Shop

Blog

Small Talk

Cat Health

5 min read

Why cats should live indoors

BY

Admin Smalls

PHOTO

FEBRUARY 01

There's no place like home

For our feline friends, the outdoors can be anything but great. Regardless of the environment you live in, outdoor cats face more risks that can quickly hurt one, if not all of their nine lives. There are the visible threats of other predators, accidental (or intentional) harm by humans, but the greatest risk for outdoor cats is the spread and contraction of various diseases.

The dangers of the outdoors

The American Feral Cat Coalition estimates that there are approximately 60 million feral and homeless stray cats living in the US. Many of these cats may carry diseases that can be passed onto your cat if they come into contact. These diseases can be serious, even fatal, and include:

feline leukemia (FeLV)
Feline AIDS (FIV)
FIP (feline infectious peritonitis)
feline distemper (panleukopenia)
upper respiratory infections (URIs)

Perks of being a homebody

A cat who stays indoors, or has supervised outdoor time (either on harness and leash, or catio), has an extended lifespan: up to 15 years or more than their completely outdoor counterpart.

The original social distancers

American Humane cites diseases as the primary concern for outdoor cats, and while vaccines are available, the only sure way to prevent transmission is to prevent exposure to infected cats.

Feline leukemia (FeLV) is the most common viral killer of cats. It will weaken their immune system, increase susceptibility to other diseases, and is the most common cause of cancer in cats. The virus occurs in saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk from infected cats. It is spread cat-to-cat through bite wounds, infected mother to kittens, mutual grooming, and shared litter boxes or feeding dishes.

The best way to avoid this highly contagious disease is through prevention: vaccination and staying indoors.

[#BeginTLDR#]Keeping your cat indoors can help extend their life expectancy beyond the average 13-17 years[#SplitTLDR#]Outdoor cats live an average of 2-5 years because of the multiple threats they face[#SplitTLDR#]By staying indoors, cats can avoid contracting diseases from other cats[#EndTLDR#]

Custom Meal Plan

We teamed up with feline nutritionists to cook up three recipes that cut the filler and focus on what cats need for a happy, healthy life.

Fresh Ground Bird 🐓

What’s the word, bird? Our all-natural chicken recipe is made with 79% breast and thigh, 4% liver, and 1% heart.

Get Started

Approved complete and balanced diet for all life stages.

More Details
- Get back to nature with this human grade, high-protein, high-moisture fresh recipe, formulated to be the healthiest food your cat can eat. Real, fresh chicken meat and a small bit of green veg means more energy, a softer coat, and a less fragrant litter box.
Ingredients
- Chicken Thigh, Chicken Breast, Chicken Liver, Green Beans, Peas, Water sufficient for processing, Chicken Heart, Kale, Vegetable Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Bitartrate, Salt, Taurine, Magnesium Gluconate, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Gluconate, Ascorbic Acid, Copper Gluconate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Gluconate, Ferrous Gluconate, cNiacin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Selenium,Dried Kelp, Biotin, Vitamin B12

Nutrition Facts

By Percentage
Chicken Thigh Skin (Boneless)		42.6%
Chicken Breast (No Skin)		37.0%
Chicken Livers		4.70%
Green Beans		3.8%
Peas		3.8%
Water		2.8%
Smalls Supplement Mix		2.1%
Chicken Hearts		1.9%
Kale		0.9%
Vegetable Oil		0.5%
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min)		21.2%
Crude Fat (min)		8.05%
Crude Fiber (max)		0.4%
Moisture (max)		66.1%
Ash (max)		2.25%
Metabolizable Energy
From Protein		49.6%
From Fat		45.7%
From Carbs		4.7%
Nutrients
Phosphorous		203 mg/100 kcal
Calcium		259 mg/100 kcal
Taurine		63 mg/100 kcal
Sodium		62 mg/100 kcal
Ratio of Calcium to Phosphorous
1.28 : 1

Fresh Smooth Bird 🐓

Our all-natural chicken recipe but in a smooth pate. Made with 79% breast and thigh, 4% liver, and 1% heart.

Get Started

Approved complete and balanced diet for all life stages.

More Details
- Get back to nature with this human grade, high-protein, high-moisture fresh recipe, formulated to be the healthiest food your cat can eat. Real, fresh chicken meat and a small bit of green veg means more energy, a softer coat, and a less fragrant litter box.
Ingredients
- Chicken Thigh, Chicken Breast, Chicken Liver, Green Beans, Peas, Water sufficient for processing, Chicken Heart, Kale, Vegetable Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Bitartrate, Salt, Taurine, Magnesium Gluconate, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Gluconate, Ascorbic Acid, Copper Gluconate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Gluconate, Ferrous Gluconate, cNiacin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Selenium,Dried Kelp, Biotin, Vitamin B12

Nutrition Facts

By Percentage
Chicken Thigh Skin (Boneless)		42.6%
Chicken Breast (No Skin)		37.0%
Chicken Livers		4.70%
Green Beans		3.8%
Peas		3.8%
Water		2.8%
Smalls Supplement Mix		2.1%
Chicken Hearts		1.9%
Kale		0.9%
Vegetable Oil		0.5%
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min)		21.2%
Crude Fat (min)		8.05%
Crude Fiber (max)		0.4%
Moisture (max)		66.1%
Ash (max)		2.25%
Metabolizable Energy
From Protein		49.6%
From Fat		45.7%
From Carbs		4.7%
Nutrients
Phosphorous		203 mg/100 kcal
Calcium		259 mg/100 kcal
Taurine		63 mg/100 kcal
Sodium		62 mg/100 kcal
Ratio of Calcium to Phosphorous
1.28 : 1

Fresh Ground Other Bird 🦃

Your cat will gobble up our all-natural turkey recipe. Made with 79% turkey thigh and 6% turkey liver.

Get Started

Approved complete and balanced diet for all life stages.

More Details
- Get back to nature with this human grade, high-protein, high-moisture fresh recipe, formulated to be the healthiest food your cat can eat. Real, fresh turkey meat means more energy, a softer coat, and a less fragrant litter box.
Ingredients
- Turkey Thigh (Skin On), Chicken Liver, Green Beans, Peas, Kale, Vegetable Oil, Calcium carbonate, Dicalcium phosphate, Choline, L-bitartrate, Salt, Taurine, Magnesium gluconate, Potassium chloride, Zinc Gluconate, Ascorbic Acid, Copper gluconate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Gluconate, Ferrous Gluconate, Niacin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic acid, Selenium, Dried Kelp,

Nutrition Facts

By Percentage
Chicken Thigh Skin (Boneless)		42.6%
Chicken Breast (No Skin)		37.0%
Chicken Livers		4.70%
Green Beans		3.8%
Peas		3.8%
Water		2.8%
Smalls Supplement Mix		2.1%
Chicken Hearts		1.9%
Kale		0.9%
Vegetable Oil		0.5%
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min)		21.2%
Crude Fat (min)		8.05%
Crude Fiber (max)		0.4%
Moisture (max)		66.1%
Ash (max)		2.25%
Metabolizable Energy
From Protein		49.6%
From Fat		45.7%
From Carbs		4.7%
Nutrients
Phosphorous		203 mg/100 kcal
Calcium		259 mg/100 kcal
Taurine		63 mg/100 kcal
Sodium		62 mg/100 kcal
Ratio of Calcium to Phosphorous
1.28 : 1

Fresh Smooth Other Bird 🦃

Our all-natural turkey recipe in a smooth pate. Made with 79% turkey thigh and 8% turkey liver.

Get Started

Approved complete and balanced diet for all life stages.

More Details
- Get back to nature with this human grade, high-protein, high-moisture fresh recipe, formulated to be the healthiest food your cat can eat. Real, fresh turkey meat means more energy, a softer coat, and a less fragrant litter box.
Ingredients
- Turkey Thigh (Skin On), Chicken Liver, Green Beans, Peas, Kale, Vegetable Oil, Calcium carbonate, Dicalcium phosphate, Choline, L-bitartrate, Salt, Taurine, Magnesium gluconate, Potassium chloride, Zinc Gluconate, Ascorbic Acid, Copper gluconate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Gluconate, Ferrous Gluconate, Niacin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic acid, Selenium, Dried Kelp,

Nutrition Facts

By Percentage
Chicken Thigh Skin (Boneless)		42.6%
Chicken Breast (No Skin)		37.0%
Chicken Livers		4.70%
Green Beans		3.8%
Peas		3.8%
Water		2.8%
Smalls Supplement Mix		2.1%
Chicken Hearts		1.9%
Kale		0.9%
Vegetable Oil		0.5%
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min)		21.2%
Crude Fat (min)		8.05%
Crude Fiber (max)		0.4%
Moisture (max)		66.1%
Ash (max)		2.25%
Metabolizable Energy
From Protein		49.6%
From Fat		45.7%
From Carbs		4.7%
Nutrients
Phosphorous		203 mg/100 kcal
Calcium		259 mg/100 kcal
Taurine		63 mg/100 kcal
Sodium		62 mg/100 kcal
Ratio of Calcium to Phosphorous
1.28 : 1

Fresh Ground Cow 🐄

Have beef with poultry? No worries, our all-natural beef recipe is made with 90% lean ground beef, 6% liver and 5% heart.

Get Started

Approved complete and balanced diet for all life stages.

More Details
- Get back to nature with this human grade, high-protein, high-moisture fresh recipe, formulated to be the healthiest food your cat can eat. Real, fresh beef meat means more energy, a softer coat, and a less fragrant litter box.
Ingredients
- Ground Beef 90% Lean, Beef Liver, Green Beans, Peas, Beef Heart, Water, Spinach, Calcium carbonate, Dicalcium phosphate, Choline Bitartrate, Salt, Taurine, Magnesium gluconate, Potassium chloride, Zinc Gluconate, Ascorbic Acid, Copper gluconate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Gluconate, Ferrous Gluconate, Niacin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic acid, Selenium,Dried Kelp, Biotin, Vitamin B12

Nutrition Facts

By Percentage
Ground Beef		73.2%
Lean		73.2%
Beef Liver		6.4%
Green Beans		5.5%
Beef Heart		5.0%
Peas		0.5%
Water		4.6%
Smalls Supplement Mix		2.5%
Spinach		2.3%
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min)		21.2%
Crude Fat (min)		8.05%
Crude Fiber (max)		0.4%
Moisture (max)		66.1%
Ash (max)		2.25%
Metabolizable Energy
From Protein		50%
From Fat		46.7%
From Carbs		3.2%
Nutrients
Phosphorous		207 mg/100 kcal
Calcium		253 mg/100 kcal
Taurine		66 mg/100 kcal
Sodium		56 mg/100 kcal
Ratio of Calcium to Phosphorous
1.22 : 1

Fresh Smooth Cow 🐄

Our all-natural beef recipe in a smooth pate. Made with 90% lean ground beef and 10% cow liver and heart.

Get Started

Approved complete and balanced diet for all life stages.

More Details
- Get back to nature with this human grade, high-protein, high-moisture fresh recipe, formulated to be the healthiest food your cat can eat. Real, fresh beef meat means more energy, a softer coat, and a less fragrant litter box.
Ingredients
- Ground Beef 90% Lean, Beef Liver, Green Beans, Peas, Beef Heart, Water, Spinach, Calcium carbonate, Dicalcium phosphate, Choline Bitartrate, Salt, Taurine, Magnesium gluconate, Potassium chloride, Zinc Gluconate, Ascorbic Acid, Copper gluconate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Gluconate, Ferrous Gluconate, Niacin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic acid, Selenium,Dried Kelp, Biotin, Vitamin B12

Nutrition Facts

By Percentage
Ground Beef		73.2%
Lean		73.2%
Beef Liver		6.4%
Green Beans		5.5%
Beef Heart		5.0%
Peas		0.5%
Water		4.6%
Smalls Supplement Mix		2.5%
Spinach		2.3%
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min)		21.2%
Crude Fat (min)		8.05%
Crude Fiber (max)		0.4%
Moisture (max)		66.1%
Ash (max)		2.25%
Metabolizable Energy
From Protein		50%
From Fat		46.7%
From Carbs		3.2%
Nutrients
Phosphorous		207 mg/100 kcal
Calcium		253 mg/100 kcal
Taurine		66 mg/100 kcal
Sodium		56 mg/100 kcal
Ratio of Calcium to Phosphorous
1.22 : 1

Freeze-Dried Raw Bird 🐓

Whole Chicken meat, bones, and organs.

Get Started

Approved complete and balanced diet for all life stages.

More Details
- Our Freeze-Dried Raw Chicken recipe retains the nutritional benefits of a raw, high-protein diet, but with the added crunch sometimes preferred by cats and the convenience needed by busy cat parents.
Ingredients
- Finely Ground Chicken with Bone, Chicken Heart, Chicken Liver, Chicken Gizzard, Chicken Egg, Goat’s Milk, Water, Eggshell Membrane, Herring Oil, Mixed Tocopherols, D-Alpha Tocopherol

Nutrition Facts

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min)		45%
Crude Fat (min)		15%
Crude Fiber (max)		3%
Moisture (max)		8%
Metabolizable Energy
From Protein		45.43%
From Fat		51.21%
From Carbs		3.35%
Nutrients
Phosphorous		367 mg/100 kcal
Calcium		433 mg/100 kcal
Taurine		51 mg/100 kcal
Sodium		73 mg/100 kcal
Ratio of Calcium to Phosphorous
1.17 : 1

Chicken Giblets

Whole, freeze-dried chunks of chicken heart and liver.

Get Started

More Details
- Whole, freeze-dried chunks of chicken heart and liver. Tasty morsels of single-source chicken heart and liver have been freeze-dried for a satisfying, moreish crunch. It’s the ultimate little extra for kitties who prefer a high value treat. Try it out in training or as a special reward for playtime with a hunting toy.
Ingredients
- Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart

Freeze-Dried Raw Other Bird 🦃

Whole Turkey meat, bones, and organs.

Get Started

Approved complete and balanced diet for all life stages.

More Details
- Our Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey recipe retains the nutritional benefits of a raw, high-protein diet, but with the added crunch sometimes preferred by cats and the convenience needed by busy cat parents.
Ingredients
- Finely Ground Turkey With Bone, Turkey Heart, Turkey Liver, Turkey Gizzard, Goat's Milk, Turkey Egg, Water, Egg Shell Membrane, Herring Oil, Mixed Tocopherols, D-Alpha Tocopherol

Nutrition Facts

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min)		45%
Crude Fat (min)		15%
Crude Fiber (max)		3%
Moisture (max)		8%
Metabolizable Energy
From Protein		45.43%
From Fat		51.21%
From Carbs		3.35%
Nutrients
Phosphorous		367 mg/100 kcal
Calcium		433 mg/100 kcal
Taurine		51 mg/100 kcal
Sodium		73 mg/100 kcal
Ratio of Calcium to Phosphorous
1.17 : 1

Freeze-Dried Raw Water Bird 🦆

Whole Duck meat, bones, and organs.

Get Started

Approved complete and balanced diet for all life stages.

More Details
- Our Freeze-Dried Raw Duck recipe retains the nutritional benefits of a raw, high-protein diet, but with the added crunch sometimes preferred by cats and the convenience needed by busy cat parents.
Ingredients
- Finely Ground Duck With Bone, Duck Heart, Duck Liver, Duck Gizzard, Duck Egg, Duck Blood, Goat's Milk, Water, Eggshell Membrane, Herring Oil, Mixed Tocopherols, D-Alpha Tocopherol

Nutrition Facts

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min)		45%
Crude Fat (min)		15%
Crude Fiber (max)		3%
Moisture (max)		8%
Metabolizable Energy
From Protein		45.43%
From Fat		51.21%
From Carbs		3.35%
Nutrients
Phosphorous		367 mg/100 kcal
Calcium		433 mg/100 kcal
Taurine		51 mg/100 kcal
Sodium		73 mg/100 kcal
Ratio of Calcium to Phosphorous
1.17 : 1

Crochet Prey

Capture the thrill of the hunt with a hand-crochet, catnip-filled mouser.

Get Started

More Details
- Capture the thrill of the hunt with a hand-crochet, catnip-filled mouser in the iconic Smalls’ hambone shape. Just the right size and shape to entice your cat to bat and chase. Ideal for interactive fetch games and to keep your kitty playful and engaged indoors. Colors may vary.
Ingredients
- Cotton, Catnip

Silica Litter

Get a month supply of Smalls silica litter for one cat. Absorbent and less dusty than other litter options, silica litter is very effective at trapping odors and urine.

Get Started

More Details
- The ultimate in odor elimination. Ultra-lightweight and easy to carry, Silica is soft on paws and makes for easy digging. The little crystals trap moisture and are virtually odor-free, for a premium bathroom experience.
Ingredients
- Silica Sand, Soda Ash, Water

Millet Litter

Get a month supply of Smalls millet litter for a single cat. Environmentally friendly and biodegradable, millet litter is ultra absorbent and effective at trapping odors.

Get Started

More Details
- The sustainable choice for odor reduction. All-natural, biodegradable, and virtually dust-free, Millet is designed for sensitive cats. It traps odor and doesn’t track, so while your cat hides their dirty work, your space stays litter- and guilt-free.
Ingredients
- Millet, Corn Starch, Calcium Carbonate, Vegetable Adhesives, Food Color