9 Lives Cat Food Review

9 Lives has a long history of caring for cats, with over 60 years as a trusted cat food brand that has supported the nutritional needs of cats everywhere. And actually, they’re considered to be one of the leading labels in the cat food industry. 9 Lives believe all cats deserve to live a good life, and that includes good food, good health, and a good home. 

Founded in 1957, 9 Lives was the first wet cat food brand in the U.S. and they eventually went on to produce dry cat food. With a variety of offerings and products, 9 Lives has been fundamentally committed to making food that meets specific nutritional needs and tastes, all at an affordable price. 

They are well known for their signature orange tabby spokescat, Morris the Cat. In 1968, this adorable feline became the face of the brand after they adopted him from a shelter. And after television advertisements, he became a cherished advertising pet icon. 

9 Lives is owned and operated by Big Heart Pet Brands, a subsidiary of the J.M. Smucker Company. They manufacture their products in facilities located in Pennsylvania and Kansas. However, their wet cat food production is split between facilities in the U.S. and internationally. 

They’re more than just a cat food brand; 9 Lives is exceptional because of their passion and commitment to social responsibility. They have consistently advocated for the adoption of rescue cats, have worked closely with shelters, and frequently donate both time and money to the cause.

Now that you have more background on 9 Lives, it’s time to learn more about their products. To help you decide on whether their cat food is the right fit for your feline, we’ve reviewed their highest-rated dry and wet cat food below. 

If you have a sweet indoor cat that you want to spoil while also maintaining their health, this dry kibble is exactly what you’ve been looking for. It’s specifically crafted with an Advanced Nutrient System to help indoor cats maintain good digestive health and a healthy weight. The main animal protein ingredients are delicious, premium cuts of salmon and chicken that provide the essential amino acids your cat needs to thrive.

Besides lean protein, it’s further enriched with B vitamins, flavorful green vegetables, and fiber to help control hairballs in your cat. This recipe provides the ultimate balanced and complete diet for indoor cats. Even better, it’s incredibly delicious and easy on their digestive tract with 12% moisture, considerably higher compared to other dry cat food products.

9 Lives Indoor Complete with Chicken & Salmon Flavor Dry Cat Food contains 305 calories per cup.

Check out the complete list of best dry cat food >

This variety pack is full of protein-rich wet cat food that contains real fish and chicken. With flavors like Real Ocean Whitefish, Super Supper, and Real Chicken & Tuna—there’s plenty to satisfy your cat’s cravings and preferences. Not to mention, each recipe offers 100% complete nutrition for kittens and adults.

These formulas are moist and meaty, making them irresistible to a cat’s senses. Whether it’s made with real chicken, tuna, or ocean whitefish, they all provide the essential protein that your cat needs to survive and thrive. And because they are canned varieties, they provide decent hydration to support your kitty’s digestive tract.

In addition to the main protein sources, each recipe is fortified with additional taurine to boost the functionality of your cat’s vision and heart health. Perfect for cats of all life-stages, this is a hit with felines everywhere.

9 Lives Seafood & Poultry Favorites contains 168 calories per can.

Check out the complete list of best wet cat food >

9 Lives has been involved with a few recalls over the years. But that’s expected for a company that has been in the industry for a long time. Recalls are a good thing to be aware of, but they can happen for a variety of reasons. 

Here’s a brief snapshot of the brand’s recall history, starting with the most recent: 

2020

This recall affected specific batches of 9 Lives Protein Plus wet canned food due to low levels of thiamine, an essential B1 vitamin for cats. No illnesses were reported and these were recalled out of precautionary measures. 

2018

Some varieties of 9 Lives cat food were recalled this year due to potentially low levels of thiamine. 

2017

Several flavors of 9 Lives canned food were recalled due to low levels of thiamine. This recall was also expanded 8 days later to include more products. 

9 Lives has been recalled three times, with March 11, 2020 being the most recent incident. Its mother company J.M. Smucker’s most recent recall happened on July 3, 2020.

We have analyzed 102 of Blue Buffalo cat food products on Chewy. We took into account ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, price, product variety, customer experience, and recall history. All of these factors combined produced an overall brand score, ratings for their wet and dry food lines (maybe), as well as individual product ratings.