The Best Online Cat Food Delivery Services for Even the Pickiest of Felines
Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
Helen Schryver Photography / Getty Images
Getting food for your cat can be a process in itself, especially if you have to haul a large bag weighing several pounds back to your home. However, with cat food delivery services, there's no need to take a break when getting your feline friend their favorite meal. These convenient services not only deliver food straight to your door when you (and your kitty) need it, but they also carry raw, wet, or dry food options depending on your cat's taste and needs.
Picking the best cat food delivery service for your feline can be daunting, especially if they have dietary restrictions like allergies. Luckily, many services offer many different cuisines that can suit your budget and your cat's dietary needs. But before deciding on a new food, always consult your veterinarian to make sure you're making the right choice.
Best Cat Food Delivery Services of 2023
Best Splurge: Smalls
Best Wet and Dry Food Options: Open Farm
Best Fresh Food: Raised Right
Best for Raw Food: Darwin's Natural Pet Products
Best for Sensitive Stomachs: Chewy
Best Grain-Free Food: Cat Person
Best Value: JustFood
Best Splurge: Smalls
Key Specs
Starting price: $4/day
Free shipping? Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
All food is vet-approved and made with real meat
Offers discounted trials for various recipes
Fresh and raw food available for purchase
Cons
Price point is relatively high
Why We Chose It
Smalls delivers healthy, vet-approved cat food every single month. Starting at $4/day, Smalls' recipes are designed to not only be delicious but also promote overall cat health, helping soften fur and regulate bowel movements. While the price for ordering cat food from this service is more expensive than other competitors on this list, the service offers discounted trial periods to ensure that you aren't dropping a ton of money on something your cat might not like.
Smalls is available in two different formulations: fresh food and freeze-dried raw food, both of which are grain-free. The company asks every new customer to complete a thorough quiz that asks about your cat's build, meat preferences, allergies, and more. Once you've made your selection, you can sign up for monthly delivery; however, you can adjust your delivery frequency to meet your schedule and add fun extras like kitty litter and hand-knit cat toys. In the event your cat isn't a fan of the food, the service offers a money-back guarantee.
Best Wet and Dry Food Options: Open Farm
Key Specs
Starting price: $1/day
Free shipping? Yes, over $50
Pros & Cons
Pros
Can select from five different proteins for both wet and dry food
Broth and liquid topper add-ons available
All food is sustainably sourced
Cons
Some products only available in-store
Why We Chose It
Open Farm delivers cats and their owners sustainably sourced, high-protein food. Owners can choose from five different meats—beef, chicken, turkey, fish, or lamb—for both wet and dry food, offering a variety of options. Open Farm is also allergy-friendly, offering grain-free formulas as well as single-protein recipes. You can also easily enhance a meal with a yummy chicken or beef broth or other supplements that your cat won't be able to get enough of.
When it comes to sustainability, the company actively makes an effort to reduce carbon emissions and packages food using recyclable materials. Open Farm's food is also sourced from farms that meet strict animal welfare regulations, are cage-free, and make no use of antibiotics or hormones. You can get Open Farm delivered to your door whenever you need it, and you can also enjoy free shipping on orders over $50. Note, however, that some products may be only available in brick-and-mortar stores.
Best Fresh Food: Raised Right
Key Specs
Starting price: $3/day*
Free shipping? Yes, but not for sample orders
*Based on a cat that weighs 10 pounds
Pros & Cons
Pros
Food is cooked before sending to maximize freshness
Tests food for pathogens before shipping
Can create a custom meal plan based on cat's dietary needs
Cons
No free shipping on sample orders
Why We Chose It
Raised Right delivers vet-recommended recipes created by food formulation experts so you can serve your kitty food at peak freshness. Before it's shipped, Raised Right's recipes are cooked, and once it's delivered you can store it in your freezer to preserve it. When your cat is ready to chow down, simply let it defrost overnight and serve it within six days.
Raised Right's fresh recipes include proteins like beef, turkey, and pork, and fruits and veggies like blueberries, cranberries, carrots, and pumpkin. These recipes are topped off with craveable seasonings like parsley and sea salt. Raised Right also tests all of its batches in a laboratory before shipping to make sure they're free from pathogens like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella. The company offers free shipping on every order, whether it's a subscription delivery or a single purchase, but sample orders do not qualify for this perk.
Best for Raw Food: Darwin's Natural Pet Products
Key Specs
Starting price: $2.40/day*
Free shipping? Yes, on 20-plus pounds
*Based on a cat that weighs 10 pounds
Pros & Cons
Pros
All raw food adheres to strict FDA guidelines to minimize health risk
Sources food from free-range and cage-free farms
Has a wealth of information about raw diets for cats
Cons
Food must be kept refrigerated at all times before serving
Why We Chose It
Feeding your cat a raw food diet does pose its own risks if not handled properly, but Darwin's Natural Pet Products provides your cat with raw food meals that meet strict FDA standards. The company mainly specializes in turkey and chicken, but all of its meat comes from free-range, pasture-raised, and cage-free farms. Its raw food formulations are also grain-free and free from fillers and preservatives as well as growth hormones.
Switching to a raw food diet can be quite the adjustment for your pet, but Darwin's Natural Pet Products' website contains a vast online resource library, complete with tips and tricks for transitioning your cat to a raw food diet. However, it's worth noting that since this company specializes in raw food, any orders you receive will have to be refrigerated and cooked slightly before serving to prevent any health risks. If you want to make the dive, simply take the company's online quiz to plan your cat's raw meals and get free shipping on orders over 20 pounds.
Best for Sensitive Stomachs: Chewy
Key Specs
Starting price: $0.79/day
Free shipping? Yes, on orders over $45
Pros & Cons
Pros
Has its own line of food made for cats with sensitive stomachs
Prices for cat food start at an affordable rate
Offers discounts on Autoship orders
Cons
Sensitive stomach formula is available as dry food only
Why We Chose It
Chewy is one of the most popular online pet supply stores, providing everything from food to litter. In addition to its many offerings, the company also has its own cat food line for sensitive stomachs: American Journey's Total Health Formula by Chewy. This particular brand of food is made with 30-percent protein recipes, along with probiotics and pumpkin to help support digestive health. In addition to promoting digestive health for sensitive stomachs, the food's omega fatty acids and taurine help keep your cat's skin, coat, eyes, and heart healthy.
Chewy makes cat food delivery easy by offering reliable one- to three-day shipping and a 5-percent discount if you opt in for autoship. Autoship ensures that your cat will never go hungry, always delivering another bag of American Journey before you run out. The only major downside when it comes to its sensitive food line is that it's only available as dry food, not wet.
Best Grain-Free Food: Cat Person
Key Specs
Starting price: $2.76/day
Free shipping? Yes
Pros & Cons
Pros
Food is specially formulated without any grains or fillers
Available in shreds, pate, and/or dry food
Offers 10 percent off every order
Cons
Only meal plans qualify for discount and shipping perks
Why We Chose It
Some kitties' stomachs just can't handle grains, and this is where Cat Person shines. The service goes above and beyond to provide various delicious recipes, all of which are grain-free and high in protein. Even a picky kitty is sure to find something they enjoy, as the service's protein selection includes chicken, tuna, duck, turkey, salmon, and more. If you're not sure if your cat will enjoy this food, you can also take a quiz and customize a starter pack based on your cat's preferences—all for 25 percent off.
Cat Person meal plans are 10 percent off every order and are typically shipped every four weeks, but you can easily pause, delay, or cancel an upcoming delivery. Plus, if your cat gets bored of their food, you can easily swap out recipes before the next month rolls around. Just note that if you aren't a meal plan subscriber, you won't be able to get 10 percent off every order, and you have to pay over $50 to qualify for free shipping.
Best Value: Just Food
Key Specs
Starting price: $1.55/day
Free shipping? Yes, only for Autoship orders
Pros & Cons
Pros
Prices for cat food start at under $2
Cat food is allergy-friendly and low calorie
Offers 35 percent off first autoship order
Cons
Doesn't offer a ton of protein variety
Why We Chose It
Just Food doesn't beat around the bush with its prices or ingredients. The service offers a straightforward Alaskan Pacific cod, chicken thighs, and sardine wet food recipe, all for less than $2 a day. As a bonus, this moisture-rich formula is great for keeping cats hydrated, is grain- and hormone-free, and is allergy-friendly.
The smallest size the food ships in is an 18-ounce package that starts at $14. However, you can increase the amount of food you get by selecting small or medium box options which offer 7.8 and 23.6 pounds of food respectively. You can even order it for store pickup at multiple retailers if you want to avoid shipping fees. The only major con with this particular cat food delivery service is that it only offers its formula in wet food form—nothing else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Cheaper to Order Cat Food Online?
Ordering cat food online can be cheaper than buying it in-store thanks to first-time order discounts, Autoship discounts, subscription perks, etc. However, shipping fees can add up if you aren't a subscriber, or if the service you're ordering from doesn't offer any promotional discounts. However, if lugging a massive bag or box of cat food proves difficult, you can't beat the convenience of getting your cat's food delivered straight to your door.
How Often Should You Feed a Cat?
What stage of life your cat is in and their health will mostly determine how often you should feed them. Kittens, as well as pregnant cats, have higher nutritional needs than adult cats, so they'll need to chow down a little more often. Senior cats may also require a special diet, but that's also not always the case. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian to understand how much food your cat needs.
What Human Food Can Cats Eat?
Cats can enjoy a variety of human foods, including apples, bananas, blueberries, and strawberries, peanut butter, cooked eggs, baked bread, and cheese. However, there are foods that cats should absolutely avoid eating, such as grapes, nuts, chocolate, and more. While it's nice to give cats a treat now and then, it's best to check with your veterinarian before sneaking your kitty something under the table.