Tiny Tiger Cat Food Review 2024

Tiny Tiger is a budget-friendly cat food manufactured by online pet food retailer Chewy. Tiny Tiger's extensive range consists mostly of wet foods for your little lion to enjoy, as well as a few kibbles, treats, and meal toppers.

We give Tiny Tiger cat food 3 out of 5 paws up. It deserves praise for being an affordable, high-protein food for your feline friend. Plus, many of its recipes are grain-free. However, it misses out on a higher rating due to the overall quality of its ingredients.

So, is Tiny Tiger a good choice for your cat? Keep scrolling for our in-depth Tiny Tiger cat food review, where we deep dive into different product lines, controversial ingredients, recalls, and more!

Tiny Tiger serves up 27 cat food recipes, most of which are canned wet foods. It also has over 20 treat and meal topper varieties for your couch cougar to try.

All Tiny Tiger cat foods are "complete and balanced," meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for all life stages, maintenance (adults), or growth (kittens). All Tiny Tiger treats and meal toppers are for supplemental feeding only.

Tiny Tiger Grain-Free Paté

Tiny Tiger Grain-Free Patés are the best paté options for your feline friend—no grains in these recipes! They all list a quality cut of real meat as the top ingredient, with no corn, soy, or carrageenan. That said, all recipes include inexpensive, low-quality meat by-products as a secondary protein source.

Tiny Tiger Grain-Free Patés recipes do not use artificial flavors or preservatives, but they do include added colors, a controversial artificial ingredient. Other somewhat controversial ingredients in these recipes include natural flavors and guar gum.

Chunks in Gray Whitefish & Tuna is the best low-fat option, with just 9% fat as dry matter. Tiny Tiger Grain-Free Patés for Kittens are higher in protein and fat, with measured DHA levels to fuel growth and development.

Tiny Tiger Grain-Free Patés have above-average protein (50.7% as dry matter) and above-average fat (17.7% as dry matter) levels compared to your standard wet cat foods.

Tiny Tiger Paté grain-free varieties:

• Grain-Free Beef Paté
• Grain-Free Chicken Paté
• Grain-Free Salmon Paté
• Grain-Free Seafood Paté
• Grain-Free Turkey & Giblets Paté
• Grain-Free Whitefish & Tuna Paté
• Grain-Free Chicken Kitten Paté
• Grain-Free Ocean Whitefish Kitten Paté
• Grain-Free Turkey Kitten Paté

Tiny Tiger Grain-Inclusive Paté

Tiny Tiger Grain-Inclusive Patés are of lower quality than its grain-free offerings. All recipes, except Whitefish & Tuna, list meat or poultry by-products as the top ingredients.

Tiny Tiger grain-inclusive wet foods list rice with the top seven ingredients in each recipe. White rice is less nutritionally beneficial than brown rice, as it's lower in fiber.

Like Tiny Tiger Grain-Free Patés, these recipes contain no artificial flavors or preservatives but do include artificial added colors. Unlike Tiny Tiger Grain-Free Patés, they include carrageenan, a natural thickener considered safe by the FDA but linked with gastrointestinal issues.

Tiny Tiger Grain-Inclusive Patés have above-average protein (46.5% as dry matter) and above-average fat (21.5% as dry matter) compared to standard wet cat foods.

Tiny Tiger Paté grain-inclusive varieties:

• Turkey & Giblets Paté
• Chicken & Tuna Paté
• Salmon Paté
• Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Paté

Tiny Tiger Chunks in Gravy

Tiny Tiger produces two Chunks in Gravy ranges: Chunks in Gravy and Chunks in Extra Gravy.

The main difference between these ranges is their moisture content—Chunks in Gravy contain 80% moisture, while Chunks in Extra Gravy contain 82% moisture. As a result, Chunks in Extra Gravy recipes are lower in protein and fat but are great for preventing dehydration.

Overall, the ingredient quality between these ranges is the same, with broth and real cuts of meat as the top ingredients. Meat by-products are secondary protein sources. Dried egg products are another common healthy secondary protein source.

Potato starch is another common ingredient, a binding agent with little nutritional value. These recipes don't include added colors or carrageenan like some Tiny Tiger Patés. As a result, we recommend Tiny Tiger's Chunks in Gravy range over its Paté range.

Tiny Tiger Chunks in Gravy have above-average protein (55% as dry matter) and average fat (11.6% as dry matter) levels compared to standard wet cat foods.

Tiny Tiger Chunks in Extra Gravy have above-average protein (50% as dry matter) and average fat (11.1% as dry matter) levels compared to standard wet cat foods.

Tiny Tiger Chunks in Gravy varieties:

• Grain-Free Beef Chunks in Gravy
• Grain-Free Chicken Chunks in Gravy
• Grain-Free Salmon & Whitefish Chunks in Gravy
• Grain-Free Seafood Chunks in Gravy
• Grain-Free Tuna Chunks in Gravy
• Grain-Free Turkey Chunks in Gravy

Tiny Tiger Chunks in Extra Gravy varieties:

• Grain-Free Chicken Chunks in Extra Gravy
• Grain-Free Tuna Chunks in Extra Gravy
• Grain-Free Turkey Chunks in Extra Gravy
• Grain-Free Salmon & Whitefish Chunks in Extra Gravy
• Grain-Free Seafood Chunks in Extra Gravy
• Grain-Free Beef Chunks in Extra Gravy

Tiny Tiger Natural Complete Dry Cat Food

Tiny Tiger offers a limited range of dry foods with just two varieties. Tiny Tiger Natural Complete Chicken Dry Cat Food is generally low quality—it's grain-inclusive, with chicken by-product meal as the sole animal protein source.

Other top five ingredients include corn protein meal, soybean meal, brewer's rice, and ground wheat. Most of these ingredients can be considered filler ingredients with low nutritional value. Brewer's rice, which is a manufacturing by-product, is one of the lowest-quality grains you'll find in dry cat foods. 

Corn protein meal does have some nutritional benefits—it's a source of fatty acids, antioxidants, and carbs. However, we'd prefer to see an animal protein instead of a plant-based protein in the top five ingredients.

Tiny Tiger also makes a Natural Complete Chicken Indoor recipe. The main difference between these recipes is that the Natural Complete Chicken Indoor recipe is lower in protein and fat to prevent obesity and higher in fiber to support an indoor cat's digestive system.

Tiny Tiger Natural Complete Dry Cat Food has above-average protein (36.8% as dry matter) and average fat (13% as dry matter) compared to standard dry cat foods.

Tiny Tiger Natural Complete Dry Cat Food varieties:

• Chicken
• Chicken Indoor

Tiny Tiger treats

Tiny Tiger produces three treat ranges: Crunchy Bunches, Crunchy Treats, and Meaty Tenders Sticks.

Tiny Tiger Crunchy Bunches are run-of-the-mill, low-quality crunchy treats made primarily of meat meal, corn flour, and grains. All recipes list chicken meal as the top ingredient, which is a problem for felines with chicken allergies.

These treats are one calorie each and consist of 33% protein as dry matter and 14.4% fat as dry matter.

Tiny Tiger Crunchy Treats have a crunchy exterior and a creamy filling that some cats find irresistible. In ingredient quality, they're pretty similar to Crunchy Bunches, with chicken by-product meal as the number one ingredient, but they contain barley flour and pea starch instead of corn flour.

These treats are two calories a piece, with 31.4% protein as dry matter and 19.1% fat as dry matter.

Tiny Tiger Meaty Tenders Sticks are jerky-style sticks some cats prefer as a special snack. These are Tiny Tiger's best quality treats—they're made with no meat by-products, grains, soy, or corn.

The main ingredients are real meat, chickpeas, and coconut glycerin. Each stick is 16 calories, with 36.8% protein as dry matter and 17.7% fat as dry matter on average.

Tiny Tiger treat varieties:

• Tiny Tiger Crunchy Bunch Chicken & Seafood
• Tiny Tiger Crunchy Bunch Seafood
• Tiny Tiger Crunchy Bunch Chicken
• Tiny Tiger Catnip Craze Crunchy Treats
• Tiny Tiger Chicken Chompers Crunchy Treats
• Tiny Tiger Tuna Tidbits Crunchy Treats
• Tiny Tiger Meaty Tenders Sticks Chicken
• Tiny Tiger Meaty Tenders Sticks Salmon

Tiny Tiger meal toppers

Tiny Tiger meal toppers are designed to add flavor and moisture to your cat's food, encouraging fussy felines to chow down on their dinner. Tiny Tiger produces three meal topper ranges: Lickable Soups, Lickable Bisques, and Lickable Stews.

Tiny Tiger meal toppers are all essentially the same in quality, composition, and moisture content (~84%). All ranges contain no grains, animal by-products, or artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Each Tiny Tiger meal topper lists water, real meat, and tapioca starch as primary ingredients. Vegetable-inclusive recipes generally include carrots, pumpkin, spinach, and green peas. Tiny Tiger Lickable Stews are particularly high in protein, so they're a good choice if you're looking to give your little lion a protein boost.

Tiny Tiger Lickable Soups contain 49.4% protein as dry matter and 8.5% fat as dry matter on average.

Tiny Tiger Lickable Bisques contain 50% protein as dry matter and 6.2% fat as dry matter on average.

Tiny Tiger Lickable Stews contain 70.9% protein as dry matter and 3.2 fat as dry matter on average.

Tiny Tiger meal topper varieties:

• Lickable Soups Chicken & Shrimp
• Lickable Soups Chicken in Fish Broth
• Lickable Soups Tuna
• Lickable Soups Salmon
• Lickables Bisque Tuna & Shrimp
• Lickable Bisque Senior Tuna & Chicken
• Lickable Bisque Tuna & Chicken
• Lickable Bisque Tuna
• Lickable Stew Chicken & Veggies
• Lickable Stew Tuna & Whitefish
• Lickable Stew Senior Chicken & Tuna
• Lickable Stew Chicken & Tuna
• Lickable Stew Tuna & Shrimp

Here are a few of the best reasons to buy Tiny Tiger cat food for your purring pal.

High protein content

Tiny Tiger cat foods are high in protein, fueling your feline's active lifestyle and helping them maintain healthy muscle mass. Cats are obligate carnivores that require high protein levels in their diets, and Tiny Tiger cat foods have all the bases covered when it comes to high protein content. 

Protein is key to your cat's health, affecting everything from skin to heart health. Some Tiny Tiger cat food recipes contain over 50% protein—ideal for a budget-friendly cat food.

Wide flavor variety

Tiny Tiger produces nine flavor varieties in several consistencies to please even the pickiest pint-sized panther. Plus, an array of flavors is ideal if your cat has a specific food allergy.

Just ensure you double-check the ingredient list before purchasing—some Tiny Tiger recipes incorporate several different animal proteins.  

Affordability

One of Tiny Tiger's biggest selling points is its price. At the time of writing, a Tiny Tiger Grain-Free Paté Seafood Variety Pack, containing 24 x 3 oz. cans, cost $17.99 on Chewy, at $0.25 per oz.

By comparison, a Fancy Feast Grilled Seafood Feast Variety Pack, containing 24 x 3 oz. cans, has a list price of $22.32 on Chewy, at $0.31 per oz.

A side-by-side comparison between these products shows that Tiny Tiger is marginally better quality than Fancy Feast. Tiny Tiger cat foods list meat instead of broth as the top ingredients and are slightly higher in protein.

Thinking Tiny Tiger might be right for your cat? Here are a few things to bear in mind before you buy.

Controversial ingredients

Tiny Tiger cat foods contain some ingredients that are considered potentially controversial.

Most Tiny Tiger recipes include meat by-products as a primary or secondary protein source. Meat and poultry by-products are inexpensive manufacturing by-products consisting of organs, blood, and bones. Meat by-products may be less nutritionally complete and harder for cats to digest than quality cuts of meat.

Another controversial ingredient is added colors, which are used to make cat foods more visually appealing. Artificial food coloring is linked to allergies, gastrointestinal issues, and even cancer.

Brewer's rice, which Tiny Tiger uses in its Tiny Tiger Natural Complete Dry Cat Food, is a rice milling by-product that's a filler ingredient and offers little nutritional value to cats; however, it is highly digestible.

Lack of ingredient transparency

It's unclear precisely what some ingredients in Tiny Tiger cat foods consist of, posing issues for cats with specific food allergies and intolerances.

For example, several recipes, like Tiny Tiger Grain-Free Seafood Paté, list liver as an ingredient. It's unclear what animal this liver comes from.

Another ingredient that needs clarifying is natural flavors. While it's stated that these flavors are natural, it's unclear where these flavors come from.

Chewy states that the ocean whitefish used in its recipes consists of several whitefish species, including cod, haddock, sole, and flounder.

"I appreciate the chewy comments giving details about the meat byproducts and what animals they are from. I think this is a decent quality cat food that my cats enjoy. The price is great for a household that only feeds wet food. I will continue to buy this food as long as it remains budget friendly and enjoyable for my cats."

"My 3 cats wouldn't eat any of the flavors of this food. I'll give it to someone else with cats and hopefully they'll have better luck."

Tiny Tiger is one of several pet food brands produced and sold exclusively by online pet retailer Chewy. Other Chewy-exclusive brands include American Journey and Tylee's.

Ryan Cohen and Michael Day, Chewy's founders, established Tiny Tiger in 2011. PetSmart owned Chewy from 2017 until 2020 when the two companies split to become separate entities.PetSmart no long stock Tiny Tiger products

Chewy manufactures Tiny Tiger cat food from ingredients sourced globally at facilities in the USA and Canada. Its Paté Canned Wet Food is made at partnering facilities in Kansas.

Tiny Tiger cat food has never been recalled at the time of writing.

Overall, Tiny Tiger is a good, budget-friendly cat food, but what if you want something higher quality for your feline friend? Here are a few of our favorite alternatives to Tiny Tiger:

• The Honest Kitchen - the original 100% human-grade pet food brand—pricey but well worth the cost if you're looking for the best cat food in town.

• Weruva - not too expensive, but with high-quality ingredients and a generous money-back guarantee, it's a great option for your fur-baby.

• Iams - not an outstanding cat food, but with real cuts of meat in its recipes, it's an excellent affordable alternative to Tiny Tiger.