Choosing the right food for your feline companion is a crucial aspect of their overall health and well-being. Little BigPaw, a UK-based company, offers a range of cat foods, including both wet and dry options, catering to various life stages from kittens to seniors. The brand emphasizes its use of British ingredients and markets all its recipes as “hypoallergenic.” This review aims to provide an in-depth, unbiased look at Little BigPaw cat food, analyzing its species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, pricing, customer experience, and recall history to help you make an informed decision for your cat.
The Cats.com Standard: Rating Little BigPaw Cat Food
At Cats.com, we evaluate cat food based on a set of rigorous standards to ensure the information provided is accurate and helpful for pet owners. Our rating system considers:
- Species-Appropriateness: How well the food aligns with a cat’s natural dietary needs as obligate carnivores.
- Ingredient Quality: The caliber and sourcing of ingredients used in the formulas.
- Product Variety: The range of options available for different life stages, dietary needs, and preferences.
- Price: The overall value and affordability of the products.
- Customer Experience: Feedback from consumers regarding purchasing, service, and product satisfaction.
- Recall History: The brand’s history of product recalls, indicating safety and reliability.
Based on these criteria, Little BigPaw received an overall score of 7.17 out of 10, earning a B grade.
About Little BigPaw
Founded in 2011 by David Alton and Jim Weston, Little BigPaw began selling pet food in 2016. With extensive experience in the pet industry, the founders aimed to create high-quality food for both cats and dogs. The brand is now available in over 50 countries and is headquartered in Worcester, UK. Recently, Little BigPaw was acquired by the Sweden-based Petbuddy Group (PBG), a collective of sustainable, direct-to-consumer pet care brands. The founders will continue to be involved with the company. Little BigPaw was recognized for its global reach, winning the Pet Industry Federation Exporter of the Year award in 2022.
Sourcing and Manufacturing Practices
Little BigPaw prides itself on manufacturing its cat food in the British Midlands, using ingredients sourced from Britain. All of their formulas are entirely grain-free and are marketed as hypoallergenic due to the use of single-source meats, which can be beneficial for cats with sensitivities. The company explicitly states that their foods do not contain artificial preservatives, colorants, flavorings, grain, wheat, soya, or dairy. They utilize fresh meat that is processed for human consumption and kept chilled until use. Little BigPaw adheres to European Union regulations for welfare and quality standards, employing advanced processing technologies.
Recall History
Our research did not uncover any public recalls associated with Little BigPaw cat food. While this indicates a positive safety record, it’s important to note that recall information may not be comprehensive for all global markets.
Little BigPaw Product Offerings
Little BigPaw offers both wet and dry cat food formulations.
Wet Cat Foods: These grain-free, hypoallergenic options contain 70% poultry or fish and are available in mousse textures suitable for adult cats and kittens. Varieties include Gourmet Atlantic Salmon, Tender Duck, Atlantic Tuna, Ocean Fish, and Tender Chicken Mousse.
Dry Cat Foods: Little BigPaw also provides grain-free dry kibble formulated for different life stages: kittens, adult cats, and senior cats, primarily featuring British chicken or Atlantic salmon.
Review of Top Little BigPaw Recipes
We analyzed three popular Little BigPaw recipes to provide a closer look:
1. Little BigPaw British Chicken Complete Dry Food For Kittens
This grain-free dry food is formulated for kittens up to 12 months, featuring 70% chicken. It includes sweet potato and beneficial herbs, along with chicken fat and salmon oil to support brain and eye development through omega-3 fatty acids. The absence of common allergens like grains, wheat, soya, and dairy makes it a potentially good choice for sensitive kittens. Cellulose is included to aid digestion. The calcium and phosphorus ratio is appropriate for growing kittens.
- Ingredients: Chicken Meal (40%), Freshly Prepared Chicken (17%), Sweet Potato (14.5%), Chicken Fat (10%), Chicken Digest (3%), Dried Egg, Brewers Yeast, Peas, Cellulose, Beet Pulp, Salmon Oil (1%), Minerals, Dried Carrot, Seaweed Meal, Prebiotic MOS, Yucca Extract, Rosemary Extract, Prebiotic FOS, Peppermint, Dried Cranberry, Thyme, Citrus Extract, Fennel.
- Pros: High meat content, free from common allergens and artificial additives, suitable calcium-phosphorus ratio for kittens.
- Cons: Contains chicken digest, which some owners prefer to avoid.
2. Little BigPaw Gourmet Atlantic Salmon Mousse For Cats
This wet food boasts 70% salmon and chicken, providing a good source of omega-3 fatty acids from salmon for skin, joint, and coat health. It is grain-free and taurine-fortified. However, the primary ingredients are chicken and chicken liver, which should be noted if your cat has sensitivities to chicken. It’s free from artificial additives, grains, wheat, soya, and dairy.
- Ingredients: Salmon 26%, Chicken 24%, Chicken Liver 20%, Minerals, Salmon Oil 0.1%, Sunflower Oil 0.1%.
- Pros: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, grain-free, no artificial additives.
- Cons: Combination of salmon and chicken may not be suitable for cats requiring a single-protein diet.
3. Little BigPaw Gourmet Tender Duck Mousse For Cats
Similar to the salmon mousse, this wet food contains 70% animal-sourced protein, primarily duck, chicken, and chicken liver. It is formulated to be complete and balanced for adult cats, enriched with vitamins and minerals. The inclusion of salmon oil offers beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. This recipe is also grain-free and free from artificial preservatives, colorants, flavorings, grain, wheat, soya, and dairy.
- Ingredients: Duck 26%, Chicken 24%, Chicken Liver 20%, Minerals, Salmon Oil 0.1%, Sunflower Oil 0.1%.
- Pros: High animal protein content, beneficial omega-3s from salmon oil, grain-free and free from artificial additives.
- Cons: Contains both duck and chicken, which might be an issue for cats with specific protein sensitivities.
Customer Feedback on Little BigPaw
Customer reviews for Little BigPaw cat food are generally positive. Many owners appreciate the high-quality, species-appropriate ingredients, particularly the avoidance of common allergens and artificial additives. The affordability and availability of the food are also frequently praised. Some customers have noted their cats enjoying the food, with one owner specifically mentioning that their cat with a sensitive stomach experienced improvement. However, a few negative reviews indicate that some cats may not be enticed by the flavors, even when owners are seeking alternative options.
Cost and Availability
Little BigPaw cat food is considered reasonably priced. Dry food pouches typically start around £14.99, while wet food cases of 8 x 85g pouches are available from approximately £8.72. The brand is accessible directly through their website, offering free delivery on orders over £25 within mainland UK, and is also stocked by various UK pet retailers. Little BigPaw is also distributed internationally, available in around 50 countries.
Conclusion: Is Little BigPaw a Good Choice?
Little BigPaw cat food appears to be a solid choice for many cat owners. Both their wet and dry food lines feature good quality, clearly identified ingredients, with a strong emphasis on sourcing from Britain and excluding common allergens and artificial additives. The brand’s commitment to quality, combined with positive customer feedback and the founders’ continued involvement post-acquisition, suggests a reliable and trustworthy option for feline nutrition.
How to Purchase Little BigPaw Cat Food
Little BigPaw cat food can be purchased directly from the brand’s website, with options for auto-ship and free mainland UK delivery on orders exceeding £25. Additionally, the food is available at numerous UK pet supply stores and through various online retailers globally.
Alternatives to Little BigPaw
If you are exploring British-made cat food options similar to Little BigPaw, you might also consider brands like Meowing Heads and Harrington’s.
