Scanned by Randall Saunders · April 12, 2026
9Lives 9Lives Meaty Paté Super Supper
21/100
Grade F — Avoid at All Costs
📦 Product Overview
Brand9Lives
TypeCat Food - Wet/Soft
Life Stageadult
Size5.5 oz can (estimated from standard 9Lives can sizes)
AAFCO Compliant✅ Yes
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.
☠ Rendering / 4D Animal Warning
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.
🧪 Ingredient Breakdown
❌Meat By-Products
Unspecified 'meat by-products' — the #1 ingredient is the lowest tier of animal protein. This can legally include organs, heads, feet, intestines, and other scraps from unknown species including 4D animals (dead, dying, diseased, disabled). No species named. Massive red flag.
−3 pts
✅Water Sufficient for Processing
Standard for wet/canned food. Required for pâté texture.
❌Poultry By-Products
Unspecified poultry — could be any bird. Heads, feet, undeveloped eggs, intestines. No species transparency.
−3 pts
✅Chicken
Named whole meat — the only decent protein source on this label, but it appears third after two unnamed by-products. In a wet food, its contribution is limited due to water weight.
❌Fish
Unspecified 'fish' — which species? Could be any fish including bycatch, farmed waste fish, or high-mercury species. Zero transparency.
−3 pts
❌Brewers Rice
Fragments of rice kernels separated from milled rice — literally the dust and broken pieces left over from rice processing. Zero nutritional value in cat food. A cheap filler in an obligate carnivore's diet.
−3 pts
🟡Poultry By-Product Meal
Rendered, unspecified poultry by-products. At least it's a concentrated protein, but the species is not named. Could be any bird.
−1 pts
🟡Dried Whey Product
Dairy-derived protein. Cats are often lactose intolerant. May cause GI upset in sensitive cats.
−1 pts
☠️Titanium Dioxide
CANCER AGENT. A white pigment used purely for cosmetic purposes — to make the food look lighter/whiter for human eyes. Banned from food in the European Union due to DNA damage risk. Absolutely no reason for this to be in cat food.
−8 pts
✅Guar Gum
Natural thickener/binder. Generally safe in small amounts.
✅Salt
Sodium source. Acceptable in appropriate amounts.
✅Sodium Tripolyphosphate
Dental health additive and emulsifier. Generally recognized as safe.
✅Potassium Chloride
Potassium supplement. Standard.
✅Choline Chloride
Essential B-vitamin. Required nutrient.
⚠Carrageenan
Linked to intestinal inflammation in cats. Multiple studies show GI irritation. Especially concerning in a food fed daily.
−2 pts
✅Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin)
Standard vitamin premix. Required for complete and balanced formulation.
⚠Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Synthetic Vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements in many countries due to toxicity concerns. Linked to liver damage and allergic reactions. Most quality cat food brands use natural Vitamin K sources instead.
−2 pts
✅Taurine
Essential amino acid for cats — mandatory. Good that it's supplemented, but this also signals the meat ingredients are so low-quality they don't provide sufficient natural taurine.
✅Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite)
Standard mineral premix. Sodium selenite is the cheaper inorganic form of selenium — selenium yeast would be better.
⚠Sodium Selenite
Inorganic selenium. Toxic in excess. The cheap form — organic selenium yeast is far safer and more bioavailable.
−2 pts
☠️Sodium Nitrite
CANCER AGENT. Listed as 'to promote color retention' — it's literally here to keep the pâté looking pink/red. Forms carcinogenic nitrosamines under heat. There is absolutely zero justification for putting a known carcinogen in cat food for cosmetic purposes.
−8 pts
⚖ What's Good / What's Bad
Good
✅ Contains named whole chicken (though only 3rd ingredient)
✅ Taurine is supplemented (mandatory for cats)
✅ Complete vitamin and mineral premix included
✅ Wet food format provides hydration (important for cats)
Bad
❌ First ingredient is unspecified 'Meat By-Products' — unknown species, 4D animal risk
❌ Contains two known cancer agents: Titanium Dioxide and Sodium Nitrite — both present solely for cosmetic color purposes
❌ Unspecified 'Poultry By-Products' and unspecified 'Fish' — zero transparency
❌ Brewers Rice — a worthless filler in an obligate carnivore's food
❌ Carrageenan — linked to intestinal inflammation in cats
❌ Menadione Sodium Bisulfite — toxic synthetic Vitamin K banned in human supplements
❌ Sodium Selenite — cheap inorganic selenium with toxicity risk
❌ The primary protein source is an unspecified by-product, not real named meat
🧬 Potential Cancer-Linked Ingredients
☠️
Titanium Dioxide −8 pts — White pigment banned from food in the EU due to DNA damage. Used purely for cosmetic color. Known genotoxin.
☠️
Sodium Nitrite −8 pts — Forms carcinogenic nitrosamines when heated. Listed explicitly 'to promote color retention' — a cosmetic purpose. Known carcinogen in processed meats.
📊 Score Breakdown
Start score100 pts
Ingredient penalties−36 pts
❌ No named whole-meat protein in top 3 ingredients (Meat By-Products, Water, Poultry By-Products — none are named whole meat)−20 pts
❌ Primary protein source is an unspecified by-product (Meat By-Products)−15 pts
❌ Artificial colors present (Titanium Dioxide and Sodium Nitrite used for color retention)−8 pts
Final score21/100
💬 The Verdict
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.
🧨 Final Verdict
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.