Frequently asked questions

Wellness diets are designed for generally healthy dogs and cats without specific medical conditions.

Therapeutic diets are formulated for pets with specific health conditions that may benefit from a targeted nutritional plan alongside their other treatments. Because these recipes are more specialized, your veterinarian’s approval is required before we ship a Therapeutic diet.

Highly processed kibble and canned foods are often exposed to high heat and multiple processing steps, which can reduce the natural nutrient content of the ingredients.

Our fresh diets are gently cooked and then flash-frozen to lock in nutrients, flavor, and aroma. That means more real food, more recognizable ingredients, and highly digestible meals that support your pet’s overall health.

Yes! Human-grade diets are made from ingredients that meet human food standards and are prepared in facilities that follow human food handling and safety guidelines.

For your pet, that means:

• More real, recognizable ingredients • Naturally higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants • No feed-grade by-products, meat meals, or artificial preservatives

We source our ingredients from trusted farms and suppliers that meet USDA standards, then cook, portion, and package meals in our USDA / FDA inspected kitchen. You’re essentially feeding your pet food that’s made to the same standards you’d expect for yourself.

A balanced meal provides the right proportions of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals your dog or cat needs for everyday health.

Many traditional pet foods keep pets feeling full but don’t always optimize the balance of nutrients for long-term wellness. Our recipes are formulated to be complete and balanced for their intended life stage, so every meal supports your pet’s energy, immune system, and overall wellbeing.

No. We formulate different recipes for different life stages—and we believe that’s better for pets.

AAFCO recognizes three categories of pet food: adult maintenance, growth/reproduction, and all life stages. Many fresh diets are labeled “All Life Stages” because it’s cheaper to make one formula for every age. But to meet the needs of puppies, adults, and seniors all at once, these diets are often very calorie-dense and may have nutrient levels that are excessive for some pets.

This can contribute to obesity, developmental orthopedic disease from excessive calcium in growing dogs, chronic kidney disease in older pets from excessive protein, and other problems related to excess vitamins and minerals (such as copper storage disease in at-risk breeds).

At Nine & Line, we create separate formulations for different life stages so puppies, adults, and seniors each get what they need—no more, no less.

Our recipes are prepared in our own USDA / FDA inspected kitchen in New Jersey using fresh, wholesome ingredients—we never outsource your pet’s meals to third-party co-packers.

Each ingredient is cooked separately to preserve nutrient quality, then recipes are mixed in small batches for optimal nutrient bioavailability. Meals are portioned, sealed, and flash-frozen just days before shipping so they arrive fresh to your door.

Unlike many dogs, cats are obligate carnivores and need a much higher percentage of meat in their diet. Cats often reject diets that contain too many carbohydrates or too much fiber because their digestive systems aren’t designed to process high-fiber meals.

The increased carbohydrate content of many commercial cat foods is a major risk factor for feline obesity and diabetes. That’s why Nine & Line’s cat formulations are high in protein and low in carbohydrates—to support the health, wellbeing, and longevity of your cat.

If your pet won’t eat their Nine & Line meals or develops vomiting, diarrhea, excessive gas, or constipation, the transition may be moving too fast—or there may be an underlying health issue.

Please contact us or your veterinary team right away. Once medical concerns are ruled out, we may recommend a slower transition, smaller meal changes, or a different recipe. Some pets simply need more time and a gentler approach.

We offer a satisfaction guarantee for first-time customers because we know every pet is different.

Because our meals are perishable, we’re not able to accept returns. However, if you’re dissatisfied with your first order for any reason, email us at service@nineandline.com within 10 days of receiving your box. Depending on the situation, we will either:

• Replace the product with the same or a different recipe, or • Provide a refund of up to 50% of the purchase price.

This satisfaction guarantee applies to first-time diet orders only.