Smalls Cat Food Pros & Cons: My Honest Review

Last Updated on January 13, 2026 by Kieran Beckles

Are you tired of your cat refusing their food and want to try Smalls?

If you’ve reached breaking point, you might be ready to give their custom cat food a try and see if a subscription to a human-grade cat food service could transform your feline friend.

We have a pair of American shorthair cats called Marco and Polo. They’re two sassy brothers with a penchant for refusing their cat food at dinner time.

They’re fussy cats who struggle with skin allergies. It’s been a challenge to find cat food they’ll consistently eat in the United States.

With that in mind, I placed an order of Smalls to see how Marco and Polo would take to it. It’s our second time ordering Smalls, following our first test in 2023.

We appreciated that Smalls offers many recipes, gives pet owners the option to try a trial pack, and our cats liked their fresh meals (much to our surprise!).

Some drawbacks include price and the freezer space required to store their food. 

Smalls Cat Food Pros

Fresh meals

When I think of cat food, I tend to imagine smelly, wet food. That’s what I like about Smalls. It’s fresh cat food rather than tinned wet food. It smells better and looks more appetizing.

Smalls clearly labels the ingredients in each recipe. They use fresh, natural ingredients that are free from fillers. 

Marco and Polo have suffered from skin allergies in the past, so it was important to us that our rescue cats eat high-quality cat food.

Packs a protein punch

Smalls packs a protein punch because its recipes are high in protein.

Typically, you’ll find at least 80% meat content in each of their recipes. Their website explains that they’re trying to provide your cat with the type of diet their ancestors would have eaten. 

Having reviewed over 30 pet food brands, I was impressed with the high protein content, considering most cat food companies don’t eclipse 40-60%.

Recipe range

I’m not a pet nutritionist or a vet, so I can only count on my experience with my family’s pets.

I’ve noticed that, with Skye, Copper, Marco, and Polo, more variety can help with fussy cats and dogs.

Smalls offers a number of different bird and fish recipes to give pet owners options when it comes to what they put in their cat’s bowl.

Marco and Polo preferred the bird recipes after testing Smalls on my cats for 30 days.

Custom meal plan

One of Smalls unique selling points is their custom meal plans. I’m accustomed to seeing this offering with dog food brands, but it’s less common with cat food companies.

I was able to share that Marco and Polo experience skin issues during the sign-up questionnaire. 

This allowed Smalls to suggest recipes that best fit their needs. I liked this personalization element. Cats deserve it, not just dogs!

While my cats loved Raised Right, for example, they don’t offer a custom meal plan.

Customer service

We had a positive experience with Smalls customer service team. 

They reached out multiple times after our trial to check in on Marco and Polo. This isn’t common among the thirty or so pet food brands I’ve reviewed. 

We asked questions about the recipes and how best to encourage Marco and Polo to enjoy their cat food. 

I was impressed with the level of care compared to other pet food subscription services. However, it appears they’ve improved their customer service, as evidenced by negative feedback on Reddit from dissatisfied cat owners.

Cool extras

It’s not just their food that can prove a hit with cats. Felines love their toys, too! 

My mother-in-law insisted I mention how much Marco and Polo love their toys from their first-ever Smalls cat food delivery. 

This was over two years ago, and the Smalls toys (the Ham Bone trio) are the only ones that they’ll play with. They’ve also passed the test of time.

Smalls Cat Food Cons

Pricey

There’s no escaping the fact that Smalls will likely cost more than your current cat food, especially if you’re buying from your local pet store. However, you can test out a sampler pack before committing to a full-time subscription. 

One Reddit user (@muschka30) explained that Smalls cat food isn’t much more expensive than some premium cat food options at their local pet store: 

“My picky sphynx loves it and it’s not more expensive than the wellness core canned I had her on. She would go on a hunger strike rather than touch tiki cat.” 

However, other cat owners consider it expensive.

We paid $25.50 for Marco and Polo’s sample box. The price increased to $75 after the trial. 

It’s more expensive than traditional pet food, but it’s much cheaper than Copper and Skye’s dog food subscription ($194.40).

Requires fridge/freezer space

If you’re accustomed to feeding dry food or canned wet food, you’ll need to make room in your freezer to store the cat food. 

Once defrosted, the pouches should be refrigerated. 

We’re accustomed to making space in the freezer at this stage, having spent the past eight years reviewing pet food. 

But this can be an adjustment or a nuisance for some pet owners.

Hit and miss

So was Smalls a hit with Marco and Polo? We had a mixed experience.

They liked some recipes, but not others. Marco wouldn’t consistently eat his food. This is typical of our American shorthair cats. 

However, I recommend that cat owners start with a trial box and you can cancel before your subscription hits full price.

Some cat owners have a great experience with a transformed cat, whether it’s eating habits, shiny coats or smaller poop, and others have a disappointing experience.

If you’ve tried Smalls, you might want to consider Raised Right.

Is Smalls Cat Food Worth It?

If you’ve got a fussy cat and you haven’t tried fresh cat food, I believe Smalls is worth a try.

They’ve got a great range of recipes, and while my cats didn’t like all the proteins on offer, the bird recipes did appear to be a hit with them.

Polo has a stronger appetite than Marco and is more consistent at finishing his cat food. 

We paid $25.25 for our trial box, which isn’t a risky investment given the cost of some pet food subscriptions. 

You received a custom meal plan for your cat that takes into account any health issues, with the convenience of your feline’s meals being delivered to your door.

That in itself represents value. Knowing how fussy cats can be, it might be a coin toss once you get started with their food.

How We Tested Smalls

We signed up for Smalls to receive a trial box. It was our second time reviewing Smalls, but we wanted to update this review because they had expanded their recipe range.

We gave the sample box to Marco and Polo before switching to Smalls to receive a month’s supply.

Our American Shorthair cats showed initial interest in Smalls, hence why we continued with another box.

However, as the month progressed, Marco showed less interest. He doesn’t have a big appetite, so it wasn’t too surprising.

But we decided we couldn’t justify the monthly price if Marco wasn’t going to finish his meals.

Polo liked Smalls and finished his fresh cat food for the most part. I’m not a vet, but I did notice his coat appeared healthy and his energy levels good.

Smalls 30-Day Feeding Results

Who Is Smalls Best For (and Who Should Skip It) 

✔ Best for:

• Cats who like fresh food texture
• Pet owners who want to feed high-quality ingredients
• Cats who could benefit from a custom meal plan
• Slightly fussy eaters

✖ Not ideal for:

• Extremely picky cats 
• Pet owners who don’t want a subscription
• Cats who prefer dry or raw food

How Does Smalls Compare to Other Brands?

A Day in the Life Feeding Smalls

A little more work and forethought is required when dealing with fresh cat food.

Our day feeding Smalls starts the night before, ensuring we have some defrosted in the fridge and ready to serve.

We fed Marco and Polo twice a day. They’d get breakfast in the morning, and we’d cut the top of the packet and squeeze the contents into their bowls.

Unfortunately, Smalls didn’t provide a meal container. This means it can be messy in the fridge with partially opened meal pouches. We used tupperware to store it.

We’d repeat the same process in the evening. It’s straightforward but does require a few extra steps compared to feeding traditional dry or wet food.

Smalls Cat Food FAQ

Wrapping Up

So there we have it. We’ve reached the end of our Smalls cat food pros and cons article.

There are some positives, but also some negatives. 

Smalls offers a wide range of recipes to cater to fussy cats. Your cat will receive a meal plan tailored to their specific needs. 

However, it costs more than traditional cat food, requires freezer space, and may not satisfy very picky cats like Marco.

Each cat owner appears to have a unique experience with these balanced and complete cat food meals.

If you’re struggling to find pet food for your fussy feline, I’d recommend keeping an open mind and giving it a try.