Maybe you’ve been thinking about changing your cat’s food brand. maybe no one is enjoying it, or you want to switch to a grain-free, limited-ingredient, or other special diet.
As much as we all love our cats, they can be finicky creatures. Spending $50 on a new brand of cat kibble only to have your precious pet make fun of it can be frustrating.
One of the best ways to fix this problem is to get free samples. this is a great way to try a few different brands and see which one your cat likes best!
Let’s take a look at a few different places where you can get free samples of cat food brands. We’ve rounded up some brands that offer a free sample of cat food with no strings attached, while others offer a coupon you can redeem for a future purchase.
top 12 sites to visit for free cat food samples
1. eternal legs
This is more of a treat than a novel food, but your cat will likely go crazy for these delicious treats of dried wild salmon or chicken breast. you can get a free 3-ounce sample bag, but you’ll have to pay $3.99 for shipping and handling.
2. artemis company
artemis is on a mission to provide cat foods that work holistically to keep your cat in excellent condition.
if you tell them a little about your cat, you can request a free sample of dry cat food!
3. canids
canidae offers a wide range of cat foods made with premium ingredients to provide complete and balanced nutrition. offers free samples, but sometimes you’ll have to wait until it’s restocked. we recommend bookmarking their sample page and revisiting it often.
In the meantime, you can sign up for a $5 coupon to redeem for any of their cat foods.
4. farm
farmina is an all-natural premium cat food brand that has put a great deal of research and development into its cat food range.
This is a great brand that occasionally offers free samples. sometimes it’s out of stock, but keep checking back!
5. essential pet food
essence is a brand that focuses on creating high-quality cat food without grains or other ingredients, like potatoes or sunflower oil, that your cat doesn’t really need. instead, it focuses on including healthy proteins designed to help your cat thrive.
you can choose from three different free samples of dry cat food, including air & game, meadow & ranch, or ocean & fresh water.
6. me and love and you
These healthy grain-free cat foods include prebiotics and probiotics to keep your cat healthy. the first ingredient in these foods is always real meat.
This brand offers free samples subject to availability. bookmark the page or subscribe to the newsletter to be notified when a new shipment of samples is ready.
7. the abundance of life
life’s abundance has a variety of cat foods that include premium ingredients designed to help your cat feel their best.
You can get a sample pack of Life’s Abundance Premium Dry Cat Food, Gourmet Cat Treats and Instinctive Choice Premium Canned Cat Food for only $1.08! you’ll have to pay a shipping fee of $2.95, but it’s still a bargain!
8. bramble
This company offers a variety of cat foods, including condiments that you can add to your cat’s daily ration for added flavor. You can sign up for a free sample of their Pawpairings Superfood Seasonings to see if your cat likes it. you only have to pay a small shipping and handling fee.
Once you’ve tried your free sample and purchased more products, you can also try submitting a testimonial to win a $14.99 bag of goodies.
9. petcurea
petcurean offers a variety of nutritional solutions, including limited ingredient blends, recipes to promote healthy skin and coat, and grain-free kibble or wet foods.
You can download a $5 coupon from the petcurean website to use on any of their cat foods.
10. purine
purina doesn’t seem to have any free samples, but they do have plenty of coupons you can use against the purchase of their elegant feast, musa and purina one ranges of cat food. if you use them for your cat anyway, it’s a great way to save a little money!
If you sign up for the purina one 28-day challenge, you can also get a $5 coupon to redeem for purina one purchases.
11. rachael ray nurtures
rachael ray nutrish is a recognized brand with a wide range of cat foods designed to provide everything your kitty needs to stay healthy.
You can request a free sample of Rachael Ray Nutrish Soft Spots for Cats. if you qualify, you will be notified!
If not, you can check out their coupons, which include $2 off Nutrish Peak and Nutrish Zero dry cat foods and “buy three, get one free” on Nutrish Super Premium and Nutrish Purrfect Broth wet cat foods.
12. the pet pantry
The Pet Pantry features a variety of different brands, including Orijen, Nature’s Variety, Taste of the Wild, and Earth Born.
plus, they also deliver cat food right to your door so you don’t have to worry about bringing home heavy bags of kibble. if you live in north carolina, they will send you a free sample. If you want a sample but live outside of your free delivery area, you can still order a sample, but you’ll have to pay a $7 shipping charge.
Related Reading: Soulistic Cat Food Review 2021: Recalls, Pros & Cons
investigate
Once you’ve found a brand you like, it’s a good idea to do some more research.
verify that the mark has not been withdrawn from the market, which would indicate that the quality of the food is not as high as you would like. You can check recalls and recalls for any brand of pet food on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.
For wet foods and kibble, you’ll also want to verify that the food is listed as nutritionally complete for adult cats or kittens (whichever is yours) by the Association of American Food Control Officials. Foods that are not AAFCO approved may not provide all the nutrition your cat needs to stay healthy. treats are not included in this category as they are considered complementary.
When your sample arrives, check that the package is properly sealed and that the contents smell fresh. start by feeding your cat only a small amount, one teaspoon, and monitor her reaction for 24 hours before feeding more. If your cat has been used to one brand for a long time, she may react badly to a large serving of a new food without giving her digestive system time to adjust.
check the ingredients
Before you excitedly sign up for a free sample, check the ingredients. if your cat is allergic to fish, for example, a new wet food containing fish may not be a good idea! remember, the name of the food may not indicate all the ingredients. take the time to read them and check that there is nothing that could trigger an allergic reaction.
visit your local pet store or veterinarian
In addition to checking online for deals, try heading to your local pet store and vet.
Big brand names often send gifts to stores and veterinarians along with their regular orders. pet stores often offer a wider range of brands, while your vet may offer prescription diets.
It’s always worth asking these two places if they have any free samples they’d be willing to give away!
email your favorite cat food supplier
This may not always work, but it’s worth a try! Email your cat food supplier or a brand you’re thinking of trying, and simply ask if they can send you free samples. Most of the big brands offer sample packs that they send to pet food stores or use at trade shows. then you might get lucky and bag free food for your cat this way!
a final note about sample boxes
Many cat food brands used to offer free samples, but some don’t anymore. they now offer sample boxes, which you have to pay for. we haven’t included them here, as they don’t fall into the “free” category. but it may be worth a try if you want to offer your cat a new brand without spending an entire bag of food.
Ever managed to get free food samples for your cat? let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!
featured image credit: jakub zak, shutterstock