Our Standards
What we include. What we don't. And why.
Complete Means Complete.
All wet and dry food included in Nine Lives Club meets FEDIAF guidelines for complete and balanced nutrition.
We do not include complementary food as meal replacements.
Daily nutrition should meet daily requirements. As a baseline. Not as an upgrade.
What FEDIAF Means
FEDIAF sets nutritional guidelines across the UK and EU to ensure pet food provides the essential nutrients cats require for maintenance and wellbeing.
We use these standards as our minimum requirement.
Our Formulation Principles
Grain-Free by Default
All food included in our boxes is grain-free. We prioritise simple formulations without unnecessary fillers.
Protein-First
Cats are obligate carnivores. We select brands recognised for high animal-protein recipes made with quality meat ingredients.
No Added Salt or Sugar
None of the food in our boxes contains added salt or added sugar. Cats are obligate carnivores with no functional sweet receptor — added sugar serves no nutritional purpose and is purely a palatability shortcut. Added salt risks pushing sodium beyond safe everyday ranges. We prefer recipes that earn their appeal from the meat itself.
FEDIAF Compliant
All wet and dry food included in our boxes meets FEDIAF guidelines for complete and balanced nutrition. We use these standards as our minimum requirement, not a differentiator.
WhatYou Won't Find Here
Incomplete food positioned as full daily meals
Grain-heavy bulk fillers
Added salt or sugar for palatability
Low-protein staple diets
Endless unfiltered product catalogues
We curate. We don't aggregate.
How Brands Earn a Place in Our Boxes
We evaluate brands based on:
- Nutritional completeness
- Ingredient transparency
- Consistency in formulation
- Compliance with recognised standards
Ownership structure or size does not determine inclusion.
Nutritional integrity does.
Add-on Partners
Care Beyond the Bowl
3% Shelter Support
We donate 3% of profits to verified UK cat shelters and rescue organisations.
Responsible Selection
Where possible, we prioritise brands that demonstrate transparency in sourcing and manufacturing.
