Smalls is a subscription-based, human-grade fresh cat food brand delivering gently cooked, frozen meals direct to your door. Every recipe is AAFCO-complete, high in animal protein, low in carbohydrates, and free from artificial preservatives, fillers, and by-products.
Smalls earns a 4.1-star average on Trustpilot from over 3,250 ratings, with 88% of customers reporting health improvements. Reviewers consistently note reduced vomiting, shinier coats, improved digestion, and renewed appetite in cats who previously refused food. The brand offers five proteins across three textures and a money-back sampler guarantee.
This review covers what’s actually in Smalls, how the nutrition stacks up, what real customers say, who should and should not use it, and whether the subscription cost is justified for your cat.
What Is Smalls Cat Food?
Smalls cat food is a human-grade, gently cooked fresh cat food subscription service delivering high-protein, low-carbohydrate frozen meals directly to cat owners’ homes in insulated boxes packed with dry ice. The brand targets cat parents who want to move away from ultra-processed kibble and canned food.
Here’s the thing: Smalls was founded by two friends who noticed cats had been left out of the fresh pet food conversation that had dominated the dog space for years. They started cooking small-batch cat meals at home and the feedback from their pet-owning friends was overwhelmingly positive. Smalls was born from that.
The brand positions itself as the antidote to ‘big pet food’ — the ultra-processed, extruded-at-high-temperatures kibble that most cats eat daily. So what does that mean for your cat? Gently cooked meals that look and smell like real food, not mystery mush from a pouch.
Who Makes Smalls Cat Food?
Smalls is a direct-to-consumer fresh cat food company founded by two entrepreneurial friends who saw a gap in the fresh pet food market for cats and built the brand from small-batch home cooking into a subscription business with over 3,250 Trustpilot reviews.
Every batch of Smalls is tested for e.coli, salmonella, listeria, and mold. Regular spot checks verify nutritional content stays on track with what the label states. The brand works with animal nutritionists to develop its formulas, adding a layer of scientific oversight beyond home cooking.
What Recipes Does Smalls Offer?
Smalls offers five protein sources across three textures: Smooth Bird (chicken pate), Ground Bird (minced chicken), Pulled Bird (shredded chicken), Smooth Fish (salmon and cod), Ground Cow (beef), Smooth Pig (pork), and Smooth Other Bird (turkey), plus freeze-dried options and broths.
Fresh Recipe Lineup:
- Smooth Bird — chicken pate, single protein
- Ground Bird — minced chicken
- Pulled Bird (Pulled Other Bird) — shredded chicken or turkey
- Smooth Fish — fresh salmon and cod pate
- Ground Cow — beef muscle meat and liver, minced
- Smooth Pig — pork pate
- Smooth Other Bird — turkey pate
- Bird and Fish Dish — chicken and salmon combination
Beyond fresh food, Smalls also offers freeze-dried options (Puffy Bird), treats, toppers, and slow-cooked broths made with tuna or chicken. The broth products are minimally processed and free from preservatives.
What Are the Ingredients in Smalls Cat Food?
Smalls Fresh Smooth Bird’s primary ingredients are chicken, chicken liver, and green beans with water for processing, dried yeast, tricalcium phosphate, kale, magnesium proteinate, and potassium chloride — no fillers, no by-product meals, no artificial preservatives. The ingredient list reads like a grocery receipt, not a chemistry lab.
The Ground Cow recipe features beef muscle meat and beef liver as the primary ingredients, with green beans, spinach, and dandelion greens as the only significant carbohydrate sources. In fact, these are more nutritious carbohydrate choices than the peas used in previous formulations, which Smalls has since updated.
Protein sources across the lineup include chicken, chicken liver, turkey, beef, beef liver, pork, salmon, and cod. These whole-food protein sources deliver essential amino acids that cats require as obligate carnivores.
Is Smalls Cat Food Human-Grade?
Yes. Smalls is USDA-certified human-grade, meaning all ingredients are humanely harvested, sustainably sourced, and meet the same quality standards as ingredients sold at a grocery store for human consumption. The ‘human-grade’ label carries a specific regulatory meaning at Smalls.
The brand cooks its recipes gently to preserve nutrients and moisture, unlike conventional kibble that is extruded at extremely high temperatures. This minimal processing approach keeps more of the natural protein structure and moisture content intact compared to ultra-processed pet food.
Does Smalls Cat Food Have Fillers?
No. Smalls contains no fillers like cornstarch or powdered cellulose, no wheat, no soy, no artificial preservatives, no questionable by-products, and no ingredients that exist in the formula to reduce cost rather than improve nutrition. Every ingredient serves a functional purpose.
By comparison, most conventional kibble is high in carbohydrates from fillers like corn, wheat, and rice. Smalls formulas keep carbohydrates low by design, with vegetables like green beans and spinach providing the only significant carbohydrate contribution. This matches a cat’s natural dietary profile as an obligate carnivore.
Does Smalls Cat Food Have Good Nutrition?
Smalls Fresh Smooth Bird delivers approximately 58% protein and 32% fat on a dry matter basis, with very low carbohydrates, high moisture content for urinary health support, and AAFCO-complete nutrition for all life stages. The macronutrient profile is strong across all recipes.
Smalls Recipe Nutrition Comparison (Dry Matter Basis):
| Recipe | Protein (DM) | Fat (DM) |
| Smooth Bird (Chicken) | ~58% | ~32% |
| Ground Cow (Beef) | ~55% | ~26.7% |
| Smooth Fish (Salmon and Cod) | High protein | Moderate fat |
| Smooth Pig (Pork) | High protein | Moderate fat |
High moisture content is a key nutritional advantage in Smalls over dry kibble. Adequate moisture supports urinary tract health in cats, who have a naturally low thirst drive. Wet and fresh food diets consistently show better hydration outcomes than dry food alone.
Does Smalls Meet AAFCO Standards?
Yes. Smalls is AAFCO-complete for all life stages, meaning every recipe meets the nutritional standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials for cats from kittenhood through adulthood and senior years. Buyers do not need separate kitten or senior formulas.
AAFCO All Life Stages certification is the most comprehensive certification tier. It ensures balanced levels of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals for every stage of a cat’s life.
What Is the Protein Content in Smalls?
Smalls Fresh Smooth Bird contains approximately 58% protein on a dry matter basis, sourced from chicken muscle meat and chicken liver, delivering essential amino acids including taurine, which cats cannot synthesize and must obtain from dietary animal protein.
The Ground Cow recipe provides approximately 55% protein from beef muscle and liver on a dry matter basis. Ground Cow is also the most calorie-dense Smalls recipe, so owners with cats prone to weight gain should monitor portion sizes carefully.
What Do Smalls Cat Food Reviews Say?
Smalls cat food earns a 4.1-star average from over 3,250 Trustpilot reviews, with 88% of customers reporting health improvements after switching, including reduced vomiting, firmer stools, shinier coats, and renewed interest in eating from previously finicky cats. The brand actively responds to negative reviews on Trustpilot.
And this is where it gets interesting: one Trustpilot reviewer describes a 12-year-old cat with chronic vomiting finding relief after two months on Smalls. Another describes her cat becoming ‘playful again’ with ‘so soft’ fur and ‘a sparkle back in her eyes’ after switching. These are strong palatability and health outcome signals.
What Do Cat Owners Like About Smalls?
Cat owners most frequently praise reduced vomiting, better digestion, shinier coats, improved energy, and cats who were previously picky or disinterested in food eating Smalls eagerly. The subscription delivery convenience and timeliness also receive consistent positive mentions.
Top Praised Benefits:
- Chronic vomiting reduced or eliminated
- Firmer, less odorous stools
- Noticeably shinier, softer coats
- Picky eaters finally eating consistently
- Improved energy and playfulness
- Responsive customer service with coupon codes offered on cancellation attempts
Reddit cat owners on r/catfood note specific subscription management positives: customers report Smalls offered 25% discount coupons when subscribers tried to cancel due to price concerns. The brand’s ‘cat concierge’ text support line receives positive mentions for responsiveness.
What Are the Common Complaints About Smalls?
The most frequent complaint about Smalls is the subscription management difficulty, with some Reddit users reporting horror stories about challenges canceling their subscription, unauthorized charges after cancellation, and slow resolution of billing disputes. Subscription lock-in is the primary risk flag.
The good news? Multiple reviews note that cancellation was actually easy through the website, with one reviewer canceling online with no issues after the trial. Experiences appear to vary, suggesting the cancellation difficulty complaints may reflect edge cases rather than a universal pattern.
Price is the other common complaint. Smalls costs significantly more per day than conventional kibble or canned food. Cat owners with multiple cats, or those on tight budgets, often find the cost unsustainable for all cats in the household.
Is Smalls Cat Food Safe?
Smalls cat food is tested for e.coli, salmonella, listeria, and mold with regular spot checks on every batch, and the brand has maintained a clean safety record with no major recalls on record as of the date of this review. The testing protocol is more rigorous than most conventional pet food brands.
The brand uses USDA-certified human-grade ingredients, which are subject to stricter sourcing standards than conventional pet food ingredient grades. Each recipe is developed with animal nutritionist input to ensure balanced nutrition within the safe fresh food framework.
Has Smalls Cat Food Been Recalled?
No. Smalls has no major recalls on record, and the brand’s batch testing protocol for e.coli, salmonella, listeria, and mold provides a stronger safety assurance than most conventional dry or canned cat food brands. Recall status can be verified via the FDA’s pet food recall database.
Pet owners can monitor Smalls’ recall status through FDA recall tracking services. Setting up recall alerts provides immediate notification of any future safety issues without relying on delayed news coverage.
How Does Smalls Compare to Other Cat Foods?
Smalls competes in the fresh cat food subscription tier against brands like The Farmer’s Dog for Cats, Nom Nom, and Weruva, differentiating itself with human-grade USDA certification, a money-back sampler offer, and a broader recipe range spanning five proteins and three textures.
By comparison to conventional kibble and canned food, Smalls offers dramatically higher moisture content, more bioavailable protein, and no ultra-processing. The tradeoff is a significantly higher price per day and the freezer space requirement for fresh food storage.
Is Smalls Worth the Higher Price?
Smalls is worth the higher price for cats with chronic digestive issues, vomiting, skin problems, or low appetite on conventional food, where health improvements can offset the cost by reducing veterinary visits and the cycle of trying multiple brands.
For healthy cats with no food issues, the decision is more personal. The nutritional upgrade is real, but a high-quality grain-free wet food can provide adequate protein and moisture at a fraction of the cost. Smalls is a premium option, not a necessity for every cat.
How Much Does Smalls Cat Food Cost?
Smalls individual pouches retail from $5.99 each, with subscription pricing varying based on the number of cats, their size, and the recipe mix selected during the intake quiz. The brand frequently runs promotional offers including 50% off plus free treats for life for first-time subscribers.
Customers who attempt to cancel due to price concerns are often offered 25% discount coupon codes by the brand’s support team. The money-back sampler offer lets new buyers trial Smalls risk-free before committing to a full subscription.
Is Smalls Cat Food Worth the Subscription?
At $5.99 per pouch and subscription pricing, Smalls delivers USDA-certified human-grade fresh food, AAFCO All Life Stages certification, and high-protein nutrition that most conventional cat foods cannot match — but the subscription model requires careful management to avoid billing issues. Use the website cancellation portal directly.
Owners of cats with health improvements on Smalls consistently report the cost feels justified after vet visits decrease and their cat’s quality of life improves. The risk-free sampler makes testing the fit straightforward before committing to ongoing subscription costs.
Where Can You Buy Smalls Cat Food?
Smalls is sold exclusively through the brand’s subscription service at smallspetfood.com, delivered frozen in insulated boxes with dry ice directly to your home. The brand is not available in retail pet stores or grocery chains.
How to Buy Smalls:
- Take the intake quiz on smallspetfood.com to build a customized meal plan
- Select recipe preferences and subscription frequency
- Receive insulated delivery box with frozen meals and dry ice
- Store in freezer and thaw individual portions as needed
Individual pouches are also listed at $5.99 on select retail platforms, but the primary purchase channel is the brand’s direct subscription. Use the brand’s money-back sampler offer to trial the food before committing to a full subscription plan.
Should You Try Smalls Through Eat Proteins?
Smalls is best suited for cat owners dealing with chronic vomiting, digestive issues, food refusal, or dull coats on conventional kibble, and for those willing to commit to the freezer space and subscription model in exchange for genuine human-grade nutrition. Our team at Eat Proteins recommends the sampler first.
The good news? The money-back sampler removes the financial risk of trying Smalls. If your cat does not take to it, you get a refund. This makes testing a legitimate low-risk option before committing to the full subscription cost.
Bottom line: Smalls is not for every cat or every budget, but it’s one of the most nutritionally serious cat food options available. If your cat needs more than conventional food has been offering, Smalls is worth the trial. Don’t settle for mystery mush when fresh is an option.
Who Is Smalls Cat Food Best For?
Smalls performs best for cats with chronic digestive issues, vomiting, low appetite, or skin and coat problems on conventional food, and for owners who prioritize ingredient transparency, human-grade sourcing, and high protein-to-carbohydrate ratios for their cats.
Eat Proteins evaluates protein content, ingredient quality, AAFCO compliance, and real user outcomes for every product reviewed. Smalls clears all those criteria with strong marks on nutrition and palatability, with subscription management as the only significant caution flag for buyers.