Smalls Cat Food Review (original) (raw)

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

With an array of meat-focused fresh cat food formulas, Smalls aims to honor your cat’s carnivorous biology. Each recipe features a single source of animal protein with minimal carbohydrate and plenty of hydrating moisture.

Fresh cat food delivery services come and go but Smalls remains one of the most popular options on the market. But is it a good brand? We’ve followed Smalls closely since the beginning and have thoroughly tested the products to bring you this detailed review.

The Cats.com Standard -Rating Smalls on What Matters

We’ve analyzed Smalls and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s how it rates in each of these six key areas.

Ratings

• Species-Appropriateness – 10/10
• Ingredient Quality – 10/10
• Product Variety – 7/10
• Price – 7/10
• Customer Experience – 7/10
• Recall History – 8/10

Overall Score: 8.2/10

We give Smalls fresh cat food a 49 out of 60 rating or an A- grade.

Want to try Smalls? Enter coupon code CATS35 at checkout to get a flat 35% off!

Why Trust Cats.com

Mallory Crusta / Cats.com

Along with numerous members of the Cats.com team, I’ve put Smalls to the test at home with my own cats, Munchkin and Biscuit. Our team has tested and evaluated Smalls’ products multiple times since the brand’s launch in 2017, updating our review each time the product lineup changes. We’ve also spoken directly with the founders to learn the history of the brand.

During testing, we make observations about the products’ appearance, texture, smell, and consistency while relying on our cats to gauge its palatability and general appeal. Before testing any cat food product, we thoroughly research the brand to get a feel for its nutritional philosophy, manufacturing and sourcing practices, and recall history. We also read customer reviews to get a feel for the company’s track record with customer satisfaction.

About Smalls

Founded by two New York entrepreneurs in 2017, Smalls offers human-grade cat food in fresh (homemade-style) and freeze-dried varieties shipped to your door according to custom meal plans.

Instead of shopping in their store for the recipe you like, you’ll fill out a questionnaire about your cat to receive custom meal plan suggestions and start your subscription. Each month, the recipes in your meal plan are shipped ice-cold to your doorstep.

While there’s a lot to like about the idea of custom cat food meal plans, top-notch ingredients, and food that honors your cat’s needs as a carnivore, Smalls’ subscription model isn’t going to be for everyone.

In this review, we’ll go over the details to help you decide if this brand is the right choice for you and your cat.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

Smalls cat food is developed with the guidance of pet nutrition consultant Dr. Susan Lauten, Ph.D. Whether you choose fresh or freeze-dried raw recipes, all of them are nutritionally complete and balanced according to AAFCO guidelines.

All of Smalls’ recipes are human-grade, which means they are made in a human food facility from USDA-certified ingredients fit for human consumption. These ingredients are sustainably sourced from the United States and Canada.

Small’s fresh food formulas are prepared in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. Every batch is thoroughly tested for foodborne pathogens. The company also performs regular spot checks to make sure the nutritional content of the food is up to snuff.

Has Smalls Ever Been Recalled?

Yes. Smalls cat food products have been voluntarily recalled twice in the brand’s short lifetime.

The first recall was announced in 2019 and affected Smalls’ chicken liver powder—a product the company called Diamond Dust. According to a statement from the company, the recall was prompted by a customer complaint that the powder smelled like cocoa powder. Following testing, Smalls found that the product had, indeed, been adulterated and was not 100% chicken liver powder.

The resulting recall applied to batches of Diamond Dust sent out to customers between October 9th, 2018, and March 25th, 2019. At the time, Smalls did not change suppliers but told customers they would “require that our supplier upgrade safety measures for the manufacturing of all our enticements.”

The second voluntary recall occurred in June 2021 and affected select chicken and turkey products. The recall was issued after Smalls received feedback from several customers who received products that looked spoiled and had an unusual odor.

The company investigated its inventory and sent out samples to an independent lab for testing. It doesn’t appear that Smalls received any reports of illness related to the affected products and we don’t have any specific details about what caused the issue.

Though Smalls hasn’t been recalled since 2021, the company changed its recipes for all fresh food formulas in the fall of 2023. Consumer responses to the new formulas are mixed.

What Kind of Food Does Smalls Offer?

Though Smalls started less than a decade ago, the company has gone through a number of significant changes in terms of its product lineup. In the beginning, Smalls was primarily a fresh cat food company (and still is).

For a few years, until mid-2023, Smalls also offered freeze-dried cat food and kibble. Currently, however, the brand only sells fresh cat food which is available in multiple proteins and two textures.

The recipes currently available include:

• Smooth Bird – Chicken pâté
• Ground Bird – Minced chicken
• Smooth Other Bird – Turkey pâté
• Ground Other Bird – Minced turkey
• Smooth Fish – Fish pâté
• Smooth Pig – Pork pâté
• Smooth Bird & Fish Dish – Chicken and salmon pâté

The brand’s fresh food lineup was most recently updated in early 2024. Smooth cow (beef pâté) was removed and replaced with Smooth Pig (pork pâté). Smalls also added its first multi-protein formula, Smooth Bird & Fish Dish.

Smalls cat food is sold in 5-ounce packages, frozen immediately after cooking. The food is only available for purchase via subscription through the Smalls website. All subscriptions begin with a sampler pack and come with free treats for life. That is, Smalls includes a bag of Shameless Pets cat treats with each box.

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

At Cats.com, our experience with Smalls dates back to 2017, when the brand had just launched. Over the years, as Smalls has added and removed recipes, changed its branding, and updated the customer portal, our team has kept up with the changes, ordering and reordering for multiple cats in multiple households.

We haven’t been able to find many other foods on the market that offer the same level of species-appropriate nutrition combined with outstanding ingredient quality and manufacturing standards as Smalls. Based on both our experience with multiple cats trying this food and reading hundreds of customer reviews, we know that cats generally like the food, too.

When you sign up, your first shipment will be a sampler pack of multiple flavors (determined by your responses to a few quick questions about your cat and their preferences). Once you receive your sampler, you can make changes to your plan or let it roll over into regular full-box deliveries.

Smalls Cat Food – Top 5 Recipes Reviewed

What Do Customers Think of Smalls Cat Food?

Our team’s cats have consistently loved Smalls cat food. Every time we’ve tried Smalls food, we’ve been impressed by how our cats scarf it down. The food has a soft, meaty consistency similar to the fresh chicken or beef you might serve in your own meals.

While all of our test cats have loved Smalls cat food, the human experience is not as consistently positive.

Positive Reviews

“Excellent product and customer service. I have a fur baby with a picky palate, sensitive stomach, and struggles with drinking water. He loves Smalls fish and so does his stomach. Grateful for the extra hydration it provides.” – TheUngamer, Trustpilot, on March 23rd, 2024

“I have been using Smalls for a couple of months now on my 5-month-old kitten (Milo). He absolutely loves their food! I began with the trial box to find out what he likes/dislikes. He seems to love the Bird and Other-Bird, however leans a little away from the Cow and Fish. I love how Smalls gives you the option to choose the quantity of each type of meal and the flexibility without maxing out one type.” – Maren B, Trustpilot, on July 20th, 2023

Satisfied Smalls customers frequently mention the quality of the ingredients and how much their cats love the food. Many customers enjoy having more control over their cat’s diet and trust that Smalls is a healthy and species-appropriate choice.

There are also a significant number of positive reviews that mention improvements in a cat’s digestion. These customers frequently mention that, while Smalls is pricier than many commercial diets, it’s worth the cost to them.

Negative Reviews

My cat used to love smalls but ever since they changed their formula and she refuses to eat it. We’ve tried all flavors. Idk what the little black spots are supposed to be, but ever since they showed up in the food, my cat won’t eat it.” – Bianca Holmes, Trustpilot, on January 12th, 2024

“We subscribed to Smalls last year and while our cats initially liked this food, I believe they recently changed formulas and our cats are no longer fans. On top of that, the customer service and shipping/packing issues are horrendous. If we order a combination of the different flavors/textures, we never get what we ordered. And then, when reporting that to customer service, we get a unsatisfactory response that just makes excuses for the issue.” – Kristie Kreiser, Trustpilot, on September 17th, 2023

Most negative reviews talk about the company’s customer service and recurring payment system. Remember that Smalls automatically starts a subscription when you buy a sample pack, so unless you cancel the subscription before your renewal date, you will be automatically charged.

Many customers are frustrated with this, saying that they were surprised by a recurring shipment, unable to cancel their subscription, or had difficulty contacting the support team. Note that until May 2022, you could only contact Smalls by email or text, and there was no phone support or live chat option.

Some complaints have started to roll in following Smalls’ reformulation. While we applaud the removal of peas as a primary ingredient, it’s inevitable a change in flavor may cause some cats to reject the food.

How Much Does Smalls Cat Food Cost?

Every customer gets a sample pack containing 10 packages of fresh food at signup. The recipes in your sample pack will be determined based on the information you provide about your cat during signup.

Smalls cat food costs 4per5−ouncepackage.The10−packsamplerisdiscountedby204 per 5-ounce package. The 10-pack sampler is discounted by 20%, bringing your first box down to 4per5−ouncepackage.The10−packsamplerisdiscountedby2032. Free shipping is included.

After you receive your sample pack, you can log into your Smalls account and adjust your cat’s plan by swapping flavors or changing the number of packs you receive. Your subscription will automatically continue unless you cancel it, billed at $4 per pack and shipped every 4 weeks.

Depending on your cat’s size and calorie requirements, Smalls fresh food will cost between 1.00and1.00 and 1.00and3.50 per day. If you find your cat needs more or less food down the line, you can always log into your account and adjust the plan.

Overall, Is Smalls a Good Choice?

Smalls offers an excellent variety of foods and meal plans that honor your cat’s needs as a carnivore. We haven’t been able to find many other foods on the market that offer the same level of species-appropriate nutrition combined with outstanding ingredient quality and manufacturing standards.

The key to getting the most out of Smalls is remembering that this is a subscription service. When you place your order, you are automatically signed up for recurring shipments of the food. If you’d like to discontinue that recurring order, you must be conscientious about canceling before the next box is shipped.

Where Is Smalls Cat Food Sold?

Smalls cat food is only available for purchase as a subscription through the Smalls website. All first-time customers start with a 10-pack sampler which automatically rolls into a monthly subscription unless you cancel.

When you sign up for Smalls, you’ll provide information about your cat’s age and health status which Smalls uses to determine their approximate calorie requirements. Your cat’s plan will be developed automatically according to their calorie needs and flavor preferences.

Want to try Smalls? Enter coupon code CATS35 at checkout to get a flat 35% off!