Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Where to Find Free Cat Food Samples? 12 Sites to Visit in 2026

By Lorre Luther
Share
Cat-eating-wet-food-from-white-bowl-on-wooden-floor

If you've been thinking about transitioning your cat to a new food, you may be interested in trying a few brands before shelling out for a large bag of kibble your cat may not bother to take more than a few bites of. Free cat food samples are a great way to allow your cat to try things out so you can make the right choice without going through too many bags or cans of cat food. Keep reading to learn more about these sites with free cat food samples.

divider cat faces oct 2024

Ways to Find Cat Food Samples

There are a few ways to find free cat food samples. Some companies provide trial sizes you can request directly online or by phone. Others give small sizes to local retailers where you can try a few products for free.

Many offer discounts on your first order, and several have satisfaction guarantees to make it easy for you to try and return their products if your cat doesn’t like them.

Once you’ve selected a brand, signing up for the company’s newsletter or following them on social media is often a good way to find out about sales and get hold of coupons.

divider 3 paws

The 12 Places to Find Free Cat Food Samples

1. Blackwood Pet Foods

Blackwood Pet Foods logo

Blackwood Pet Foods has a range of tasty kibble and wet food options for cats. Two yummy grain-free choices are available, one featuring chicken and turkey and the other salmon and trout, but there are also formulas with healthy grains, such as brown rice.

Wet food choices include chicken and salmon with pumpkin and muscles, as well as formulas that feature chicken livers. Getting free cat food samples is as easy as reaching out to the company via the contact form on the website.


2. Farmina Pet Foods

Farmina produces several formulas, including wet and dry choices for older cats, kittens, and healthy adult pets. They also have products designed to provide extra support for neutered cats and those with issues such as urinary tract problems and sensitive skin.

Formulas with unique protein sources, such as duck, herring, and quail, provide cats with plenty of variety. While the company has samples, the program appears to be limited, so bookmark the page and circle back a few times to ensure you know when the offers change.

Get Free Recall Alerts!

Stay up to date on important recalls


3. Smalls

Smalls logo

Smalls allows pet parents to try various samples at a discount. You can create an account, answer a few questions about your cat, and choose a few items your pet may be interested in. Smalls has recipes featuring proteins such as turkey, fish, and beef.

The company's products come in various textures, including smooth and minced. Smalls' chicken recipes include healthy ingredients, such as green beans and kale, and its fish formula features vegetables, such as pumpkin, and plenty of protein from salmon and cod.


4. Canidae

Canidae has been in the business of producing pet food for decades. The company has several tempting choices that meet a range of feline dietary needs. Many grain-free formulas are available, including choices featuring single proteins such as chicken and salmon.

There are also meals featuring healthy grains, like millet and oatmeal, and formulations designed to support coat health and digestion. The company doesn't have free samples, but they can sometimes steer pet parents toward retailers who may have a few on hand.

Customer service representatives are available by phone or email to answer questions about products, and there's also an online contact form that makes reaching out easy.


5. Life's Abundance

Life's Abundance logo

Life's Abundance doesn't have free trial sizes, but they have samples available for almost nothing. However, you'll need to pay for shipping. Although the free sample program exists, the trial-sized items sometimes run out, so you may need to check back occasionally to get in on the deal.

The company has formulations featuring grains and a few without, and there are wet food options with proteins, such as duck and pork. Life’s Abundance also produces treats for cats. Grain-free formulas and ones with healthy carbohydrates, such as oatmeal and potato, are available.


6. Paw Tree

Paw Tree logo

Paw Tree makes it easy for pet parents to find the right food for their companions with its money-back guarantee. Instead of offering free samples, Paw Tree promises to refund the purchase price if your cat isn't happy with their new food.

Keep in mind there are limits on the offer, so reach out to the company by phone or email for details. Paw Tree produces wet food with turkey and chicken, as well as formulas packed with delicious fish like salmon and herring.


7. Royal Canin

Royal Canin doesn't have free samples, but they make it easy to try new products with their palatability guarantee. Pet parents can return products and get their money back, but there are a few geographic and other restrictions on the deal.

Not all retailers participate in the program, and it’s meant to be a one-time perk. The offer can only be applied to one bag of kibble or a can of wet food. The company regularly provides coupons through newsletters and social media. Royal Canin has a full range of wet and dry foods for kittens and adult cats and several choices to support medical issues such as urinary tract and digestive health.


8. Taste of the Wild

Taste of the Wild logo

Taste of the Wild regularly has free cat food samples available so you can get an idea of whether your cat likes the company's formulations without buying a whole bag of food. Samples can often be found at local pet stores, and you can also reach out to the company directly by phone to request a few.

The company has two cat food lines: Taste of the Wild and PREY. Taste of the Wild features vegetables and fruits to provide antioxidants and carbohydrates. PREY products are built around single protein sources and contain limited ingredients.


9. Open Farm

Open Farm makes it easy to try before you open your wallet by offering free samples through local retailers. You can contact the company by email, chat, or phone if you need help finding a local store that carries their products. Open Farm also regularly offers deals and promo codes for customers who sign up for its email list.

Open Farm produces kibble, wet food, freeze-dried raw meals, and even bone broth. The kibble has proteins such as whitefish and lamb, and the wet food formulas include ingredients such as salmon and pumpkin.


10. I and Love You

I and Love You logo

While I and Love You doesn't have free samples, the company is willing to work with pet parents who order products only to find out their pets aren’t interested. There's a nutritional quiz on the site to help pet parents narrow down options before ordering.

For pet parents whose cats end up falling in love with the company's formulations, signing up for the newsletter is an easy way to stay on top of ways to save.


11. Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo logo

Blue Buffalo's 100% satisfaction guarantee allows pet parents to return unused portions of products their cats aren't happy with, so while there's no free sample program, it's possible to try the company's products before making a commitment.

You can return the package and whatever is left in the bag to the location where it was purchased, but keep in mind some restrictions and limits apply. Blue Buffalo produces a range of wet foods, kibble, and treats. It also has prescription formulas to support cats who need to drop a few pounds and those who could use joint support.


12. The Honest Kitchen

The Honest Kitchen provides discounts on trial sizes to first-time purchasers. Tiny bags of kibble and a few variety packs are available. You'll need to use the promo code on the website to get in on the action, and the deal is only available to new customers.

The Honest Kitchen has several grain-free meals available, including formulas featuring turkey, chicken, and fish. Regular wet food is available, but there are also dehydrated products that come to life when warm water is added.

Our recommendation
Hepper NomNom - Spill Proof Elevated Cat Bowl
Hepper NomNom - Spill Proof Elevated Cat Bowl
  • NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and contain stray crumbs and drips. Protect your indoors and floors from wet and messy meals!
  • WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy mealtime free from whisker fatigue!
  • CHEW-SAFE MATERIALS - Kittens and cats love chewing on silicone and soft rubber - but it's a choking hazard. Our cat feeding station materials are anti-chew for a 100% safe feeding frenzy!

Feeding your cat a high-quality diet is important for keeping them healthy and happy. But it goes beyond the food you choose; the dishes they use also matter. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite for its unique, five-star design that protects from whisker fatigue and promotes good posture which also aids in better digestion. As an added bonus, it’s beautifully crafted and offers a modern take on the traditional cat bowl that fits seamlessly with all home stylings. Learn more about the NomNom by clicking here.

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

divider cat faces oct 2024

Final Thoughts

If you're looking for a new food for your cat, free samples allow your cat to try a few flavors to determine which they prefer. While it's often possible to find samples or trial sizes of products for free, there's sometimes a small charge involved, and you might have to pay extra for shipping if you're buying online.

Signing up for newsletters and following companies on social media are great ways to get discounted products once you've decided which formula is best for your cat.

Related Reads:

Sources

Featured Image Credit: IMG-Stock-Studio, Shutterstock

Expert cat care, straight to your inbox

Vet-reviewed advice, behavior tips, and the best of Catster. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.

Lorre Luther
Authored by

Lorre Luther

Join the conversation

Ask a question, share your story, or send private feedback.

Rate this post
Required to post. Only our editors see your rating.
Who should see this?

A human reviews every comment before it appears. Your email is never published.

How Can I Save Money on Cat Food? 11 Cost-Effective Tips & FAQ

How Can I Save Money on Cat Food? 11 Cost-Effective Tips & FAQ

As a cat owner, you understand that providing the best quality cat food for your feline friend can be quite costly. However, several practical approaches exist…

Christian Adams
By Christian Adams ·
10 Cat Foods That Have Never Been Recalled (2026 Update)

10 Cat Foods That Have Never Been Recalled (2026 Update)

As a cat owner, you put faith in the pet food industry to provide your kitty with the nutrition that they need to live a long and healthy life. But what happen…

Chantelle Fowler
By Chantelle Fowler ·
How to Choose Cat Food: 10 Vet-Approved Tips & Tricks

How to Choose Cat Food: 10 Vet-Approved Tips & Tricks

Cats and humans have shared a mutually beneficial relationship for roughly 12,000 years. People developed agriculture, which attracted pests, and felines happi…

Chris Dinesen Rogers
By Chris Dinesen Rogers ·
What Should I Do If My Cat's Food Is Recalled? 5 Vet-Approved Steps

What Should I Do If My Cat's Food Is Recalled? 5 Vet-Approved Steps

There’s nothing quite like hearing that your cat's food has been recalled. Due to major recalls in the past, pet parents know just how dangerous these announce…

Ashley Bates
By Ashley Bates ·

8 Types of Cat Food: Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Facts & Advice

Deciding what to feed your cat isn’t as simple as it used to be. The pet food industry is experiencing explosive growth, and new manufacturers are frequently e…

Elizabeth Gray
By Elizabeth Gray ·
8 Types of Cat Food: Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Facts & Advice

Can I Feed My Cat Different Brands Of Food? Vet Approved Advice

As humans, we can’t imagine eating the same food over and over again, so when it comes to our cats, is variety really the spice of life, or will our furry frie…

Adam Mann
By Adam Mann ·
Can I Feed My Cat Different Brands Of Food? Vet Approved Advice

Earthborn Holistic Cat Food Review 2026: Our Expert’s Opinion

* $4 off in-store when you sign up for our monthly email blast! Coupon must be printed and used in-store. When it comes to finding the best cat food for your f…

Sara Seitz
By Sara Seitz ·
Earthborn Holistic Cat Food Review 2026: Our Expert’s Opinion

Top 9 Healthiest Cat Foods in 2026 (Top Ingredients & Brands)

We all want our cats to be as healthy as possible and part of that comes from choosing the correct food for our cats. For our cats to be as healthy as possible…

Kristin Hitchcock
By Kristin Hitchcock ·
Top 9 Healthiest Cat Foods in 2026 (Top Ingredients & Brands)

Reveal Wet Cat Food & Treats Review 2026: Our Expert’s Opinion

Providing your cat with the variety they crave, the nutrition they need, and the hydration to help them thrive can be a tall order. Most cat food prioritizes o…

Sara Seitz
By Sara Seitz ·
Reveal Wet Cat Food & Treats Review 2026: Our Expert’s Opinion

You're Probably Feeding Your Cat Wrong (Here's How to Fix It)

Many cat parents pour kibble into their cat's bowl whenever it looks empty, maybe top off the water, and call it a day. The cats seem fine, so what's the probl…

Dan Seymour
By Dan Seymour ·
You're Probably Feeding Your Cat Wrong (Here's How to Fix It)

Your Cat Is Begging at Christmas Dinner - Here's What's Safe to Share

Your family is gathering around the Christmas table, passing dishes and laughing, when you feel it: those unblinking eyes burning into the side of your face. Y…

Nicole Cosgrove
By Nicole Cosgrove ·
Your Cat Is Begging at Christmas Dinner - Here's What's Safe to Share

Subtle Signs Your Cat Might Have Diabetes That Vets Urge You to Check

If your cat’s been drinking more water lately or sleeping a bit too much, you might just chalk it up to age or laziness. But here’s the thing: subtle changes i…

Dan Seymour
By Dan Seymour ·
Subtle Signs Your Cat Might Have Diabetes That Vets Urge You to Check

Love Cats? So Do We! Join the Catster Community

Stay informed with expert cat care insights delivered straight to your inbox! Discover professional guidance on feline behavior, feeding tips, trusted product picks, and much more.

You may opt-out at any time. View our Privacy Policy for more information.

The Catster site on a phone