9 Lives Cat Food Review 2025: Tasty & Economical Cat Food

One of the most popular cat food brands in world, 9 Lives probably has the most recognizable packaging among all brands. They are endorsed by none other than Morris the cat.

With every pack and can signed by “the world’s most finicky cat”, it is no wonder the brand has taken one of the top spots in the cat food market.

To find out if this brand is good enough for your own finicky kitty, we have created this 2025 9 Lives cat food review of the brand’s top-rated products on Amazon.com.

Launched by then owner StarKist Foods in 1959, 9Lives was the first to offer wet cat food in the US. They launched variants such as the Meaty Paté Super Supper wet food that is still available to this day.

9 Lives is now owned by Big Heart Pet Brands of the J.M. Smucker Company. The company also owns other brands of cat food such as Meow Mix and Rachael Ray Nutrish.

The brand is not just about selling cat food. The company is known for supporting and promoting the adoption of shelter cats. Morris himself was a shelter cat before becoming an advertising icon.

The brand advocates the adoption of rescued kitties, works with shelters, and donates food and money to help support the cause.

Who makes 9Lives cat food?

The brand’s dry cat food products are manufactured in Pennsylvania and Kansas. Their wet variants are made in the US, with some made in international facilities. The ingredients are sourced mostly in North America.

9 Lives offers both wet and dry cat foods. The brand’s dry foods come in 5 variants. Their wet cat foods are available in 4 different textures with various flavors. Read the comprehensive review below to help you pick the right food for your kitty.

The review is based on quality of ingredients, affordability, results delivered, as well as feedback from other cat parents.

9 Lives Cat Food Comparison

Reviewed 9 Lives Cat Foods

1. 9Lives Daily Essentials Dry Cat Food
2. 9Lives Plus Care Dry Cat Food
3. 9Lives Indoor Complete Dry Cat Food
4. 9Lives Tender Morsels Canned Cat Food
5. 9Lives Hearty Cuts Canned Cat Food
6. 9Lives Meaty Paté Canned Cat Food

9Lives Cat Food Review

1. 9Lives Daily Essentials Dry Food

Daily Essentials is the brand’s kibble for healthy felines of all life stages. It is enriched with vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced nutrition. The first in its list of ingredients is whole ground corn. This cat food has omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat; taurine for eye and heart health.

The first five ingredients of this cat food product are whole ground corn, chicken by-product meal, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, and beef fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols).

Guaranteed Analysis

Pros

Tasty. Daily Essentials is very popular with kitties. This cat food even passed the high standards of some known finicky kitties, according to their owners.

Its ingredients include chicken by-product meal, meat and bone meal, and salmon meal. The flavor is enhanced by adding beef fat and rosemary extract in the ingredients. It really is no wonder kitties love this cat food.

Affordable. 9 Lives has some of the most affordable cat food in the market. Many cat owners find great value in this cat food as their pets are happy to eat Daily Essentials, and they save a lot of money too.

Cons

Plant ingredients. According to a few reviews, they find that this cat food contains too much carbohydrates from plant sources in its ingredients. Some if its protein are from plant-based ingredients as well, such as soybean meal and corn gluten meal. This product also has whole ground corn as the first in its first ingredients.

Conclusion

Daily Essentials is a dry food product that is popular among kitties for being tasty, and among cat owners for being affordable. It has been the dry cat food of choice for people who have quite a number of feline mouths to feed.

Looking at its protein content, it really is not so bad at a minimum of 30% crude protein. However, a few reviews note that it has too much plant-based ingredients.

2. 9Lives Plus Care Dry Food

This cat food product is specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of older kitties. The first in its list of ingredients is whole ground corn. This cat food helps support the digestive system and promotes a healthy immune system. It supports urinary health by reducing the urinary pH.

The first five ingredients of this cat food are whole ground corn, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, whole wheat, and animal digest.

Guaranteed Analysis

Pros

Helps resolve urinary issues. This product has received numerous positive reviews from owners of kitties who were suffering from various urinary issues such as blockages, infections, and crystals.

Many have also used it as maintenance after being on a prescribed diet. The cat parents noticed a huge improvement in the health of their kitties. They were also able to save a lot of money from vet bills and expensive prescription foods.

Cats love it! Many cat parents are having a hard time looking for a urinary tract health food that their picky felines would like. A lot of them have found the perfect solution in this product. Not only is it inexpensive, but kitties actually enjoy eating it.

Cons

Small kibbles. A few customers find the kibbles of this dry cat food too small. Their pets end up swallowing the food without chewing them well.

Conclusion

This is a good dry cat food product to try for picky felines who need urinary health food. Many kitties who were previously suffering from urinary conditions have thrived on this brand.

Cat parents who could not get their kitties to eat food made especially for urinary health found success with this particular product. However, some find the kibbles to small. As this is a dry cat food made for senior kitties, the kibbles are designed to be smaller and easier to chew.

3. 9Lives Indoor Complete Dry Food

This product is specially formulated for the nutritional needs of indoor pets. It is designed to help maintain their weight and support digestive health. The first in its list of ingredients is whole ground corn. It also has real salmon and chicken in its ingredients for the protein felines require.

The first five ingredients are whole ground corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, and whole wheat.

Guaranteed Analysis

Pros

No hairballs. This 9Lives dry cat food product has received good feedback from cat parents of numerous indoor kitties. The problem of hairballs seems to have been resolved or reduced since the pets were fed this 9Lives product.

More active kitties. Some cat owners have noticed that their pets have shown more activity since they were switched to this dry cat food.

Cons

First ingredient is not meat. According to some reviews, they find that this product is of inferior quality compared to other dry cat foods due the fact that the first of its ingredients is whole ground corn instead of animal protein. Chicken by-product meal is actually the primary source of protein and is listed as the second of its ingredients.

Conclusion

This food has received good feedback from owners of indoor cats as far as results are concerned. It has been able to resolve the common problem of hairballs for many kitties.

Some pets have even been noticeably more active after being regularly fed this product. Some customers however, find this product of lower quality compared to other brands because of its ingredients. This mainly due to the fact that animal protein is not the first in the list of ingredients.

4. 9Lives Canned Cat Food – Tender Morsels 

9Lives Tender Morsels with Real Turkey & Giblets in Sauce is made with real real turkey and giblets in its ingredients. It contains vitamins and minerals that kitties need for an active lifestyle.

The rich, meaty flavor is enhanced with the inclusion of real chicken in the ingredients. On top of its ingredients is turkey. This wet food can be given to cats and kittens of all life stages.

The first five ingredients are water sufficient for processing, meat by products, turkey, chicken & soy protein concentrate.

Guaranteed Analysis

Pros

Kitties’ favorite. Tuna has been one of the popular flavors of food among kitties. This savory product is no exception. Kitties go crazy for this turkey canned cat food. The most abundant among all of its ingredients is real turkey and chicken. According to a cat parent’s review, his pets nearly tackled him before he could put the food in their bowls.

Good price. Cat parents love that this wet cat food is quite affordable. This food is made with visibly real turkey. As such, this product certainly offers great value for its price. Kitties enjoy having their nutritious, hydrating meals, and their owners don’t need to spend a lot.

Easy open. This canned cat food has a pop-off lid like most canned cat food. Cat parents are finding this feature very convenient.

Cons

Picky eaters may not like it. This canned cat food has received not-so-great reviews about the sizing of the turkey morsels. Others complained it being too big for their kitties. Plus finicky cats seem to not like it.

Conclusion

This wet cat food is loved by numerous kitties. The real turkey & chicken in its ingredients make it extra tasty, and provides the protein that felines need. The kitties enjoy their meals, and their owners save money as it is also affordable.

5. 9Lives Hearty Cuts

This canneed goody is a tasty, meaty dinner served in gravy. It contains real beef and chicken in its ingredients for a protein-packed meal. The gravy provides extra moisture that felines need.

The first five ingredients of this cat food are water sufficient for processing, meat by-products, chicken, beef, and soy protein concentrate.

Guaranteed Analysis

Pros

Meat slices. Cats who prefer chewing solid pieces of meat love this gravy treat. Unlike other canned food labeled with chunk or cuts, some cats are disappointed to get shreds of meat instead. This canned food serves tasty, meaty slices in rich gravy. The ingredients include real chicken and beef.

Liked even by picky kitties. This wet cat food offers a flavorful, hydrating food to kitties. Some finicky cats even refuse to eat anything other than this canned food from this brand. Pets love licking the gravy, which is a great way to keep them hydrated.

Cons

More gravy, please. Some cat owners find this canned food slightly too dry. They would love it if it came with more gravy.

Conclusion

This is another product from the brand that is also popular with kitties. The meat cuts or slices are preferred by cats who are not fans of shreds or mince type of textures.

It has even passed the high standards of some very fussy eaters. The gravy is quite tasty too, so tasty that some wish there were more in every can.

6. 9Lives Meaty Paté Super Supper

Super Supper is a protein-packed wet cat food has real fish and chicken in its ingredients. Fortified with vitamins and minerals, this paté provides complete and balanced nutrition with moisture that cats need.

The first in the list of ingredients is meat by-products. This wet food has a smooth and moist texture. Perfect for kitties of all life stages from young kittens to oldies with less teeth than they used to have.

The first five ingredients of Super Supper are meat by-products, water sufficient for processing, poultry by-products, fish, and chicken.

Guaranteed Analysis

Pros

Healthier skin and coat. According to reviews, some cats who were regularly fed with this meaty paté grew soft, shiny coats. Some who previously suffered from itchy, flaky skin even had significant improvements in their skin quality.

Great flavor. Super Supper seems to be the perfect mix of chicken and fish flavors. Cats seem to love this paté. It is also packed with moisture which makes it smooth and effortless to chew – perfect for kittens and even senior cats.

Cons

Carrageenan. This wet cat food has carrageenan in its ingredients. Some experts claim that this additive may possibly contribute to certain medical conditions in cats. For this reason, more and more cat parents tend to avoid buying wet cat food that has this additive in its ingredients.

Conclusion

Super Supper is a tasty wet cat food that lots of kitties enjoy. They just love the flavor of chicken and fish in this paté. Some cats who had dry, flaky skin now have healthy skin and coat after being switched to this wet cat food. However, this product has carrageenan in its ingredients. Some cat parents prefer not to buy products that has this ingredient.

Summary

This company has been around for more than 60 years. Many cats have thrived on their products for decades. Their cat foods are available in almost every supermarket across the globe. It is not only easy to find, but it is also affordable. Even on a tight budget, you’d still be able to provide your cats’ meals with this brand.

As far as quality of ingredients is concerned, the brand may not have the best in the market. The products are able to provide vitamins and minerals through supplements needed by cats without the inclusion of vegetables and fruits typically found in natural pet food products’ ingredients.

Their products include animal by-product meals along with real meat in its ingredients. While animal by-products meals are sources of protein, some find this an indication of inferior quality.

Their dry cat foods have whole ground corn as the first of its ingredients. All of their products contain artificial enhancers such as food dye in the ingredients.

Many cat owners buy their products because it makes their cats happy. We have to admit that keeping fussy cats happy and healthy can be quite a challenge. It is not uncommon to see reviews stating that their cats eat nothing else. The brand has definitely captured the taste of some very finicky kitties.

With regard to results delivered, the company has its own supporters. Their cats have thrived on the products by having noticeably healthy skin and coats. Their Indoor Complete dry cat food has received rave reviews for eradicating hairballs.

No need for hairball treats or laxatives. Some have even noticed more active and playful pets. Plus Care has received many reviews about the significant improvement it has given to their cats’ urinary health.

Overall, 9Lives is an economical brand that cats love. Affordable and easy to find, there is less worry of scrambling to find the cat a meal in case of emergency, or you know, forgetting to buy cat food.

As with all pet products, every cat is different. What works for one may not work for your cat, in the same way that a specific brand a pet got very sick on may not have the same effect on yours.

It is always best to follow the feeding guide when transitioning your cat to new food. And of course, we mustn’t forget to provide them with a bowl of fresh water.