9Lives cat food has been a household name for decades, instantly recognizable by its affordable price point and the iconic Morris the Cat. But with so many cat food options available, is 9Lives a good choice for your beloved pet? Our unbiased 9Lives cat food review dives deep into the brand’s ingredients, nutritional value, and customer feedback to help you make an informed decision.
9Lives Cat Food: A Comprehensive Rating
We evaluated 9Lives based on the Cats.com standard, focusing on key aspects like species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s a breakdown of our ratings:
- Species-Appropriateness: 4/10
- Ingredient Quality: 4/10
- Product Variety: 7/10
- Price: 7/10
- Customer Experience: 5/10
- Recall History: 4/10
Overall Score: 5.1/10
This earns 9Lives cat food a D grade, reflecting areas where the brand could improve, particularly in ingredient quality and species-appropriateness.
A Brief History of 9Lives
Established in 1957, 9Lives gained popularity with the introduction of Morris the Cat in 1968. Morris, an orange tabby hailed as the “Clark Gable of Cats,” became the face of the brand, contributing to 9Lives becoming one of the best-selling cat food brands in the United States. Today, 9Lives is owned by Big Heart Pet Brands, a subsidiary of the J.M. Smucker Company, alongside other brands like Meow Mix and Natural Balance.
Where 9Lives Sources and Manufactures Its Food
9Lives produces its dry cat food in facilities located in Kansas and Pennsylvania. The wet cat food production is shared between facilities in the United States and international manufacturers. While the company states that the majority of their ingredients are sourced from North America, detailed information regarding their sourcing practices remains limited.
9Lives Cat Food Recall History
Yes, 9Lives has experienced recalls at least twice in its history.
2018
In December 2018, two varieties of 9Lives canned cat food were recalled due to potentially low levels of thiamine (vitamin B1), an essential nutrient for cats.
2017
In early January 2017, several flavors of Meaty Paté canned food were recalled due to a potential thiamine deficiency. The recall was expanded eight days later to include more Meaty Paté flavors. In addition to 9Lives, the recall included two other Big Heart Pet Brands: EverPet and Special Kitty.
What Types of Cat Food Does 9Lives Offer?
9Lives provides a range of options, including six dry cat food varieties and a broad selection of wet food products. The wet food lines include Tender Morsels, Meaty Paté, Protein Plus®, and Hearty Cuts.
However, 9Lives products generally contain ingredients common in budget-friendly cat foods. These include poultry and meat by-products as primary ingredients (often exceeding named meats), plant proteins in all dry food options, and at least one artificial additive in all recipes.
9Lives Cat Food: A Closer Look at the Top 3 Recipes
Let’s examine three popular 9Lives recipes to understand their ingredient composition and nutritional profile.
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9Lives Daily Essentials with Chicken, Beef, & Salmon Flavor | Dry | $0.96 per lb | D |
| 9Lives Protein Plus with Chicken & Tuna Flavors | Dry | $1.03 per lb | D |
| 9Lives Hearty Cuts with Real Beef & Chicken in Gravy | Wet | $0.13 per oz | C |
#1 9Lives Daily Essentials with Chicken, Beef, & Salmon Flavor Review
Chicken by-product meal and corn gluten meal appear to be the primary protein sources.
This dry food, labeled “Daily Essentials,” emphasizes flavors rather than specific ingredients. While it mentions “flavors of chicken, beef, and salmon,” this doesn’t guarantee a significant amount of these ingredients.
Whole ground corn is the first ingredient, followed by chicken by-product meal. Other ingredients include corn gluten meal, soybean meal, and whole wheat, all plant-based protein and carbohydrate sources. Beef fat provides a source of fatty acids.
The food also contains meat and bone meal, animal digest, and salmon meal. It’s colored with artificial dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Blue 2. BHA is used as a preservative, which some studies have linked to potential health concerns.
Overall, this is a plant-heavy kibble with moderate protein, low fat, and high carbohydrate content.
- Ingredients We Liked: Beef Fat
- Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Whole Ground Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Whole Wheat, Meat and Bone Meal, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, BHA, Blue 1, Blue 2
- Common Allergens: Chicken, Beef, Meat and Bone Meal, Fish
#2 9Lives Protein Plus with Chicken & Tuna Flavors Dry Cat Food Review
Chicken by-product meal, soybean meal, and corn gluten meal seem to be the primary protein sources.
9Lives promotes the high protein content of this food. However, “high-quality” protein isn’t specifically defined. Although the food is made “with chicken & tuna flavors,” these are not the primary ingredients.
The first ingredient is whole ground corn, followed by chicken by-product meal. Other ingredients include soybean meal, corn gluten meal, and whole wheat. “Animal fat” is used instead of a named animal source. The food contains a small amount of tuna meal and artificial colors like caramel color, yellow 5, and red 40, along with BHA as a preservative.
Overall, this dry food has moderate protein content, low fat, and high carbohydrate content.
- Ingredients We Liked: None
- Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Whole Ground Corn, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Wheat, Caramel Color, Yellow 5, Red 40, BHA
- Common Allergens: Chicken, Fish
#3 9Lives Hearty Cuts with Real Beef & Chicken in Gravy Canned Cat Food Review
Meat by-products appear to be the primary protein source.
Despite the label “with Real Beef and Chicken,” meat by-products are the second ingredient after water. The “hearty cuts” are a mixture of meat and other ingredients formed into chunks.
Ingredients include soy protein concentrate, wheat flour, modified corn starch, and steamed bone meal. Natural flavor is added for palatability, and caramel color provides a meaty-brown appearance.
Overall, this 9Lives canned cat food is high in protein with low fat and high carbohydrate content.
- Ingredients We Liked: Beef, Chicken
- Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Meat By-Products, Soy Protein Concentrate, Wheat Flour, Modified Corn Starch, Caramel Color
- Common Allergens: Beef, Chicken
What Do Customers Think of 9Lives Cat Food?
While 9Lives generally receives positive reviews on Amazon and Chewy, ConsumerAffairs paints a different picture. Many customers report that their cats became ill after consuming 9Lives, experiencing symptoms like lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, and anemia. Switching to a different cat food brand often resolved these issues.
How Much Does 9Lives Cat Food Cost?
9Lives is among the most affordable cat food brands. Feeding a 10-lb cat 9Lives wet food costs around $0.77 per day, while the dry varieties are significantly cheaper at about $0.10 per day.
Overall, Is 9Lives Cat Food a Good Choice?
While 9Lives is easily accessible and budget-friendly, it may not be the most nutritious option. Plant-based ingredients and potentially harmful additives are present in every recipe. If you’re seeking affordable yet nourishing cat food, consider other budget brands like Friskies, Fancy Feast, and Sheba, which may offer nutritionally superior options.
Where Is 9Lives Cat Food Sold?
9Lives cat food is available at major grocery chains, big box stores, and pet product stores. Online retailers like Amazon and Chewy also carry 9Lives products.
