Label states this food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance. Formulation method only — no feeding trial mentioned.
☠ This product's #1 ingredient is 'Meat By-Products' — completely unspecified. Under AAFCO and FDA rules, this can legally include organs, blood, bone, and other parts from ANY mammalian species. Because the species is not named, this ingredient can contain material from 4D animals (dead, dying, diseased, or disabled), euthanized shelter animals, zoo animals, or roadkill. The FDA confirmed pentobarbital (euthanasia drug) in rendered pet food ingredients in 2002 and 2018. 'Poultry By-Products' (unspecified bird species) and 'Fish' (unspecified species) carry similar transparency problems. A manufacturer choosing these ingredients is prioritizing cost over the health and safety of cats.
This is one of the worst cat foods on the market. The #1 ingredient is completely unspecified 'Meat By-Products' with full 4D animal contamination risk. It contains TWO cancer-linked ingredients — Titanium Dioxide and Sodium Nitrite — both present solely to make the food look pretty to human eyes. Brewers rice is a worthless filler for an obligate carnivore. Carrageenan inflames cat intestines. Menadione is a toxic synthetic vitamin banned in human supplements. This formula exists to be cheap, not to nourish cats.
9Lives Meaty Paté Super Supper scores a 21 out of 100 — a hard F grade. This is a product designed to be as cheap as possible, and it shows. The first ingredient is mystery meat by-products from unknown animals. It contains two confirmed carcinogens — Titanium Dioxide (banned in EU food) and Sodium Nitrite — both added purely to make this slop look appetizing to humans. Cats don't care what color their food is. They care about not developing cancer. Brewers rice is literal milling waste with no place in a carnivore's diet. Carrageenan inflames the gut. Menadione is toxic synthetic vitamin K. The J.M. Smucker Company (owner of Big Heart Pet Brands) could reformulate this tomorrow — they choose not to because this formula prints money. The fact that this product has been on shelves 'since 1959' is not a badge of honor; it's a reminder that pet food regulation has historically failed cats. There are significantly better wet cat foods available at similar price points. Cats deserve better than this.