Smalls cat food is made in the United States. According to the company’s current manufacturing information, its fresh cat food is prepared and cooked in New Jersey and Ohio, while its freeze-dried Puffs are made in New York. Smalls operates under True Pet Food Project, Inc., and its co-founders include Matthew Michaelson and Veronica del Rosario. The company’s complete shareholder ownership is not publicly established by these facts alone.
Where Is Smalls Cat Food Made?
Smalls cat food is manufactured in the United States, with different production locations for its fresh and freeze-dried products. The company says its fresh meals are cooked in human-grade facilities in New Jersey and Ohio, while its freeze-dried Puffs are produced in New York.
According to Smalls, its fresh recipes are gently cooked and frozen after preparation to help preserve freshness.
Where Are Smalls Fresh Cat Food Recipes Manufactured?
Smalls fresh cat food recipes are made in New Jersey and Ohio, according to the brand’s published manufacturing information.
These meals include fresh formulations made with animal proteins and other ingredients intended to provide feline nutrition. Smalls describes its production facilities as human-grade and USDA-certified.
The company also says it freezes fresh recipes after cooking and ships them to customers. Because the food is perishable, proper storage and handling are important after delivery.
Where Are Smalls Freeze-Dried Cat Food Products Made?
Smalls states that its freeze-dried Puffs are made in New York.
This distinction matters because not every Smalls product uses the same production process or manufacturing location. Fresh meals are cooked and frozen, whereas freeze-dried products undergo a different process designed to remove moisture.
If you are buying a particular Smalls product, check its current packaging and product information rather than assuming that all products come from the same facility.
Are Smalls Cat Food Ingredients Sourced in the USA?
Smalls describes its recipes as using high-quality, human-grade ingredients and highlights animal proteins such as chicken, turkey, beef, pork, cod, and salmon across its product range.
However, the location where a finished food is manufactured is not necessarily the same as the origin of every ingredient.
The brand’s public manufacturing page does not provide a complete country-of-origin breakdown for every ingredient in every recipe. If ingredient sourcing is important to you, check the individual product’s ingredient information or contact Smalls for clarification.
Does Smalls Make Its Own Cat Food in Its Own Factory?
Smalls publicly identifies the states where its products are made, but its manufacturing statements do not, by themselves, establish whether it owns every facility or uses third-party manufacturing partners.
A company can develop recipes, specify ingredient requirements, oversee production, and sell food under its own brand without owning the physical factory.
For that reason, it is more accurate to say that Smalls cat food is produced at facilities identified by the brand than to claim that Smalls owns all its manufacturing plants.
Who Owns Smalls Cat Food?
Smalls operates through True Pet Food Project, Inc., the legal entity identified in the company’s website terms. The brand was established by entrepreneurs who wanted to create food specifically for cats. Its founders and current company leaders should not automatically be treated as its sole owners because a private company may also have outside investors and other shareholders.
Who Founded Smalls Cat Food?
Smalls was launched in 2017 by co-founders Matthew Michaelson and Calvin Bohn, according to the company’s historical announcements.
The founders saw an opportunity to focus on cat nutrition rather than adapting products and marketing primarily designed around dogs. They developed a business offering fresh cat food directly to consumers.
The company’s early growth was supported by outside investment. In August 2020, Smalls announced a $9 million Series A funding round led by Left Lane Capital, with participation from existing investors Founder Collective and Companion Fund.
Who Runs Smalls Today?
Matthew Michaelson is identified as a co-founder and CEO in company and business profiles. Veronica del Rosario is also identified as a co-founder and has held a senior brand leadership role.
It is important to distinguish these roles:
- Founder: A person who helped establish the business.
- CEO: The executive responsible for leading the company.
- Investor or shareholder: A person or organization that owns an equity interest in the company.
- Legal business entity: The corporation that operates the brand and conducts business.
A CEO may own company shares, but being CEO does not establish that the person owns the entire business.
What Is True Pet Food Project, Inc.?
True Pet Food Project, Inc. is the legal entity named in Smalls’ official Terms of Use.
The terms explain that the website and its services are operated by this company. This provides a useful distinction between the Smalls consumer brand and the legal entity responsible for operating its website and services.
The public terms do not disclose a complete list of shareholders or their ownership percentages.
Is Smalls Cat Food Independently Owned?
Smalls is described in business profiles as a privately held company. Its financing history includes institutional and early-stage investors, meaning it has received outside investment.
However, privately held does not necessarily mean that a business is owned exclusively by its founders. Investors may hold equity alongside founders, and ownership arrangements can change over time.
Without a current, authoritative shareholder disclosure, it is not possible to state exactly who owns what percentage of Smalls.
How Does Smalls Manufacture Its Cat Food?
Smalls describes its fresh food as gently cooked using ingredients intended for human-grade food production. Its stated process includes preparing recipes, cooking them, freezing them, and shipping them to customers.
What Does Human-Grade Cat Food Mean?
Human-grade is a term used to describe food ingredients and production processes that meet applicable human-food standards. It should not be interpreted as meaning that every product is suitable for people to eat as a complete meal.
Smalls says its fresh food is made in human-grade, USDA-certified facilities. This is a claim about the brand’s manufacturing approach, not a guarantee that every recipe will suit every cat.
For pet owners, the nutritional adequacy statement, ingredient list, feeding directions, and safe handling instructions remain important.
How Are Smalls Fresh Recipes Cooked and Frozen?
According to Smalls, its fresh recipes are gently cooked and then frozen to help maintain freshness.
The basic process can be summarized as follows:
- Ingredient preparation: Ingredients are prepared according to the recipe.
- Cooking: The fresh food is gently cooked.
- Freezing: The cooked food is frozen after preparation.
- Shipping: The food is sent to customers for appropriate frozen or refrigerated storage.
This is a general description of the brand’s stated process, not an independent inspection of its facilities.
Does Smalls Use Artificial Preservatives?
Smalls states that its fresh food is made without artificial flavors or preservatives. The company uses freezing as part of its approach to maintaining freshness.
Nevertheless, claims about a product should be checked against its current ingredient list and packaging. Different product categories can have different formulations and storage requirements.
The absence of artificial preservatives does not mean that fresh food cannot spoil. Proper refrigeration, freezing, thawing, and handling remain essential.
How Does Smalls Check Cat Food Quality and Safety?
Smalls states that its food undergoes testing for pathogens and must meet its microbiological, nutritional, and product-level standards before shipment.
These controls are intended to help identify potential problems, but no food-production process can eliminate every possible risk.
Does Smalls Test Its Cat Food?
The company says it tests batches for pathogens and evaluates food against its quality standards. Its published statements also describe nutritional checks.
These are manufacturer-reported practices rather than a guarantee that every batch is free from every possible defect. Consumers should continue to follow the product’s storage and handling instructions and monitor food condition when it arrives.
Has Smalls Cat Food Ever Been Recalled?
Yes. Smalls has had past voluntary recalls.
In March 2019, the company recalled its Diamond Dust food topper following concerns about inconsistencies in protein content. In June 2021, Smalls announced a voluntary recall involving certain lots of fresh chicken and turkey cat food after concerns about unusual odor and color associated with spoilage.
These are historical events, not evidence that every current Smalls product is affected. For the most current information, check official recall notices and product lot details.
You can consult the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s pet food recall resources and contact Smalls if a delivered product looks or smells unusual. Do not feed food that appears spoiled or has been stored improperly.
Is Smalls Cat Food Made in the USA a Good Choice for Your Cat?
Manufacturing location is one factor to consider when choosing cat food, but it does not establish nutritional quality on its own. A suitable food must also provide appropriate nutrients, match the cat’s life stage, and meet any special dietary requirements.
Before choosing Smalls, consider the following:
- Nutritional adequacy: Check whether the specific recipe is complete and balanced for your cat’s life stage.
- Ingredient suitability: Review protein sources and other ingredients, especially if your cat has known food sensitivities.
- Storage requirements: Fresh frozen meals need proper handling and storage.
- Feeding costs: Compare the ongoing cost with your budget and your cat’s daily calorie requirements.
- Veterinary needs: Cats with medical conditions may need a therapeutic diet rather than a standard commercial recipe.
Smalls’ US manufacturing locations may be useful information for buyers researching where their cat’s food is produced. However, the manufacturing location alone should not determine whether the food is right for an individual cat.
Frequently Asked Questions About Smalls Cat Food
Where Is Smalls Cat Food Made?
Smalls says its fresh cat food is prepared and cooked in New Jersey and Ohio. Its freeze-dried Puffs are made in New York, according to its official manufacturing information.
Who Owns Smalls Cat Food?
Smalls operates through True Pet Food Project, Inc. Matthew Michaelson and Calvin Bohn were among its original co-founders. The company’s complete current shareholder ownership is not established by the public information cited here.
Is Smalls Cat Food Made in China?
Smalls identifies US manufacturing locations for its fresh food and freeze-dried Puffs. This does not establish the country of origin of every ingredient or supplement. Check the specific product’s sourcing information if you need confirmation about individual ingredients.
Is Smalls Cat Food Made in the USA?
Yes. Smalls states that its fresh frozen recipes are prepared and cooked in the United States, with fresh food made in New Jersey and Ohio and freeze-dried Puffs made in New York.
Who Manufactures Smalls Cat Food?
Smalls identifies its manufacturing locations but does not clearly identify every facility operator in the public information discussed in this article. Therefore, the specific legal name of each manufacturing partner cannot be confirmed from those statements alone.
Is Smalls Cat Food Human-Grade?
Smalls describes its fresh cat food as made in human-grade, USDA-certified facilities. Human-grade terminology concerns ingredient and production standards; it does not mean that the food is intended for people to eat as a complete diet.
Does Smalls Cat Food Contain Preservatives?
Smalls says its fresh food is made without artificial flavors or preservatives and is frozen to help maintain freshness. Always check the current label for the specific product you buy.
Has Smalls Cat Food Been Recalled?
Yes. Smalls has had voluntary recalls, including a 2019 food topper recall and a 2021 recall involving certain lots of fresh chicken and turkey cat food. Check official recall information for the latest notices and affected lot numbers.
Final Verdict
Smalls cat food is a US-made brand whose fresh recipes are produced in New Jersey and Ohio, while its freeze-dried Puffs are made in New York, according to the company. True Pet Food Project, Inc. is the legal entity named in its website terms, and Matthew Michaelson and Calvin Bohn helped establish the business.
The key distinction is that a brand’s founders, current executives, legal operating company, investors, and factory operators are not necessarily the same people or entities. For the most reliable picture, use Smalls’ current manufacturing disclosures, product labels, official recall notices, and company records rather than assuming that the founders own the entire business or that every ingredient comes from the United States.
