That said, several foods on the market today can serve as suitable alternatives to Smalls. If you don’t want to sign up for a delivery service or don’t have room in the fridge to store fresh food, you don’t have to sacrifice providing quality nutrition for your cat.
Is Smalls still the best cat food option for your cat? We gathered our favorite Smalls cat food alternatives and compared them to Smalls to help you decide which is right for you and your cat. After reading the reviews of each one, browse the buyer’s guide for helpful tips on buying cat food.
Smalls Cat Food
We like Smalls because they take feline nutrition seriously. Two friends started the company working with veterinary nutritionists in 2017, creating wholesome recipes with no artificial fillers or additives. These recipes are full of protein and low in carbs. They give your cat the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that they need through real animal protein and organ meat. The fresh food packages must be stored in the refrigerator.
If you’re on the fence about a delivery service, the company gives you a trial week to see if your cat likes the food. Any adjustments can be made to your food selections during this time, and you can place a full order in the second week. You can also cancel at any time. Best of all, Smalls cat food packaging is 100% recyclable.
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Read on to learn more about our comparisons for alternatives to this brand.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024
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Weruva Mideast Feast With Grilled Tilapia Cat Food |
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Earthborn Holistic Monterey Medley Kitten Food |
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Caru Classic Wild Salmon & Turkey Stew Cat Food |
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The 8 Smalls Cat Food Alternatives
1. Weruva Mideast Feast With Grilled Tilapia vs. Smalls Fresh Smooth Bird Recipe
The Weruva Mideast Feast With Grilled Tilapia Cat Food is full of real chunks of live-caught tuna and tilapia, as you can see. We have compared it to the Smalls Fresh Smooth Bird recipe, as that is one of their most popular varieties, and Smalls does not offer any fresh fish recipe options.
There is nothing artificial added to either recipe, but the chunks of protein in the Weruva Mideast Feast are loaded in a tasty gravy to encourage picky eaters and add hydration, while the Smalls Smooth Bird may leave a gravy-loving kitty with more to desire. Weruva understands that cats are obligate carnivores, needing just meat from animal sources and water to be healthy. Its recipes focus more on protein and fat, with minimal carbohydrates, just like Smalls.
Each can of Weruva will serve as a meal, or it can be used as a topper for your cat’s existing food to boost their nutrition and entice them to eat.
2. Tiki Cat Koolina Luau Chicken With Egg vs. Smalls Fresh Pulled Bird Cat Food
Shredded chicken is the first ingredient in Tiki Cat Koolina Luau Chicken With Egg Cat Food, and the same is true with the Smalls Fresh Pulled Bird recipe. Chicken and scrambled eggs are mixed in a chicken consommé with the Tiki Cat recipe, and the high protein content supports healthy muscles and energy levels. In both recipes, sunflower oil is added for omegas to nourish the skin and coat, but the chicken consommé helps your feline get more liquid in their diet than the Smalls Pulled Bird.
This Tiki Cat recipe balances amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and taurine for overall health support while meeting your cat’s carnivorous cravings. Some cat owners don’t like how thin the consommé is, though. Their cats tend to lick the consommé without actually eating the food, which is not an issue with the Smalls recipe (cats devour the food). There are also reports that the Tiki Cat food has an unpleasant odor. Though, the Tiki Cat comes at a far more affordable price.
3. The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Chicken Cat Food vs. Smalls Fresh Bird Recipe
The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Chicken Cat Food is made with whole ingredients, as is the Smalls Fresh Bird Chicken recipe. The Honest Kitchen’s food is gently dehydrated to maintain a tasty flavor and lock in nutrients. Just rehydrate a portion of the food for your cat with warm water, wait 3 minutes, and serve them a wholesome meal. The food rehydrates to up to four times its weight. That means one 4-pound package will give you 16 pounds of food, giving you incredible value in addition to the health benefits for your cat.
Each of these recipes can be served to your cat as a complete meal or used as an addition to their dry kibble for a nutrition boost and enticement to eat.
The Honest Kitchen formula has recently changed, and some cats that were previously eating this food no longer like it. The bag that holds the food is also difficult to open and doesn’t stay closed. But it may still be the right option for you and your cat.
4. Earthborn Holistic Monterey Medley vs. Smalls Fresh Ground Bird Recipe
Fish broth and skipjack tuna are the first ingredients in Earthborn Holistic Monterey Medley Cat & Kitten Food. This formula is also suitable for kittens, which makes it versatile, just like the Smalls Fresh Ground Bird recipe.
Both recipes are formulated with everything that growing kittens need. Healthy protein for growing muscles, vitamins and minerals for immune health, and taurine for heart and vision health are packed into this food without adding anything artificial. However, the broth content of the Earthborn keeps kittens hydrated and supports urinary health. Each can will serve as a meal and come at an affordable price.
This flavor combines skipjack tuna and mackerel in a fish broth, while Smalls doesn’t offer fish-based solutions for cats who love their seafood.
5. Freshpet Vital Chicken Recipe Cat Food vs. Smalls Fresh Ground Bird Cat Food
The Freshpet Vital Chicken Recipe Cat Food uses chicken and chicken liver as the first ingredients, similar to the Smalls Fresh Ground Bird recipe. Both fresh foods should be stored in the fridge and used within seven days of opening. The Freshpet food arrives in six 1-pound packages, which means you have to make room for six large bags in the fridge. With the Smalls delivery service, your fridge won’t be as full.
Neither recipe contains any by-products, fillers, or GMOs. The Freshpet Vital Chicken recipe combines nutrient-rich proteins, fruits, and gently cooked vegetables to give your cat wholesome nutrition. You can see even pieces of carrots and spinach mixed in with the chicken.
This food’s natural fiber and moisture can aid digestion and help your cat maintain weight. Some cats don’t like to eat the Freshpet recipe because of the texture, and if they don’t like it, you end up stuck with many cat food in the same variety. On the other hand, Smalls offers a trial pack for the same price, which includes multiple recipes, so you and your kitty can decide what works best. After the trial, though, Smalls’ price is quite a bit higher.
6. Caru Classic Wild Salmon & Turkey Stew Cat Food vs Smalls Fresh Ground Other Bird
The healthy ingredients in Caru Classic Wild Salmon & Turkey Stew Cat Food are slowly cooked over low temperatures to preserve their nutrients. It’s prepared in small batches to give it the taste of a home-cooked meal.
The recipe balances vitamins and minerals for complete nutrition. It’s enriched with taurine, an essential amino acid for cats. It’s designed to give cats and kittens more hydration because cats don’t normally drink enough water on their own. The limited ingredients contain no artificial preservatives.
The food comes in BPA-free Tetra Pak cartons. Some cat owners find them difficult to open and use. One package is too much for one cat to eat for one meal, so the rest will have to be stored in the refrigerator. However, the food should be served at room temperature.
Caru Classic has a lot in common with Smalls Fresh Ground Other Bird recipe, which also contains turkey.
7. Lotus Just Juicy Chicken Stew Cat Food vs Smalls Fresh Pulled Bird
Real chicken is the first ingredient in Lotus Just Juicy Chicken Stew Cat Food. It’s packed in plenty of broth for moisture, boosting your cat’s water consumption. It’s called Just Juicy and lives up to its name—you can expect a large amount of juice when opening this can of food.
You’ll see shredded, white chicken in the broth as soon as you open it, just like the shredded chicken in the Smalls Fresh Pulled Bird Recipe; though, if you have a broth lover, the Smalls won’t measure up.
If your cat has poultry sensitivities, other flavors of Lotus Just Juicy are available. Unfortunately, it is an expensive option compared to most others on this list but it is still less expensive than Smalls. Some cats just like to lick the juice and leave the chicken behind, which is never an issue with Smalls.
8. Feline Natural Beef & Hoki Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food vs. Smalls Fresh Other Bird Recipe
The high protein content in Feline Natural Beef & Hoki Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food comes from grass-fed beef and sustainably caught Hoki. It also contains New Zealand green-lipped mussels for vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids that keep your cat’s coat healthy.
This food can be fed as a complete meal or used as a cat food topper for enticement but it comes at a very high price if you use it as a complete meal. The food should be mixed with one equal part of warm water until rehydrated and ready to serve. It suits kittens, adult cats, seniors, and pregnant or nursing mothers.
Smalls offers a fresh Other Bird recipe with excellent moisture and protein content. This recipe features turkey and turkey liver as the primary ingredients. You’ll also find kale, dandelion greens, dried kelp, and cod liver oil for added vitamins and minerals.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Smalls Cat Food Alternatives
Things to Consider When Buying Cat Food
To help you narrow your decision, here are a few things to remember when buying any cat food, including an alternative to Smalls.
Protein
Since cats are obligate carnivores, they need meat from animal sources to be their primary source of nutrition—the higher the protein content, the better. The protein content in your cat’s food should also always be higher than the fat content. The first ingredient on the label should be meat from an animal source.
Fruits and Vegetables
Small amounts of some fruits and vegetables are healthy additions to cat food recipes because they offer vitamins, minerals, and a tasty flavor. They also add to the fiber content of the food, which can help your cat’s digestion. Things like pumpkin and beetroot can even help keep them regular.
Many fruits and vegetables are also gentle on your cat’s digestion. Their bodies also won’t have to work as hard to get the nutrients from the ingredients.
Preparation
Consider how much time you can dedicate each day to your cat’s meals. If the food needs to be rehydrated, mixed, or thawed before it’s served, it might not fit easily into your schedule. Decide if you’re willing to make the time for the meal prep. If not, there are plenty of other options that don’t require as much work to serve.
Cat’s Age
Cats need different nutrition for different stages of their lives. Unless the package specifically states that it’s suitable for cats of all ages, make sure the food that you’re giving your cat is made for their life stage. This is especially important if you have a kitten or senior cat. They will need different nutrition than an average, healthy adult cat.
Allergies/Preferences
Cats can be allergic to certain proteins. If your cat suffers from a food allergy, be sure to read the ingredients thoroughly. Sometimes, a food label will say that it’s made with beef, but the ingredient list will show that chicken is used too.
As you get to know your cat’s preferences, you’ll also learn about the things that they just don’t like. Each cat has their own preferences and tastes.
Cost
Your budget is something to consider. There are various foods of all price groups. Many foods comparable to Smalls will be expensive because the companies tend to use higher-quality ingredients and no fillers. Smalls is even more expensive because you pay for the delivery service in addition to the food.
Expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better. If you’re feeding multiple cats two or three times a day, an expensive food may not be practical for you. You can still find high-quality food that your cat will love without breaking the bank. In addition to the options on this list, there are plenty available online and on store shelves.
Conclusion
There are a lot of great cat food options out there, but not all of them compare to Smalls Fresh Human-Grade Cat Food. Our top Smalls alternative was the Weruva Mideast Feast With Grilled Tilapia Cat Food. It’s made with real pieces of fish packed in plenty of gravy. We also liked the Earthborn Holistic Monterey Medley Cat & Kitten Food because of its value for money. And lastly, the Caru Classic Wild Salmon & Turkey Stew Cat Food is a good option, based on the price and the way cats devour it.
We hope that these reviews and comparisons were helpful to you in making your decision, whether it’s Smalls cat food or an alternative.
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Featured Image Credit: AJR_photo, Shutterstock
