There are lots of reasons why you might want to have a fresh cat food delivery – it certainly saves you hauling back heavy tins from the local store. But many fresh cat food delivery services also offer perfectly balanced, portion-controlled, delicious meals, which arrive straight to your doorstep with very little effort from you!
Some are freshly prepared by veterinary nutritionists and others offer wet cat food and kibble – so there really is something for every indoor cat. But when it comes to feeding your cat, which is the best fresh cat food delivery service for you and your pet?
Top 6 Fresh Cat Food Delivery Options
| Company | Best For | Why We Love It |
|---|---|---|
| Smalls | Best Overall | Top-quality ingredients, Good variety of textures and flavors, Clear labeling |
| Nom Nom | Best for Indoor Cats | Human-grade ingredients, Pre-portioned meals, Veterinary nutritionist formulated |
| Just Food for Dogs | Best Value | No subscription, Vet formulated, High-quality ingredients |
| Raised Right Fresh Cat Food | Best for Kittens | Nutritionally balanced, Different plans available |
| Savage Cat Food | Best Raw Cat Food | Different subscription possibilities available, Food has high liquid content, High-quality raw ingredients |
| Cat Person | Best for Variety | Many different meals and proteins to choose from, Subscription and non-subscription possibilities, Treats |
What is Fresh Cat Food?
You are what you eat, right? So why should it be any different for our cats? Traditional, store-bought cat food often contains poor-quality cuts of meat, fillers, chemical preservatives, and hormones.
Fresh cat food is nutritionally balanced, uses high-quality ingredients, and is often prepared in USDA-approved kitchens. Many of the best fresh cat food delivery services use human-grade ingredients, meaning it’s safe for you to try too (that’s not a must though)!
Rather than using fillers that make your cat full whilst not providing them with any nutritional benefits, fresh cat food contains plenty of fruits and veggies, premium proteins, and other ingredients chosen by vets and nutritionists. The meals are carefully prepared to retain all the nutrients before being frozen or sealed so that it’s fresh when it arrives on your doorstep.
Cat owners are often looking for a healthier alternative to store-bought food, and that sometimes means homemade. But many of us don’t have time to prepare our kitties’ fresh food every day. Most of us are also not nutritionists, meaning we might miss out important nutrients in our cat’s diet. Fresh food that’s delivered home seems like a good solution!
Why Use a Cat Food Delivery Service?
There are many benefits to subscribing to one of the best cat food delivery brands on this list. There are, however, a couple of negatives which you should be aware of too.
Pros
- No more buying huge bags of kibble or numerous tins at the store (and dragging them home)!
- Many fresh food companies portion out your cat’s food based on their weight, age, and activity levels. This is particularly good for indoor cats that are more prone to weight gain.
- There are lots of health benefits to fresh cat food. Owners say that their kitties have more energy, fewer allergies, healthier coats, better digestion, and better smelling poops (which is always a plus for indoor cats)!
Cons
- Of course, top-quality, fresh food is going to cost you more than traditional shop-bought cat food that has a long shelf life. And that’s before you’ve even paid for delivery costs. Many fans of fresh food, however, say their vet’s bill reduces significantly because their pets are much healthier.
- A con for some pet owners who order fresh cat food online is that the food needs to be frozen to maintain its freshness. This means you need to have a lot of freezer space (as they’re delivered in batches) and you need to remember to thaw the food before mealtimes. Otherwise, you’ll have one unhappy and hungry kitty!
- As with ordering anything online, it’s important to think about the environmental impact of your order. Many companies, however, source recyclable and compostable packaging materials, and you can order bigger quantities of food to reduce the number of deliveries you need.
Buyer’s Guide to Fresh Food Delivery Services
The Ordering Process
So, let’s concentrate on the best fresh cat food delivery services out there and what you need to bear in mind when deciding which one to go for.
Many healthy cat food subscription companies ask you to fill out a cat profile for your pet. They’ll ask you simple questions such as weight, breed, activity levels, whether they have any health conditions, and if they’re spayed.
They will then recommend which of the cat foods they offer is best for your kitty depending on your cat’s specific needs.
It’s worth thinking about how easy the process is to pause too. Especially if you travel a lot. Most are pretty flexible as long as your next order hasn’t been processed already.
Nutrition and Ingredients
Often, fresh cat food delivery brands list the specific ingredients that the meals contain. This way you can see if there is anything your cat doesn’t like or any ingredients (such as grains) that you don’t want to feed them.
Because many of the meals are vet formulated, you can also see the specific levels of proteins, carbohydrates, and different vitamins. Fresh food is all about clarity, and they want you to know exactly what you’re feeding your cats.
Variety of Ingredients and Meals
This is particularly important if you have a picky eater or a cat with a sensitive stomach. Some brands offer a good array of meals that contain different primary proteins, fruits, and veggies. Others are a little more limited and, dare we say it, focus more on dogs and the variety they offer them.
Price
As already mentioned, delivered cat food (and fresh food in particular) is more expensive than buying it yourself from the store. But within the different online brands available, prices can vary a bit.
In some cases, it depends on the quantity you buy and in others, which meal you choose.
Fresh food is definitely a more premium choice but it is higher-quality and you can know exactly what it is you’re feeding your cats.
Packaging and Storage
This might not be the first thing to pop into your head but packaging and storage are important things to think about before ordering cat food. Store-bought cans and kibble have a much longer shelf-life and can be left in the cupboard for a while. Fresh food can’t and often needs to be frozen.
It’s also important to think about your personal preferences. Some fresh food arrives in a pouch, others in a tub to scoop out. Many cat owners don’t like having open fresh food in the fridge, so it’s also worth thinking about how many portions there are per pack.
Delivery Schedule
Depending on the amount of freezer space you have, you should look at how often different brands deliver. If there’s a couple of weeks between deliveries then you need to make sure you have enough room to freeze two meals a day for a few weeks.
Most of the companies send updates and reminder emails when your delivery is scheduled. This can help you to manage delivery times and also cancel or change an order if you’re away.
It may sound obvious, but you need to check whether the company delivers to your state. Most deliver to all of mainland America, but you don’t want to have your heart set on a company to realize they don’t deliver to your home!
Which Is the Best Fresh Cat Food Delivery Service?
Well, that really depends on what it is you’re after. Homemade meals delivered straight to your door? Pre-portioned food? Raw? Here are 6 of the best delivery services for you to choose from.
Smalls Human Grade Fresh Cat Food Delivery Service
Smalls started out with a cat affectionately named Ulcer Cat. And yes, this kitty was suffering from stomach ulcers. The owners of Ulcer Cat were cooking homemade, fresh, and nutritious meals in an attempt to help his digestion. After only a couple of weeks on this food (which is now Smalls Human-Grade Fresh) Ulcer Cat was renamed Cat.
Smalls really cares about the quality of the ingredients going into cat food. Every ingredient in their meals is sustainably sourced, USDA certified, humanely harvested, and high-protein.
About Smalls Cat Food
Smalls offers a good variety of different meals – from fresh ground bird to freeze-dried raw duck kibble. They’re all formulated by nutritionists and cat behaviorists so you can be sure even the pickiest of eaters will love the texture and flavor! As with other fresh foods, you’ll need to keep these meals frozen and thaw them before use. The kibble doesn’t need to be frozen.
When signing up to Smalls, you have to create a cat profile. You can do this for up to 5 cats. They’ll ask you the regular questions such as size, sex, preferences, etc., and then recommend which of their meals would be best.
You can also receive a meal plan which is a combination of fresh, wet food and raw kibble-like food. After all, cats love a bit of variety!
Delivery
Depending on which delivery plan you go for, you’ll be given a specific schedule. This is usually every 4 weeks. You’re able to change orders in between deliveries if your cat is a fan of one meal more than another. They’re flexible if you need to reschedule or cancel an order too – just as long as you do it before the order is processed.
Any fresh food will arrive frozen in environmentally friendly dry ice and insulation (which can be washed down the sink)! All the packaging is recyclable.
Because they ship their food frozen to keep it as fresh as possible, Smalls can only ship within the continental United States. The dry ice only lasts 2-3 days so wouldn’t make it to Hawaii!
Price
Smalls is a premium cat food delivery service, so you should expect to fork out a bit more. Depending on which meal plan or meals you select, you can pay between $1.80 and $3.50 a day.
Nom Nom – Fresh Dog and Cat Food Delivery
Nom Nom may just be the best cat food subscription service for indoor cats. Why? Their meals are specifically formulated by vets and nutritionists and come already portioned up with clear serving suggestions. This helps to prevent overfeeding and weight gain.
Nom Nom really started when the owners began to look at standard pet food labels. They wanted to create food that was nutritious, additive-free, and that pets (and us humans) would love. They source the best ingredients to make their yummy food.
About Nom Nom Fresh Dog and Cat Food
To be fully honest, Nom Nom is primarily a fresh dog food provider. And that’s pretty obvious when it comes to the selection of meals. Dogs can choose from 4 and cats… just the one.
The chicken cuisine option, however, is perfectly balanced with ingredients such as chicken thigh, chicken breast, liver, carrots, and spinach.
As with most fresh food delivery companies, you need to create a pet profile for your kitty. They will then recommend the one meal but perfectly portioned to your cat’s lifestyle and any weight goals/ health concerns you might have. Which is perfect for indoor kitties (if they like those ingredients).
Delivery
Nom Nom offers discounts to multi-pet homes. In addition to this, the more food you order, the cheaper it is.
You can choose from weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly deliveries (depending on budget and freezer space) and they’re very flexible when it comes to canceling or rescheduling an order.
The fresh cat food arrives in bio-degradable and recyclable packaging that keeps the food frozen and fresh.
Nom Nom, also delivers to every state in mainland America, so getting your furry friend’s meals shouldn’t be a problem!
Price
The price of Nom Nom meals will really depend on how big your cat is and their lifestyle. Nom Nom is certainly a premium fresh cat food delivery service and you can expect to pay around $30 a week per cat.
Just Food For Dogs
My cats also wouldn’t be that happy eating from a tub that said Just Food For Dogs – but they do cat food too!
When the founder of Just Food For Dogs realized what was legally allowed to go into pet food, he decided to start making his own. He wanted to create a completely honest (which it definitely is) company with total transparency. Pet owners needed to know exactly what they were feeding their animals.
In fact, Just Food For Dos is so transparent that you can go to one of their open kitchens and see your kitty’s food being prepared! They use top-quality ingredients and each meal is prepared by a veterinary nutritionist so you know it’s well-balanced and contains everything they need.
About Just Food for Dogs Cat Food
Like Nom Nom, Just Food For Dog is (surprisingly) pretty dog-centric. At the moment they have one fresh cat food meal and one snack.
Their freshly prepared fish and chicken menu contains wild-caught cod, Atlantic sardines, chicken thighs, and organ meat. It also contains dried yucca root for extra nutrients!
Unlike some other healthy cat food delivery companies on the list, Just Food For Dogs also does a nutritious treat. The Salmon Bark is made from wild-caught salmon and is a low-fat treat that is great for indoor cats who need rewarding but not the extra calories!
Unlike others on the list, there’s no need to create a kitty profile with this company. They have a feeding calculator on the website which helps you work out how much of their food you should be feeding your cat.
Delivery
One of the great things about this brand is that there’s no subscription involved. You can buy as much or as little as you like (there are discounts for the more you buy). You can choose to auto-ship or just do a one-time order.
Some may love that as it’s less commitment, others may like the fact that you can have a subscription and don’t have to think about ordering! The flexibility is definitely a plus, especially if you want your cat to try the food first before ordering more.
As well as ordering from Just Food For Dogs online, you can also buy their products from their open kitchens across California, selected vets, and Pet Food Express stores.
Price
This fresh cat food will cost you roughly $3 a day per cat. One 18oz package of the fish and chicken fresh food costs $13.95 and the salmon treats are $15.95 for a 5oz bag.
If your order is over $100 then shipping is free, otherwise, it’s $10 per order.
Raised Right Cat Food
Many owners say this is the best cat food delivery service for kittens. Their meals are human-grade using nutritious, simple ingredients that help young kitties to develop their digestive tract.
Their home-style cooked cat food is slowly heated, ensuring that all the protein retains its nutrients and moisture. Each meal is cooked in a USDA inspected kitchen and every batch is tested for pathogens.
They work with vets across the country to develop specially formulated, simple meals that are well-balanced and delicious!
About Raised Right Cat Food
Raised Right has two different meals to choose from – turkey and chicken. You’re asked to fill out a short cat profile and they then recommend a food plan for your kitty. The most expensive is feeding your cat 100% Raised Right, but a great feature is that they also offer 50% and 25% plans which makes it more affordable. You can then mix these in with your cat’s current food.
The chicken meal, for example, contains chicken thigh, breast, liver, spearmint, carrots, and blueberries! It’s designed to give your cat a well-balanced and healthy meal.
Delivery
Raised Right fresh cat food arrives in bags that have a best before date on them. When you open the bag, it will be fresh in the fridge for up to 6 days. Unlike the other best online cat food delivery companies, Raised Right doesn’t come in pre-portioned containers. So it’s important you don’t overfeed your cat and stick to the measurement guidelines.
They, too, deliver to all 48 continental states.
Price
The cost of this premium fresh cat food really depends on which percentage plan you go for and your cat’s individual profile. If you choose to feed them 100% Raised Right it could cost you up to $4 a day.
Savage Cat Food
When it comes to the best raw cat food delivery service, you can’t get much better than Savage Cat Food.
They believe that it’s good to feed your kitty a prey-based diet that is simple, nutritious, and actually everything a cat needs. They use no preservatives or added extras, just whole ingredients that are high in protein and low in fat.
Their website has plenty of information about raw food diets and how to transition your kitty over to one. They claim that fresh, raw food can help increase your cat’s energy levels, as well as overall health.
About Savage Cat Food Delivery Service
They offer a great variety of raw proteins (chicken, duck, rabbit) in both chunky and pâté-like textures. Depending on your preferences or how many cats you have, you can order many pots, only a few, and choose which size and style you’d like.
Their meals also include ingredients such as egg yolk, taurine, and organ meat.
A raw diet isn’t for every cat owner, and that’s especially true when you look at the treats on offer from Savage Cat Food. Rather than offering cute treats in the shape of a bone or kitty’s face, you can buy dehydrated rabbits’ ears (yes, really!), duck heads and feet, and an entire quail – feathers and all.
Delivery
You can either order Savage Cat Food online or from a local pet store. They have a subscription option or you can buy whenever you need to.
The subscription is shipped every 2 weeks and that can increase to every 8 weeks if that suits you better. Orders are always sent on a Monday and have to be processed by 9 am PST to be sent.
Price
The top-quality ingredients in each meal makes this cat food delivery service expensive. One small chicken box (which includes seven 3oz packets) costs $22.12. Small chicken tubs cost $117 and are delivered every week.
Cat Person Food – A Great All-Rounder!
Cat Person is a great company that offers a wide variety of different, high-protein food. They started when both co-founders felt that cats were often treated as an afterthought to their large and woofier friends. They wanted to create a fresh food company that specialized in cat physical and mental health.
As well as cats, clarity, and transparency are key to this company. They want kitty owners to feel confident in what they’re feeding their pets, and so clearly label all their packaging with every ingredient.
About Cat Person Food Delivery
Something that really sets Cat Person apart from other healthy cat food subscription companies is the variety they offer. They have wet food, pâté, and dry food to choose from – in many different flavors and combinations.
You can also buy different treats which help with things such as digestive health, immune support, and cognitive health. From the sheer variety they have, you can tell that this company is really all about cats!
Delivery
You can either buy the food one-off or fill out a cat profile and sign-up for a subscription. The questionnaire is quite extensive and you can choose which of the foods/textures your cat would like the best.
They send a starter pack so your cat can decide which of the meals they like best. They’ll then ship your subscription every 4 weeks. Cat Person ships everywhere on mainland America.
Price
Pricing depends on whether you go for a subscription or not. The starter box costs $20 and after that, it depends on your cat’s specific profile as to how much food you’ll need.
2lb bags of kibble cost $11 and wet food is $7.25 per pack of 5 2.75oz cups.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fresh Cat Food Delivery
How Do Cat Food Delivery Services Work?
The basics are that you get your cat food delivered and don’t have to pick it up from the store. Some companies offer fresh cat food, others deliver raw food. You may have to fill out a cat profile. This helps the company to recommend exactly how much your cat should be eating based on their individual activities levels, weight, age, and any health concerns. This feature is particularly useful for us pet parents with indoor cats!
Are Cat Food Delivery Services Better Than Shopping in Pet Stores?
That really depends on you! It’s easier to have things delivered to your door and the food is often fresh – which you can’t always find in the store. Having your food delivered is nearly always more expensive though.
Is Fresh Food Better Than Standard Cat Food?
It’s best to talk to your vet about what food they recommend your cat eats. Fresh cat food provides your kitties with more nutrients and you can be sure they’re not eating any unnecessary preservatives or additives. In some cases, however, you might be spending as much on your cat per week as you are on you! So it might not be for everyone.
What is The Difference Between Fresh and Raw Cat Food?
Raw cat food is all about feeding your cats a prey-based diet. The food isn’t cooked and is similar to what they might eat in the wild. Fresh food, however, is often cooked. It’s slowly heated in small batches to retain all the nutrients and vitamins of the fresh ingredients.
Are Cat Food Delivery Services Good for Cats with Medical Issues?
Yes, some are! The brands that ask you to fill out a pet profile often ask about any health conditions your cats suffer from and recommend the best food according to that. Some also sell treats and supplements designed for different health problems. Most of them can certainly help with weight concerns.
How to Transition Your Cat to A Fresh Food Diet
Slowly! The most important thing is to not upset your cat or their stomach! Cats transitioning from kibble to fresh may not be used to seeing sweet potato chunks in their food and they may be a little unsure at the beginning.
It’s recommended that for the first 3 days you mix 25% of the new food in with the old food. If they take to it you can then try 50% for the following three days. Then 75% and eventually 100% new.
Enjoy Fresh Cat Food Delivered to Your Door
So, which is the best cat food delivery service? That really depends on whether you want to feed your cat fresh or raw, the variety you want, and your cat’s needs. All 6 of the brands listed here offer great service and deliver right across the US mainland. They have different shipping options but each of them make it much easier than buying from the store!
They offer healthy, nutritious food that your cats will love. This premium service, however, does cost more than regular shop-bought cat food. You’ll have to have deeper pockets to feed your kitties this top-quality food!
I’m an indoor cat convert and created My Indoor Cat to help other indoor cat owners make the best choices for their cats and kittens.
