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. - 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. - 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. - 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. - 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 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 2 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 Protein Meal, Whole Wheat, Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Meat And Bone Meal, Natural Flavor (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Salmon Meal, Phosphoric Acid, Salt, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source Of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Titanium Dioxide, Taurine, Yellow 5, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium lodate), Red 40, BHA (Used As A Preservative), Lactic Acid, Yellow 6, Blue 2, Rosemary Extract. LS000
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, 28 lb. Bag UPC 071190477934
Higher-scoring dry food for cats
- Instinct Ultimate Protein Adult Cat Food - Natural, Grain Free, Chicken 89/100 · Excellent
- Instinct Ultimate Protein Cat Food - Grain Free, High Protein, Chicken 89/100 · Excellent
- ACANA Regionals Grain Free Dry Cat Food - Grasslands 87/100 · Excellent
- The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Grain Free Chicken & Fish Cat Food, 4 lb Box 86/100 · Excellent
- Nature's Logic Chicken Meal Feast Dry Cat Food 85/100 · Excellent
More from 9Lives
- 9Lives Seafood & Poultry Favorites Wet Cat Food Variety 66/100 · Good
- 9Lives Kitten Paté With Real Ocean Fish & Tuna Wet Cat Food 64/100 · Good
- 9Lives Meaty Favorites Variety Pack Wet Cat Food 64/100 · Good
- 9Lives Surf & Turf Favorites Wet Cat Food Variety 64/100 · Good
- 9Lives Meaty Paté Super Supper Wet Cat Food, 13 oz. Can, 12 Count - Complete product net content statement, as it appears on product packaging. 61/100 · Good
Scan the bag in your kitchen
Point your phone at any barcode or ingredient label and get the score in seconds. Free, no account needed.
Informational, not veterinary advice. The score is our opinion of a food, built from the facts on its label with our published method. No brand pays to rank higher. Recipes change: check the bag you have, or scan it in the app.
Score version 2026.11.6 · Page updated 2026-11-03