes cost extra per packet |
| Customizable meal plans that are easy to adjust | Subscription model may not suit everyone |
| High moisture content supports hydration | Requires freezer/fridge storage |
| Strong real-world palatability (even for picky cats) |
Real-World Smalls Cat Food Review
You know how you can buy a dozen different cat foods, line them up like you’re running a tiny buffet, and your cat will still act like you’ve personally offended them and their ancestors? That’s kind of the baseline over here.
So, when I try something new, I’m not expecting miracles. I’m just hoping for “no dramatic hunger strike.” So, when all 5 of my cats dug in without a fuss, I was super surprised.
If you’ve ever lived with a picky cat, you know that’s not a small thing. Zoe and Leia have very specific sets of standards (none of which they share ahead of time and both of which are subject to change at any moment.
Luke and Lily were, unsurprisingly, all in. Those two eat just about anything without complaint. But even they seemed more interested than usual, which says something.
What I Loved About Smalls Cat Food
One thing I really appreciated was the texture variety. The Smooth recipes are very close to what my cats are used to, that classic pate consistency. That made the transition easier.
The Pulled recipes, on the other hand, are shredded and a bit more “real food” looking. It’s a nice option if your cat prefers something with more texture (or if you just like seeing actual strands of meat instead of uniform mush). That said, if you get the Pulled options and your cat snubs it because they’re used to pate, you can smush it up pretty easily.
The protein variety is another win. Chicken, beef, pork, fish, turkey…you’ve got options. And not just for the sake of variety, but so you can actually tailor meals to your cat’s preferences. If your cat is anti-pork (as some are, apparently very passionately), you can just remove it from your recommendations.
Speaking of recommendations, Smalls really shines in creating a totally customized plan for you cat. Once you go through the quiz, they give you a suggested plan, but you’re not locked into it. You can swap proteins, switch textures, adjust portions. It feels less like a rigid subscription and more like something you can actually work with.
Plus, that customization makes Smalls amazing for just about every cat’s needs. For example, if you have a cat that needs to lose a few pounds, that flexibility makes it easier to fine-tune portions and ingredients (you can check out our guide to the best cat food for weight loss for more targeted options, too).
Oh, and if you have multiple cats, you still only need to do one quiz. You can add all of the details at once.
Risk-Free Sampler
Smalls recently announced a new feature. They’re now offering a sampler box so that you (or rather your cat) can try all of their offerings. If you don’t love it, they’ll give you your money back. However, you still have to go through the customization quiz to get to that option. Which brings us to…
What I’d Change
For me, the biggest drawback is that you have to go through the quiz to see the different recipes they offer. I get why they do it, the whole model is based on building a personalized plan. But I really like to browse first and see what’s available before I invest time into quizzes and whatnot. Not being able to see all the recipes upfront is mildly annoying. Not a dealbreaker, but worth mentioning.
Pricing-wise, there are also a few small catches. Some recipes, like Fresh Smooth Fish and the “Other Bird” options, cost an extra $0.50 per packet. It’s not huge, but it adds up if those are your cat’s favorites (which, of course, they will be).
The Bottom Line
Smalls does a lot right.
The food is high-quality, genuinely fresh, and clearly appealing to cats (even the ones who treat new food like a personal betrayal). The customization is flexible enough to feel useful, not gimmicky. And the texture and protein variety make it easier to find something that actually works for your specific cat.
The downsides are mostly small but noticeable: you can’t browse recipes upfront, some options cost extra, and the naming might make you pause for a second.
Still, if you’re looking to upgrade from traditional canned or dry food, this is one of the better options out there. It solves a real problem, which is getting cats to eat something that’s both nutritious and actually appealing, and it does it without making the whole process complicated.
And if Zoe approves? That’s about as close to a gold standard as it gets in this house.
Big Pet Food prioritizes profits over cat health and they pack cat food with preservatives and fillers. Smalls believes cats deserve better and uses natural ingredients and added vitamins and minerals in our food. The fresh food come in many delicious flavors and textures.
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