9Lives Daily Essentials Dry Cat Food with Chicken, Beef & Salmon Flavors
Dry food for cats · All life stages · by 9Lives
The label states it is complete and balanced (AAFCO).
See the full breakdown in Beagly
What to watch for
- BHA High risk
A synthetic preservative that keeps fats from going rancid. The U.S. National Toxicology Program lists BHA as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen' based on animal studies. Natural alternatives (mixed tocopherols) exist. - Meat and bone meal Moderate risk
Rendered mammal tissue including bone, from unnamed species. High in minerals (ash) and usually less digestible than a named meat meal. - Titanium dioxide Moderate risk
A white pigment. In 2021 EFSA concluded it could no longer be considered safe as a human food additive because DNA damage could not be ruled out. It adds nothing for dogs. - Menadione sodium bisulfite complex Moderate risk
A synthetic form of vitamin K (K3). EFSA concluded it is safe for dogs at the levels used in feed, but it is flagged as a precaution: it is a synthetic form not used in human supplements, and natural vitamin K1 is an alternative. - Red 40 Moderate risk
An artificial color added to make food look appealing to people; dogs do not care what color their food is. It was one of the dyes in a well-known UK study linking color mixes to hyperactivity in some children. - Yellow 5 Moderate risk
An artificial color added to make food look appealing to people; dogs do not care what color their food is. It can cause sensitivity reactions in some people and was part of the UK hyperactivity study. - Yellow 6 Moderate risk
An artificial color added to make food look appealing to people; dogs do not care what color their food is. It was part of the UK hyperactivity study in children. - Blue 1 Moderate risk
An artificial color added to make food look appealing to people; dogs do not care what color their food is. It serves no nutritional purpose.
What it does well
- Complete & balanced
Meets an AAFCO nutrient profile. - Taurine added
Cats need taurine in their diet; this label lists it.
Ingredients
Whole Ground Corn, Chicken By-product Meal, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Fat (preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Whole Wheat, Meat & Bone Meal, Animal Digest, Salmon Meal, Phosphoric Acid, Salt, Titanium Dioxide (color), Choline Chloride, Vitamins (vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, D-calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source Of Vitamin K Activity), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin), Minerals (ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Red 40, Taurine, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Bha (used As A Preservative), Blue 1, Blue 2, Rosemary Extract.
Guaranteed analysis
| Crude protein (min) | 28% |
|---|---|
| Crude fat (min) | 9% |
| Crude fiber (max) | 3% |
| Moisture (max) | 12% |
| Calcium (min) | 1.1% |
| Phosphorus (min) | 0.9% |
| Calories | 3,400 kcal/kg |
What the label cannot tell you
- Ingredient order is by weight before cooking; fresh meat counts water.
Sizes and barcodes
- 9Lives Daily Essentials Dry Cat Food with Chicken, Beef & Salmon Flavors, 20 lb. Bag UPC 071190477965
- 9Lives Daily Essentials Dry Cat Food with Chicken, Beef & Salmon Flavors, 3.15 lb. Bag UPC 071190478436
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Score version 2026.11.6 · Page updated 2026-11-03