Last updated Jan 12, 2026
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Meal delivery services aren’t just for humans anymore—your cat can have their meals delivered too. Cat food delivery companies prepare homemade-style cat food and ship it right to your door on a custom subscription. Between ingredient quality, palatability, packaging quality, and managing the subscription itself, there’s a lot to analyze.
After trying just about every cat food delivery service on the market, we’ve ranked the following fresh cat food services that offer a combination of product quality and customer experience that could make them worth the recurring subscription cost.
At a Glance: Best Best Fresh Cat Food Meal Delivery Service
Want a quick look at the products reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food
- Good variety of recipe options
- Smalls foods are species-appropriate and nutritious
- High-quality, human-grade foods
Viva Raw Cat Food Turkey Recipe
- Species-appropriate blend of muscle meat, organs, and bone
- Relies on animal-sourced fat
- Smooth texture is easy for cats to eat
Fresh is Best Freeze-Dried Lamb Cat Food
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Limited list of ingredients, highly digestible
- Carnivore-appropriate blend of muscle meat, organs, and bone
Raised Right Cat Food
- Recipes formulated by veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker
- Limited ingredient whole food recipes that are low in carbs
- 100% human-grade food made in a USDA inspected facility
My Perfect Pet Cat Food Toby’s Turkey Carnivore Grain-Free Blend Cat Food
- A low-phosphorus option is available for cats with kidney issues
- Available in several flavors to satisfy different needs
- Cats loved the way it tastes
Just Food for Dogs JustCats Fish & Chicken
- Rich in high-quality animal protein
- High moisture content
- Easily digestible, no artificial additives
Shine Pet Food Co. Frozen Transitional Raw Venison Recipe
- No subscription required
- Mix of raw frozen and freeze-dried foods
- Single-protein formulas
Top Picks Explained
Why Trust Cats.com
Since 2018, we’ve conducted in-depth analyses of most cat food delivery services as they enter the market. We purchase the products independently, going through the signup process to evaluate the consumer experience from start to finish. The fresh cat food delivery services recommended below have been reviewed by several human members of our team and more than a dozen feline taste testers.
In testing fresh cat food delivery services, we pay attention to the user-friendliness of the brand’s site, the ease of the ordering process, and options for customizing your subscription. We take notes on delivery speed, packaging, freshness of the food, and how easy it is to portion and serve. We rely on our cats to provide their opinions on the food’s aroma, flavor, and general appeal.
The Best Fresh Cat Food Meal Delivery: Our Top 7 Recommendations
Because it’s one of the only services that provides a wide variety of flavors and multiple textures, we’ve chosen Smalls as the overall best fresh cat food meal delivery service. On top of a strong product variety, this brand’s fresh foods are fully human-grade and received a unanimous paws-up from our taste testers.
While Smalls is one of our top-recommended brands, it might not be right for every cat. To help you find the perfect fresh cat food service for your cat, we’ve categorized our picks by price, life stage, and other considerations. Read on for in-depth reviews of each service.
#1 Overall Best: Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 13% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 40
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.00 per day
I’ve been trying this food since around the time the brand launched.
Their line of human-grade fresh foods includes 4 different proteins: fish, chicken, beef, and turkey, and these come in a variety of smooth and ground textures. All of them are primarily made from animal ingredients and are rich in protein with minimal plant matter. Of the brands I’ve tried, this one has the largest variety of recipes.
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
And my cats love it—Smalls has made up about 25% of their diet over the last few months, and they always seem to enjoy the fresh meat taste.
How The Subscription Works
As for the subscription, you go through a questionnaire that asks you about your cats’ age and weight, then generates a customizable meal plan for you. Every subscription begins with a 10-pack sampler, tailored to your cat’s preferences as indicated in the questionnaire.
The sampler box is the beginning of a subscription, so you must cancel your next order in time if you don’t want it.
Smalls Edit Plan
When managing your subscription, I found that everything worked pretty well. In previous years, I’ve encountered some issues with fulfillment and managing the subscription. However, things have gotten a lot better in the last year. I’ve had consistent shipments, easy cancellations, and an improved experience with the customer portal. My one gripe is the lack of phone support, but the company is responsive via email and text messages.
How Much It Costs
While you’ll pay more for Smalls than a typical grocery store cat food, the price is moderate compared to similar services. With 20% off each sampler, my first box cost $32 with free shipping. My monthly price was $112 a month, which breaks down to about $4 a day for one cat. And as of June 2023, new customers get free treats for life.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Liver, Green Beans, Water Sufficient for Processing, Dried Yeast, Tricalcium Phosphate, Kale, Magnesium Proteinate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Dandelion Greens, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Cod Liver Oil, Salt, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Biotin.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Cod Liver Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Good variety of recipe options
- Smalls foods are species-appropriate and nutritious
- High-quality, human-grade foods
- Affordable compared to similar services
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not a customized product
- Confusing website, customer experience is hit-or-miss
- No phone support (text and email only)
#2 Best Raw: Viva Raw Cat Food Turkey Recipe
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 16.1 % Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 36
- Typical Cost Per Day: $2.51 per day
If you’re considering a raw diet for your cat, you may find Viva a convenient solution. Viva makes small-batch raw pet food using USDA-inspected, humanely raised meat. One thing that’s obvious about Viva’s products is the meat is incredibly fresh.
If you’re looking for a nutritionally complete raw option for your cat, Viva offers five single-protein flavors: chicken, turkey, beef, duck, and rabbit. If you’re just looking for ground meat to make homemade food or to use as a dietary supplement, Viva offers the same five proteins without any added produce or nutrient supplements.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Owners of cats with food allergies and sensitivities may find Viva to be a flexible option. In addition to common proteins like chicken and beef, Viva offers three novel proteins. They’re one of the few brands that offer a rabbit-only formula, which is what I feed my own cats.
How The Subscription Works
While Viva isn’t designed as a subscription service like Smalls, you can set up a recurring order. There’s no survey to complete with information about your cat, so it’s up to you to select the recipes you want. That said, new customers have the option of starting off with a 2-week trial box that rolls into a full-size subscription.
How Much It Costs
Viva’s nutritionally complete raw recipes range from $6.75/pound to $10.50/pound, or about $0.42 to $0.66 per ounce. The pure version of each recipe (meat-only) costs $1 less per pound. Viva requires a 10-pound minimum order and shipping is free for orders over $250.
Ingredients
Turkey with Ground Bone, Turkey Heart, Turkey Gizzard, Turkey Liver, Organic Psyllium Husk, Chilean Mussels, Fish Oil, Organic Egg Yolk, Taurine, Organic Icelandic Kelp, Cod Liver Oil, Nutritional Yeast, Vitamin E (Tocopherols), Oyster Meat, Manganese Proteinate.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Species-appropriate blend of muscle meat, organs, and bone
- Relies on animal-sourced fat
- Smooth texture is easy for cats to eat
- Nutritionally complete or meat-only recipes available
- 2-week trial option with recurring subscriptions
What We Didn’t Like:
- Minimum order of 10 pounds required
#3Mid-Price Option: Fresh is Best Freeze-Dried Lamb Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 41.9% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 131
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.34 per day
One of five nutritionally complete recipes available at the time of purchase, this lamb formula is packed with protein from lamb muscle meat and lamb organs. Measured as dry matter, it contains a little over 44% protein and 32.8% fat. The fish bone meal is likely added as a source of essential minerals rather than supplemental protein.
This is a limited-ingredient recipe formulated according to AAFCO nutrient profiles for cats in all life stages. Though this recipe does contain a few added carbohydrates, the dry matter carb content is under 15%. I’d prefer to see an animal-sourced fat over sunflower oil, but overall, the recipe appears highly digestible and relatively species-appropriate for carnivores.
Like most freeze-dried foods, this product is designed to be rehydrated. The pieces are small and soft enough that I found it easy to crush them—then it only took a few minutes to rehydrate in hot water. My cats seemed to enjoy the flavor and they noticed the aroma of the food as soon as I opened the package.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
How the Subscription Works
Ordering Fresh is Best Cat Food is simple and flexible. You can make a one-time purchase or set up a subscription for hassle-free deliveries. Subscriptions are fully adjustable, letting you choose how often you’d like your cat’s meals delivered. Options range from weekly deliveries to once a year, with choices including every 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, or 6 months. No matter which schedule you pick, you’ll get 2% off every subscription order.
Subscription is available only for Freeze-Dried and Meat Treats—Meal Toppers are not eligible for subscription at this time.
How Much It Costs
Nutritionally complete freeze-dried recipes from Fresh is Best start at $22.99 for an 8-ounce bag and range up to $18.39. The pricing on the product category page is a little confusing at first glance but when you click to the individual product pages, you’ll see there’s a discount available for purchasing more than two bags. You can even mix and match different proteins and still receive the discount.
Per ounce, Fresh is Best freeze-dried food costs between $2.87 and $2.29 (before any discounts). This puts it in a similar price range as other freeze-dried-only cat food brands like Primal, Furry Wonder, and Hare Today. The average cost to feed a 10-pound cat is between $2.75 and $6.60 per day.
Ingredients
Lamb, Lamb Spleen, Lamb Liver, Yams, Apples, Kale, Collards, Fish Bone Meal, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Dried Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Ingredients We Liked: Lamb, Lamb Spleen, Lamb Liver, Fish Bone Meal
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Sunflower Oil
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Limited list of ingredients, highly digestible
- Carnivore-appropriate blend of muscle meat, organs, and bone
- Easy to crush and rehydrate for feeding
What We Didn’t Like:
- Relies primarily on plant-sourced fat
#4 Best For Sensitive Stomachs: Raised Right Turkey Recipe
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 21% Min
- Age Range: Adult
- Calories Per Ounce: 44
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.12 per day
The thing that I like most about Raised Right is its exceptional transparency. The brand offers complete nutrient profiles and information on their lab testing on the website. Raised Right was also the first company to voluntarily submit a recipe to be tested by Check Your Pet Food, an independent organization testing pet food for nutritional adequacy, contamination, and more.
Like Smalls, Just Food for Cats, and My Perfect Pet (which we’ll review next), Raised Right offers 100% human-grade cat food, meaning that not only are the ingredients USDA human-grade but the foods are made in a human food facility as well.
Four recipes are available. You can choose from turkey, chicken, turkey and pumpkin, and chicken and pumpkin formulas. Regardless of the primary protein, all of these recipes share a variety of plant ingredients, including organic spearmint, flaxseed oil, parsley, and dried kelp.
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
While these ingredients are nutrient-dense and flesh out the nutritional profile of the food, I’m worried that they may make them less palatable to cats.
After trying it with over 10 cats, most of our taste testers either refused or showed little interest in the food.
However, I’ve seen positive reviews and results from other customers. Between the company’s integrity, food quality, and nutritional offering,
Raised Right should be worth a try in spite of below-average palatability results. Raised Right does have a money back guarantee where they’ll refund your first box if you’re not satisfied so if your cats aren’t a fan, you can rest easy knowing you’ll be refunded if it doesn’t work out.
How The Subscription Works
To order, you’ll choose from either a sampler box or a full box, and plans are extremely adjustable. In addition to a one-time order, you can set up a subscription. Flexible subscriptions range between deliveries once every week and every 28 weeks.
Managing the account was easy, and my delivery arrived fresh, cold, and according to schedule.
How Much It Costs
The price depends on how much your cat weighs and eats, but for a 10-lb cat, it would cost about $4.12 a day to feed Raised Right.
Ingredients
Turkey Thigh, Turkey Heart, Turkey Liver, Carrots, Blueberries, Organic Spearmint, Cod Liver Oil, Egg Shell Powder, Flaxseed Oil, Organic Dried Kelp, Taurine, Thiamine Mononitrate.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Formulated by a veterinarian and pet food formulation expert
- Releases documentation on lab testing
- Fully human-grade products
- Species-appropriate recipes honor your cat’s needs as a carnivore
What We Didn’t Like:
- Hasn’t received a lot of customer reviews, making it difficult to gauge customer experience
- Very small selection doesn’t provide a lot of options for picky cats
- The foods aren’t custom-portioned and you’ll still have to measure meals out for your cat
#5 Best For Seniors: My Perfect Pet Cat Food Toby’s Turkey Carnivore Grain-Free Blend Cat Food
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 18.9% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 53
- Typical Cost Per Day: $3.71 per day
My last recommendation is from a less well-known company called My Perfect Pet. The company offers three different varieties of cat food—beef, turkey, and a specialty low-phosphorus blend. I ordered this one for my cat, Forest, to help with her kidney disease.
Except for the low-phosphorus food, all of their recipes meet AAFCO nutrient profiles. They’re all 100% human-grade recipes made from human-quality ingredients in a human food facility.
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Nutritionally, their foods are all species-appropriate and look like wholesome, meat-based options for your cat.
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
While I was unable to find any reviews from other customers, I had a good experience ordering from My Perfect Pet. My delivery arrived fresh, frozen, and on time, and my cats loved the food.
How The Subscription Works
Your box size is adjustable, and you can adjust your delivery schedule to receive a box between once every week and once every ten weeks. In addition to a flexible meal delivery plan, you can buy it in a limited number of stores in the United States.
Their descriptions of boxes and the amount of food could be communicated more clearly. They describe the default box as a “6-pack”, but it’s six packs of ten individually wrapped cat food bars, meaning roughly a 60-day supply. Keep this in mind when ordering.
How Much It Costs
Your starting price is high, but in terms of price per day, this food ends up being cheaper than the competition. My one-off order of 60 one-day servings cost $197.94 plus overnight shipping, for a total of almost $223. At one bar per day for a 10-lb cat, that breaks down to $3.71 per day. Since Forest is a bit lighter than that, her daily cost is under $2 each day, lower than that of any of the other brands reviewed here.
Ingredients
Turkey Thigh & Breast, Yam, Spinach, Cranberries, Tricalcium Phosphate, Iodized Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Fish Oil, Choline Chloride, Coconut Oil, Dried Kelp, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- A low-phosphorus option is available for cats with kidney issues
- Available in several flavors to satisfy different needs
- Cats loved the way it tastes
- Cheaper over time compared to other brands
What We Didn’t Like:
- Very high upfront cost
#6 Best Mid-Range: Just Food for Dogs JustCats Fish & Chicken
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 12% Min
- Age Range: Adult
- Calories Per Ounce: 42
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.50 per day
As you’d expect from a brand called Just Food for Dogs, this company prioritizes dog food. In addition to a range of fresh dog foods and treats, the brand offers a single cat food recipe called JustCats Fish & Chicken.
The brand is known for its homemade-style fresh foods made from high-quality ingredients, and its cat food recipe features a combination of wild-caught Alaskan cod, chicken muscle meat and liver, and whole Atlantic sardines. It’s a fully human-grade product held to high manufacturing standards.
Mallory Crusta / Cats.com
My cats had mixed reactions to this food. Forest, who enjoys fish-based foods more than Wessie, ate it excitedly, but Wessie was less enthusiastic.
How The Subscription Works
Notably, Just Food for Dogs cat food is not exclusively a cat food subscription service. Instead, the food is available either as a one-time purchase or a recurring subscription. Opting for a subscription saves you 40% off your first order and 5% off all recurring orders.
If you live in certain parts of the United States, you can also buy it in-store at Pet Food Express, Petco, certain vet clinics, and Just Food for Dogs retail kitchens.
How Much It Costs
A single 18-ounce bag costs $0.79 per ounce, but a monthly subscription brings that price down to $0.75 per ounce or about $4.50 a day.
Flat rate shipping is $19.99 for orders that do not meet free shipping minimums. Free shipping is available on frozen orders and dry goods (DIY kits, supplements, treats, and merchandise) over $99. This is valid in the Continental U.S. only. For more information about their shipping policy and costs, please visit this page.
Ingredients
Wild-Caught Alaska Pacific Cod, Chicken Thighs, Chicken Hearts, Chicken Liver, Tapioca Starch, Whole Atlantic Sardines, JustFoodForDogs Nutrient Blend
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Rich in real animal protein from chicken and fish
- Gently cooked to preserve nutrition and flavor
- Completely free from fillers and artificial additives
- Save 40% on first autoship and 5% on recurring orders
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only one fresh food formula is currently available
- Some cats may be sensitive/allergic to chicken or fish
#7 Best for Picky Eaters: Shine Pet Food Co. Frozen Transitional Raw Venison Recipe
Shannon Perry / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 18.5% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: NA
- Typical Cost Per Day: NA
If you’re struggling to transition your cat onto a fresh or raw diet—or if they’re just finicky about their food—frozen raw food from Shine could be a good option.
Shine Pet Food Co. offers an array of frozen and freeze-dried raw cat foods, including transitional raw recipes that consist of pure meat with kelp and minerals. All Shine cat food products are made with clean ingredients such as meat sourced from small local farms. This brand also prioritizes manufacturing techniques that minimize the impact on the environment.
While Shine’s freeze-dried cat food is only available in a venison flavor, both the frozen raw and transitional raw foods come in beef, rabbit, turkey, or chicken.
How The Subscription Works
Unlike many fresh cat food brands, Shine isn’t a subscription service. You can purchase the products in stores (if you live in Santa Fe, New Mexico or Boulder, Colorado) or order them online. Shine ships nationwide via UPS 2-day air.
Because there’s no subscription requirement, you can buy as much or as little of Shine’s cat food as you want.
Shannon Perry / Cats.com
If you and your cat end up liking Shine products, you can email the brand at [email protected] to set up a recurring order. Simply include a product list and your desired order frequency in your email.
How Much It Costs
The cost of Shine’s raw cat food may differ depending on whether you’re shopping locally or having the food shipped. If you buy in-store, you’ll pay under $1 per ounce. Prices range from $11.50 to $14.50 per pound for Shine’s frozen raw and transitional raw recipes while freeze-dried formulas cost $27.99 per 8-ounce bag ($3.50 per ounce). Shipping costs are not included and can be significant.
Ingredients
Venison, Venison Heart, Venison Liver, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Magnesium Carbonate, Organic Kelp, Manganese Chelate, Cod Liver Oil, and Sea Salt.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- No subscription required
- Mix of raw frozen and freeze-dried foods
- Single-protein formulas
- Popular with picky eaters
What We Didn’t Like:
- Shipping costs can be significant
- Recurring orders can only be arranged via email
Best Fresh Cat Food Meal Delivery Services: Comparison Table
| Product Name | Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food | Raised Right Cat Food | My Perfect Pet Cat Food Toby’s Turkey Carnivore Grain-Free Blend Cat Food | Fresh is Best Freeze-Dried Lamb Cat Food | Viva Raw Cat Food Turkey Recipe | Just Food for Dogs JustCats Fish & Chicken |
Shine Pet Food Co. Frozen Transitional Raw Venison Recipe
|
| Primary Protein | Chicken | Turkey | Turkey | Lamb | Turkey | Fish | Venison |
| Guaranteed Protein (%) | 13.00% | 21 | 18.9 | 41.9 | 16.1 | 12 | 18.5 |
| Ash (%) | 2.35 | N/A | 1.13 | 7.23 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Calcium (%) | 0.52 | 0.74 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 | N/A | N/A |
| Phosphorus (%) | 0.39 | 0.62 | 0.3 | 0.94 | 0.4 | N/A | N/A |
| Calories Per Ounce | 40 | 44 | 53 | 137 | 36 | 42 | N/A |
| Cost Per Day | $4.00 per day | $4.12 per day | $3.71 per day | $2.17 per day | $2.51 per day | $4.50 per day | N/A |
What to Consider When Shopping for a Cat Food Meal Delivery Service
As their popularity has grown, meal delivery services for cats have become increasingly diverse. From unaltered, humanely sourced ground meat to gently cooked, nutritionally complete diets, there’s a fresh cat food subscription out there for just about every cat.
If you’re considering this option for your cat, here are some tips for choosing the right one:
- Prioritize Nutrition: The food should be nutritionally complete and balanced according to AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials) guidelines. Beyond meeting those baseline nutritional requirements, the best cat food is rich in animal protein with the right amount of fat and not too much plant matter.
- Think About Quality: Most fresh cat food delivery services claim to use human-grade ingredients. Prioritize those that offer human-quality ingredients from reputable sources and adhere to strict manufacturing standards.
- Consider Product Variety: If you’re going to be relying on a cat food delivery service as your cat’s only source of food, that service should be able to provide the types of protein sources, textures, and flavors your cat likes and needs.
- Don’t Forget Customer Experience: We’re looking for easy navigation, plenty of options for customizing your subscription, and a history of good customer service.
- Make Sure You Can Afford It: Buying a fresh cat food meal delivery isn’t cheap, but it should be affordable.
Always check with your veterinarian before making significant changes to your cat’s diet. A long, slow transition period is optimal to minimize the risk of digestive upset, so don’t throw away your cat’s old food when you first start your subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fresh food is best for cats?
The best fresh cat food is rich in high-quality animal-derived ingredients, including fresh meat, organs, and animal fat. It should meet AAFCO guidelines for your cat’s life stage and come from a reputable company.
Is fresh cat food better for cats?
There’s not much research on the benefits of fresh, homemade-style food versus traditional foods for cats. Compared to heavily-processed dry foods, however, these products tend to retain more of the nutritional integrity of their ingredients and may be a more efficient source of nutrition for your cat.
Which cat food company is best?
Great cat food companies have a robust research and development department and work with veterinary nutritionists, allowing them to formulate species-appropriate, nutritious foods for cats. They adhere to strict safety and quality protocols and take consistent action to make sure their products are safe and wholesome for cats.
What is the best top-of-the-line cat food?
The best cat food for any particular cat depends on their unique needs, but all of the best top-of-the-line cat foods offer excellent ingredient quality, species-appropriate formulation, and meet AAFCO guidelines for the cat’s given life stage.
Smalls makes great cat food, but their customer service and packaging methods negate any good of their product. Several times I have received a shipment of their product and the (dry) ice is completely gone. I used to see a good amount left (to play with, lol), but not in the last year. I asked them and they always said “If it’s still cold to the touch, it’s fine to serve it.”. I’ve been a food handler, the danger zone is above 40 degrees. 50 degrees is still cold to the touch, but clearly not enough to prevent spoilage.
Multiple times, the product arrived defrosted enough to where, when I serve it, my cats will puke after eating it. This only happened after I started receiving orders where the ice was completely depleted. Two orders after my complaint were fine because they also added traditional ice packs on the bottom. But the last one I received had no extra ice pack and the dry ice was depleted. In 30 degree temperature, even! They’re clearly getting cheap on packing.
Recently, they ran out of what I order, and we all know how picky cats are. So, my usual order, OVER $200 mind you, they simply switched products on me. Sure, they sent an email, but because they decided to jazz up the email’s subject line with emojis, which is what mostly only scammers do, it ended up in my spam folder. I did catch it in time, kinda, and told the customer service rep that I would have preferred my order cancelled instead of substituted. They said they could still cancel and refund my order…. they didn’t.
Now I’m stuck with $200 worth of cat food that does me no good and I had to schedule a 20 minute phone call with their rep before I decide to dispute the transaction with my credit card company for charging and sending me a product I did not order.
By the way, no ice remained in this order, either. And it was literally freezing outside here in the northeast. If I got this shipment in in the summer, it would’ve been spoiled. What’s the point in having great quality food when it doesn’t arrive safe to eat?
Oh, and in my back and forth of emails, I was dealing with a different person each time. Looking into their company, it seems like almost all of their employees work remotely, and is probably mostly part time staff. The WORST customer service ever… both in design and quality. I came across this website looking for an alternative to Smalls.
Also, they have strict shipping and ordering windows. Mine arrives Wednesdays, usually between noon and 3pm. Which means, I have to WORK AROUND this time. I either have to go into work late, or leave and go back because, as with their lack of ice in packaging, I need to unload and pack that stuff in the freezer ASAP to prevent spoilage. SO unacceptable.
I have used them for almost a year now, I sampled every product they carry with my cats. They only like what they like. Between the headache and hassles, and vomiting cats, they’re just not worth it anymore.
My cats (4) loved Smalls. They would all wait by their eating spot sitting so patiently when I would get their food ready. I had to stop due to financial reason but went back immediately about a year later. The first box was fine. Cats were happy. Second box, they all refused the “other bird”, third box refused bird, bird/fish and fish. They ate the pork. For my boy to walk away, a cat that eats everything… They liked the freeze dried which I only gave as treats (too expensive!) and they enjoyed both the sweet potato treats and the little lick packs.They also liked the broth by itself as a little treat too. I had to cancel my membership as I have roughly 2 1/2 boxes of frozen food that they won’t touch. I wrote to Smalls, always had great customer service! I mean phenomenal! Fast responses, always pleasant! I was told to add broth. Now, if I have to add broth to a food they won’t eat, something is wrong IMHO. I also asked if they changed from the recipe that my cats loved and was told no. I went online and found out the recipe was changed and some long time cat clients didn’t like their food anymore because of recipe changes. So now I’m on the hunt for a food equal to what Smalls used to be and won’t break the bank. I originally went on Smalls because my boy had his first bout with crystals back in 2022. Vet wanted to put him on their usual vet brand they push and I said no. I had all the cats on a non-GMO kibble. Did my research and that is how I not only found Smalls, but also, that kibble, no matter how good, isn’t what cats should be eating due to lack of moisture etc. Happy to say, that change to Smalls was the best decision for him and the girls. Sorry, I’m just rambling now. I’m mad because I really like the company!
Looks like Milk Pet Foods site isn’t up for business, currently (Aug 2025)
Thank you we are looking into this
Im scared of the spearmint in the Raised Right. Many sources claim it is toxic for cats.
Most sources say that a small amount of spearmint should be safe, and perhaps beneficial, to most cats. However, the essential oils in spearmint can be toxic and an essential oil of spearmint should never be used in any amount.
This is a great list, thank you for taking the time to review them and post about the companies in such detail.
I would like to say that Smalls is not consistent. We have been a customer for going on 2 years and for the past year, we have been receiving rotten warm food for our cat. The gently cooked food is frozen, which is the only food we buy. They have offered us a refund several times, yet that does not feed our cat when she runs out of food due to the incompetence of their warehouse. They also have strict shipping days and times and when a new shipment is needing to be sent out to replace the rotten or incorrect product, we’ve been told “we missed the shipping cutoff” for that week. Sometimes that can transpire to another 10 days before cat food is delivered. That is unacceptable in our standards.
They blame a 3rd party shipping company for the problem. I have suggested numerous times a shipping company that without fail always delivers our dog food frozen. I appreciate they are a “newer” company, but the life of my cat has been so disrupted, not to mention the stress and anxiety we experience due not being able to trust our shipments will arrive safe to consume and arrive as the correct order. If this problem only happened once or twice, we could potentially understand. But it has occurred too many times to count. We cancelled our auto-ship and will not recommend them to anyone.
Hi Stacey, thank you for sharing your experience with Smalls. We forwarded your message to the Smalls support team and they said that the issues you experienced may have been related to recent extreme weather in the United States. However, it sounds like your experiences started further back, and I can echo that consistency has been a, well, consistent issue over the last year. Of course, we also have the pandemic to blame for that. At any rate, we’re currently gearing up to do a complete rewrite of this review after ordering new batches of food and re-evaluating their updated customer flow, and I hope to bring good news. Until then, thanks again for being here, and I’m sorry you had a disappointing experience with this company. – Mallory
Yes I had the exact same problems with Smalls.They also change the recipe any time they want and my baby kitty would not eat it anymore. With all of the problems it just was not worth it anymore. I was a customer for about 2 1/2 years. I am looking for an alternative. In the mean time I feed them (senior and young kitty) Iams wet food.
Thanks for sharing, Bonnie. Have you considered freeze-dried food? There are plenty of flavor options out there and the texture is similar to fresh food when you crush it up and rehydrate it. Here are some of our favorite brands:
https://cats.com/best-freeze-dried-cat-food
Thank you for reviewing the foods for our feline family members. I was not aware of the Just Foods and Smalls companies..
I would like to try Just Foods for cats but, they are out of stock at this time, so we ordered the trial pack from Smalls.
We previously used NomNom Fish Meals but, unfortunately, they no longer offer the Fish Meals for cats which is why we were searching for another company.
Thanks again for your reviews.