The disparity between fresh food delivery services for dogs and cats is stark. While dogs can dine on a wide array of fresh food delivery services, cat owners often find themselves with limited choices.
Luckily, there are a few reliable fresh cat food delivery services out there. I did the research work to identify the very best options for your feline friend. For this, I considered factors like ingredient quality, freshness, veterinarian approval, and overall user reviews.
After thorough consideration, Smalls stands out as the best fresh cat food delivery service. It offers recipes that are ultra-high in protein, vet-approved, freshly prepared, and utilize only the highest quality ingredients.
But there are a few other services you may want to consider, too. So make sure to browse my list of the best fresh cat food delivery services to find the best choice for your cat's dietary needs!
Smalls – Best overall fresh cat food recipes
The Honest Kitchen – Best selection of cat meals and treats
Raised Right – Best for holistic, balanced meals
Open Farm – Best certified humane fresh cat food
Cat Person – Best fresh cat food and stylish accessories
All natural, human-grade ingredients
5 recipes + treats
Great for softer, shinier fur and less shedding
Current deal: 32% off your first order + free treats for life. Code: DELIVERY32
Smalls’s recipes focus on high-protein and low-carb formulas. In comparison to kibble, which can be filled with empty calories, Smalls' approach ensures your cat maintains a healthy weight and stays fuller for longer. So, if you've been worried about your cat's diet and want something better, this might be the change you're looking for.
Smalls knows cats are picky eaters, so it offers 5 recipes: chicken, turkey, pork, fish, and a chicken and fish combo. Some of these recipes come in 3 textures (Smooth, Ground, and Pulled) and all of them include high-quality meat and high-quality nutrients. To learn more about each recipe’s composition, check out my colleague’s tested Smalls review.
Only human-grade ingredients are used in Smalls’s recipes. When I say “human-grade,” I mean that the ingredients are fit for human consumption. This ensures that the food you're providing to your cat is of the highest quality, essentially giving them the kind of meal that you'd want for yourself.
You won't find any preservatives or artificial flavors in Smalls. I appreciate that the company sticks to natural ingredients, eliminating any potential health risks associated with chemicals or artificial additives. This is a feature I believe is crucial for maintaining the overall health of our feline friends.
Besides high-quality fresh food, you also get free treats with your first Smalls order. I was pleased to find that these treats aren't just filler but crunchy, bite-sized morsels made with chicken, sweet potatoes, and catnip. It's a delightful bonus that your cat will surely love.
I also like that first-time buyers get a sampler with all the recipes and textures. I think this is a smart move, as it allows you to gauge which recipes your cat prefers the most. You can watch your cat’s reaction to each recipe and then decide on future orders based on their favorites.
Another thing that sets Smalls apart is the gentle cooking method used for the meals. This way, the company makes sure all the proteins and tastes stay in the food. It’s also the reason why there’s no need for artificial flavors – the recipes already have the right flavor from the natural ingredients.
Smalls is reasonably priced, starting at Cat meals starting from <$2 per meal. Of course, the price can vary depending on your cat’s needs. However, with Smalls, you're not just getting quality but also an option that doesn't break the bank.
Selling human-grade pet food since 2002
10 wet flavors plus extras
Minced, paté and grain-free options
Current deal: Get 15% off your first purchase. Code 15DELIVERYRANK.
The Honest Kitchen offers a wide selection of meals, so you’re sure to find a flavor your cat will love. All meals are made with minimally processed human-grade ingredients. There are no artificial preservatives or fillers to upset feline digestive systems, just clean meals packed with all the nutrition cats need to stay healthy.
The Honest Kitchen offers a particularly impressive selection of wet food flavors in different forms to suit your kitten’s nutritional needs.
Grain Free Beef & Chicken Caté (Paté)
Grain Free Chicken Caté (Paté)
Minced Chicken in Bone Broth Gravy
Minced Chicken & Salmon in Bone Broth Gravy
Grain Free Salmon & Cod Caté (Paté)
Minced Salmon & Cod in Bone Broth Gravy
Grain Free Salmon & Turkey Caté (Paté)
Grain Free Turkey Caté (Paté)
Minced Turkey in Bone Broth Gravy
Minced Turkey, Chicken & Duck in Bone Broth Gravy
You’ll also find a good variety of treats, toppers, and supplements for cats. The White Fish and Herring cat treats are made with actual fish and contain no bone meal or other harmful additives. Toppers are a great choice for those who want to supplement their pet’s regular diet.
Our reviewer found that The Honest Kitchen was a fabulous choice for pet parents who want to give their feline friend healthier meals.
When you sign up for The Honest Kitchen, you get a brief personalized quiz that helps the company recommend the best meals. If you find the wide selection a bit overwhelming, this can help you narrow down your choices.
You also have an opportunity to consult an HonestExpert for 15 minutes about your cat’s nutritional needs. HonestExperts can take your cat’s age, health issues, and other concerns into consideration when recommending recipes.
Feeding a 5-pound Siamese with The Honest Kitchen’s wet flavors (like the Minced Grain Free Turkey, Chicken, & Duck Recipe pictured above) will cost you around $5.99 for dry food, or a single box. A 21-pound Maine Coon will eat around $9.79 daily, or 3 boxes.
You can save even more when you sign up for Subscribe & Save orders. With a subscription, you save 5% on every order and ensure you will never run out of your cat’s favorite food. The Honest Kitchen also gives you Reward Points with each order, so you can save even more.
Fresh food for cats and dogs
4 recipes for adult cats + treats
All the recipes fit the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO
Current deal: 20% Off Your First Box (16 Bags)
Raised Right offers fresh food made with human-grade ingredients for dogs and cats. Each dish is low in carbs and carefully formulated in collaboration with veterinarians to make sure your furry friends get all the nutrients they need. Plus, the recipes use limited ingredients that are easy to recognize.
Raised Right offers 4 recipes for adult cats. These are Original Chicken, Original Turkey, Turkey & Pumpkin Paté, and Chicken & Pumpkin Paté. Each recipe includes high-quality meat and a mixture of nutrients and vitamins adult cats need to grow happy and healthy. It’s important to understand just what goes into your pet’s food. To learn more about recipe composition, check out my colleague’s Raised Right review.
All the Raised Right recipes undergo gentle cooking in human-grade facilities. This low-temperature cooking process not only meets USDA pathogen kill-step standards but also maintains moisture and preserves nutritional integrity. It's reassuring to know that the same care that goes into human food production is extended to our pets' meals.
It was refreshing to see that most recipes contain less than 2% carbs. The company doesn’t use any high-carb fillers like potato, rice, oats, and wheat and stays away from preservatives. You can trust that your furry friend will get meals rich in essential nutrients, not empty calories.
Raised Right takes ingredient sourcing seriously and is very transparent about it. You can use the map provided on the website to trace every ingredient back to its source. This way, it’s easier to make sure your cat’s food comes from a reputable source.
I also appreciate the company’s commitment to safety – every batch undergoes lab testing. Before any batch hits the market, it's tested for pathogens. This step ensures the food is not just nutritious but also safe for your pet's consumption.
Pricing starts at $9.99/bag. Plus, if you're ordering a full box, which contains 16 bags weighing 16 oz each, shipping is free. While it might seem a tad more expensive, depending on your cat's consumption rate, it remains a feasible choice for many pet owners committed to quality.
Track all ingredients on Open Farm’s website
5 wet recipes per week plus treats and extras
Salmon, whitefish, lamb, and grain-free options
Open Farm only uses high-quality, ethically sourced ingredients in its meals. All of its recipes feature wild-caught or humanely raised animal proteins. You can verify this for yourself on their website. Just check the Lot Code number on your cat’s package, and you’ll see detailed records tracing each ingredient back to its origins.
Open Farm offers the following wet cat food flavors:
Chicken & Salmon Rustic Blend
Grass-Fed Beef Rustic Blend
Harvest Chicken Rustic Blend
Homestead Turkey Rustic Blend
Wild-Caught Salmon Rustic Blend
All these recipes use only human-grade ingredients, so this is nothing like those foul-smelling canned cat foods you get at the grocery store. All vegetables are non-GMO and Open Farm uses organic produce when possible. You’ll also find a selection of liquid toppers and broths to supplement your cat’s diet.
Our expert reviewer was very impressed with Open Farm’s commitment to animal welfare. All its farm suppliers are approved by Certified Humane®, and all fish is sustainably harvested.
I was also pretty impressed with Open Farm’s wet food packaging. The food is pantry stable when sealed, so you don’t have to keep it in the freezer or fridge as you do with many fresh pet meals. That is a very nice touch for cat owners who have limited freezer space, and they do it without adding any preservatives.
A 12-pack of Open Farm’s wet cat food costs $37.66 ($3.14) and would last a 6-pound cat 12 days. If you are feeding a 22-pound giant kitty, you’ll be spending around $9.42 per day. A kitten may eat up to twice as much as an adult cat and a pregnant or nursing cat may need 3 times as many calories, so this might be an expensive option for cat grandparents.
You can order a la carte or sign up for a subscription with Open Farm. Subscribe and save offers can be scheduled for every 2 to 8 weeks, depending on how much food your cat needs.
High-protein meals with no fillers
Wet, dry, and meal toppers available
Chicken, duck, and salmon recipes
Cat Person meals are over 50% higher in protein than the AAFCO minimum standard. You’ll never find any fillers or preservatives like corn, wheat, soy, carrageenan, and artificial colors. It also uses limited ingredients, with only 1 or 2 clearly labeled animal proteins in each recipe. This is especially handy for cat fanciers whose pets have allergies or food sensitivities.
With 8 varieties of wet food on hand, you should be able to find a Cat Person meal that pleases your finicky feline. You can also choose between Patés or Shreds in Broth to suit your cat’s texture preferences. Each pack contains 5 2.75-oz containers of the following recipes:
Beef
Chicken
Duck
Duck & Chicken
Mackerel and Bream
Salmon & Tuna
Tuna
Turkey & Chicken
The meals use dried egg and sunflower oil for added proteins and fats. If your pet is sensitive to either of those ingredients, this won’t be a good fit for you. While it uses quality ingredients, Cat Person’s ingredients are not certified human grade. You can find out more about the ingredients in our expert review.
In addition to its meals, Cat Person also has a stylish line of cat accessories. You can find high-quality toys, beds, collars, and more. They’re great for special occasions when you want to pamper your pet.
Cat Person’s Patés are extremely soft and well-suited to older cats with missing teeth. Your elderly feline friend can get all their nutrition in a tasty meal they can eat without discomfort.
You can order a la carte at Cat Person or you can subscribe for monthly deliveries and save 10% on your orders. With a subscription, you get a Starter Box so your cat can sample different Cat Person meals and decide which they like best. If none appeal, you can cancel your subscription within 30 days and Cat Person will refund your money.
A 6-pound cat will need 2 Patés or Shreds in Broth daily ($3.80/day). A 21-pounder will want a sleeve of 5 meals daily, for a cost of $9.50 per day. Shipping is $5 per order for subscribers and $7.95 for a la carte orders.
Fresh recipes formulated by professionals
1 recipe + treats
Fish & Chicken and Salmon treats
JustFoodForCats focuses on whole, human-grade meals for cats and dogs. The company’s approach to fresh food is straightforward – gently cooked meals that maximize nutrient absorption, putting the health and well-being of pets at the forefront.
However, the company mainly targets dogs and only offers 1 fresh cat food recipe and 1 treat. The solitary cat recipe is named Fish & Chicken and is ideal for adult cats. This high-protein recipe is free from gluten and grains, making it a prime choice for cats with allergies or sensitive gastrointestinal tracts.
The recipe includes a variety of animal proteins and features 42 calories per ounce. If you choose to try it, your cat will enjoy a mixture of wild-caught Alaska Pacific cod, chicken thighs, chicken hearts, chicken liver, and sardines. The carbohydrate source is limited to tapioca starch.
The Fish & Chicken recipe and the treats meet AAFCO standards for adult cat nutrition. The treat is made from wild-caught salmon and features a low-fat formulation. Especially if your cat has food sensitivities, these treats could be a fantastic choice, given their straightforward ingredients and minimal processing.
Overall, JustFoodForCats is adamant about using fresh whole food ingredients. According to my colleague’s well-detailed review, there are no additives or preservatives in any of the recipes. What you see is what you get – pure, unadulterated, nutrient-rich food for your feline (or dog) companion.
This is possible due to JustFoodForCats’ robust team standing behind each recipe. The team includes nutritionists, veterinarians, food formulators, and a plethora of other pet food specialists who make sure all the recipes are nothing short of the best for your pets’ well-being.
Pricing is kept competitive at $6.45, and you’ll get a better price if you buy in bulk. JustFoodForCats tries to keep prices affordable so more pets can relish in the benefits of fresh, nourishing food.
Also offers cat accessories, toys, and prescriptions
More than 3,400 types of cat food
Many offerings for cats with special needs
Chewy is a one-stop shopping center for cat parents. Not only do you get to choose between 3,400 different types of cat food. You also get a wide selection of cat accessories and even a pharmacy that will fill your veterinary prescription. With Chewy’s enormous selection, you’re sure to find recipes that will please even the fussiest of felines.
Whatever dietary needs your cat may have, chances are Chewy has suitable options. You can choose between a wide variety of human-grade and minimally processed foods, as well as high-quality cat treats and supplements. Whether you need a weight control plan for your rotund feline or a prescription diet, Chewy gives you lots of choices.
Our reviewer was very impressed by Chewy’s wide selection of premium brands and veterinary diets. Caring for an animal companion with special needs can be an expensive ordeal. With Chewy, you can get regular shipments of your cat’s prescription food, and even fill their other veterinary prescriptions!
You can also order beds, collars, carriers, cat toys, and other pet accessories. Chewy’s accessories may be a bit less fashionable and more utilitarian, but they’re sturdy and reasonably priced. Chewy isn’t trying to be the most stylish pet supplier on the block, but it wins high marks for its great selection of items to suit every budget.
Chewy offers more than just cat food. You can find products for dogs, birds, horses, reptiles, and even exotic animals. Chewy can cover human-grade meals for your cat, birdseed for your canary, and feed for your llama. If you have multiple animal companions, Chewy can make your shopping a lot simpler.
Chewy offers cat food at prices ranging from budget to super-premium. Your final cost will depend on the food you order for your pet. Chewy prices are generally comparable to what you will find at Amazon or other online pet supply stores.
You can order Autoship on most Chewy products. This saves you 5% on your order and provides your cat with a steady supply of their favorite foods and cat toys.
The recipes don’t include additional taurine
6 recipes
Sourced from USDA, human-grade meats
We Feed Raw specializes in fresh raw meals for dogs and cats. Although many of its recipes are promoted primarily for dogs, it's worth noting that cats, being obligate carnivores, can benefit immensely from these raw diets. This diet taps into the natural diet of felines, bringing them closer to their ancestral roots.
The menu features 6 recipes – venison, lamb, duck, turkey, beef, and chicken. Each is a single-protein formula developed with the expertise of We Feed Raw’s on-site Ph.D. Nutritionist. And, while there aren't dedicated cat meal plans, you can easily buy 5 lb bulk patties and portion them according to your cat's needs.
Only human-grade meat ingredients find their way into these recipes. I was impressed to discover that there aren’t any preservatives or high-carb fillers. The primary components are muscle meat, organ meat, and finely ground raw meaty bones, ensuring a wholesome meal for your cat.
Even more, all recipes exceed the AAFCO taurine requirement naturally. This means that We Feed Raw doesn't add additional taurine to its meals. According to my colleague’s We Feed Raw review, these recipes are the most minimally processed on the market. Plus, the meals are never cooked or heated, which makes them easy to digest for dogs and cats.
Each recipe includes USDA human-grade meats. Knowing the stringent criteria of USDA, you can be confident about the quality you're feeding your cat. Overall, it's clear that We Feed Raw emphasizes providing complete and balanced raw meals.
Overall, safety is evident in every step of the process. All recipes not only comply with AAFCO recommendations but also undergo cold-pressure treatment. This reduces the presence of harmful pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli, making it safe for your cat's consumption.
You don’t have to worry about shipping either – We Feed Raw offers nationwide free cold shipping. The recipes are maintained in a chilled environment and then frozen for shipping. This ensures that the bioavailability of the food isn’t altered in any way.
The starting price is $6.59/lb – bulk orders can get you a better deal. Just a note – if you decide to stock up, ensure you've got lots of freezer space to store these nutritious delights.
Starting Price | Minimum Order | Meal Type | Shipping | Active Deals | |
Cat meals starting from <$2 per meal | 6 packets | Fresh | Free for the sampler order and up to $10 for regular orders | 32% off your first order + free treats for life. Code: DELIVERY32 from Smalls | |
$5.99 for dry food | No minimum | Dry, dehydrated, wet | $5.00; free on orders over $49 | Get 15% off your first purchase. Code 15DELIVERYRANK from The Honest Kitchen | |
$9.99/bag | 16 1-pound bags | Fresh | Free ($9.99 for sampler) | 20% Off Your First Box (16 Bags) from Raised Right | |
Pet meals starting from $7 / day | No minimum | Dry, wet, wet and dry toppers, snacks, supplements | $5.99 flat rate, Free on orders over $50 | Save up to 20% on first time orders with code DR20 from Open Farm | |
$2.76 per day | 1 bag dry food & 2 packs wet food OR 4 packs wet food | Wet, dry | Free with subscription | Get 25% Off Your Starter Box from Cat Person | |
$6.45 | 1 x 18 oz bag | Fresh, gently cooked recipes, Treats | Free on orders over $99 $19.99 per order otherwise | Get 50% off 1st autoship & 5% off recurring orders from Just Food For Cats | |
Varies | No minimum | Dry, wet, wet and dry toppers, snacks, supplements, pet supplies | $4.95; free on orders over $49 | Save 35% On Your First Order from Chewy | |
$6.59/lb per day | A box of 30 lb or 6 x 5 lb patties | Raw, cold-pressed recipes | Free | Get 40% off your first box + Free Shipping! from We Feed Raw |
To determine the best fresh cat food delivery services, I used several criteria, such as recipe variety, ingredient quality, and affordability. Here’s a short description of each:
Consider the number of available recipes for cats: A variety of recipes ensures that your cat doesn't tire of the same flavor and gets a balanced diet. Smalls, for instance, offers multiple recipes that can cater to the taste preferences and nutritional needs of different felines.
Check if the ingredients are human-grade: This indicates that the food is of high quality and safe for consumption. Raised Right, as an example, emphasizes using human-grade ingredients, ensuring the meals are both nutritious and trustworthy.
Check the quality of nutrients and caloric content: Cats have specific dietary requirements. You'll want to ensure they're getting the right balance of nutrients and not just empty calories. We Feed Raw champions this, focusing on high-quality nutrients and adhering to AAFCO recommendations for all life stages.
Consider the price per serving: While quality is paramount, affordability matters too. Smalls is a service that manages to strike a balance between offering high-quality recipes and maintaining competitive pricing, making it a good choice for consistent feeding.
Smalls offers competitive pricing starting at Cat meals starting from <$2 per meal per cat. While the price can vary depending on specific recipes and plans, its affordability makes it a standout choice for cat owners who want to ensure their feline friends get quality nutrition without breaking the bank.
Raised Right is well-known for its holistic approach to pet food. The company focuses on balanced meals made with human-grade ingredients. Plus, it collaborates with veterinarians to make sure the recipes are both nutritious and tasty.
We Feed Raw emphasizes natural raw feeding with single-protein nutritious formulas. This approach ensures cats get a diet closest to their natural consumption habits. The absence of preservatives and high-carb fillers guarantees that your cat is eating meals that prioritize their health.