← Furry PI — cat food detective

9Lives Daily Essentials

Dry food · Adult Maintenance

F

Furry PI's verdict

9Lives Daily Essentials doesn't hold up well under the magnifying glass. Grains lead the ingredient list. On balance, most cats are better served by stronger options — the app can suggest better-graded foods of the same type.

What's concerning

  • The ingredient list leads with grains — whole ground corn and corn gluten meal — rather than animal protein.
  • Contains phosphoric acid — an ingredient our database flags as genuinely problematic for cats.
  • Artificial colours or preservatives on the label — titanium dioxide, Red 40 and Yellow 5.

The grade is only the cover of the case file. The free app shows the full 100-point breakdown, every flagged ingredient, and better-graded alternatives for your cat.

Open the full investigation — free

Nutrition from the label (as fed)

Protein30%
Fat9%
Fiber3%
Moisture12%
Ash*8%
Carbs (estimated)*38%

Label: guaranteed analysis (min/max). * not printed on the label — carbs are calculated, ash/moisture estimated from typical values. How these numbers translate into calories from protein vs carbs — and how this food scores on each pillar — is shown in the app.

Quick answers

Is 9Lives Daily Essentials grain-free?
No — the label lists whole ground corn, corn gluten meal and whole wheat.
What are the first ingredients in 9Lives Daily Essentials?
The label opens with whole ground corn, chicken by-product meal and soybean meal. Ingredients are listed by weight, so the first few carry the most.
Does it contain artificial colours or preservatives?
Yes — the label lists titanium dioxide, Red 40 and Yellow 5.

More from 9Lives

Grades come from a fixed, formula-based method — the same for every food, never paid for. About Furry PI

Furry PI analyses food labels and isn't a substitute for veterinary advice.