1st Choice cat food: reviews and composition review + Video and Photo

general information

First Choice dry food is a super-premium product, i.e. it occupies the 3rd quality position out of a possible 4. Production plants are located in Canada, which increases confidence in ready-made diets. Representatives of PLB International claim that their products meet all requirements of the American Association for Feed Control (AAFCO).

The logo is present on all 1st Choice food packaging

The manufacturer also produces the First Choice line for dogs. Another brand of the company is Pronature. This brand produces super-premium and holistic category food.

Cost of cat food "Fest Choice"

Dry food "Fest Choice" has several types of packaging of different weights, taking this into account, the cost of the product is as follows:

• three hundred and fifty grams - from one hundred and eighty rubles;
• nine hundred grams - from four hundred and fifty rubles;
• two kilograms seven hundred twenty grams - from one thousand two hundred rubles;
• five kilograms four hundred and forty grams - from two thousand fifty-eight rubles.

A jar of wet food costs ninety rubles.

Table: advantages and disadvantages of Fest Choice food

"Fest Choice" does not contain components that are addictive in animals. And if for some reason you want to change it, you can try food from other super premium brands, for example:

1. Arden Grange food, produced in Great Britain - the general analysis of the product is approximately the same, there is grain-free food based on white fish and potatoes, many natural additives, but the price is higher.
2. Blitz food (Russia) - the animal protein content in the food is higher (chicken and turkey - twenty-seven percent), but corn is present; preservatives and antioxidants of natural origin, many other additives, including Yucca Schidigera; the cost of production is significantly lower.

Analysis of the composition of the First Choice feed

To carry out the analysis, we will analyze in detail the composition of one of the dry foods. We will not consider canned food, because they have a meager list of ingredients. They are not used as a main dish.

For example, let’s take First Choice Vitality food as a sample. It consists of the following components:

1. Fresh chicken (17%). This is better than just “chicken” or “poultry”, but worse than dehydrated meat. Carcasses, offal and individual parts of the animal's body are used, so the quality of the ingredient can be either high or low. After the water evaporates, the chicken share will drop to 3-4%.
2. Chicken flour (17%). In the original English, this ingredient is listed as "chicken meal", which corresponds to "chicken meal", not "chicken meal". This is a marketing ploy that borders on deceiving the buyer. While the quality of meat meal can be low or high depending on the raw material, and the overall component is similar to dehydrated meat, then chicken meal is a questionable ingredient.
3. Rice. In small quantities it is useful due to its carbohydrate and fiber content, but in this case it is used as a cheap filler. Grains should not represent the majority of a cat's diet. Rice is tolerated by the animal's body better than corn or wheat, so the food is safe for pets prone to allergies.
4. Pea protein. Safer than soy, since it is less likely to cause allergies, but its presence in the composition is questionable. Pea protein is often used as a cheap source of protein. Plant amino acids are absorbed much worse by the cat's body.
5. Chicken fat preserved with a mixture of natural tocopherols (vitamin E). A standard ingredient found in most similar products. It is commendable that the manufacturer indicates the source of origin of the component.
6. Beet pulp. Contains plant fiber, helps cleanse the intestines and promotes the development of natural microflora.
7. Brown rice Better than standard product. Unpolished rice contains minerals (potassium, calcium and magnesium) and plant proteins. It contains no gluten, so the food is less likely to cause allergies in animals. However, this is still a cereal, and its presence in the composition is undesirable.
8. Specially processed barley and oat kernels. It's really just pearled barley and oat groats. The unusual name in Russian is a marketing ploy that increases the attractiveness of additional types of cereals in the composition.
9. Dried egg. Contains animal proteins and B vitamins. Not a bad ingredient.
10. Chicken liver hydrolysate. Used to increase the taste and aroma appeal of food. The component is natural, so it does not pose a threat to life and health.
11. Whole flax seed. Elite component. Whole flax seed is better than just flax seed because the seeds are used in their original form. This allows you to retain more nutrients. Flax seed is primarily used to maintain gastrointestinal health. Mucous substances envelop the internal membranes and prevent their damage. Additionally, the seeds stimulate digestion and improve peristalsis.
12. Salmon fat. Good ingredient. Contains unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3), which have a beneficial effect on all organs, including the brain, central nervous system and immune system.
13. Dried tomato pulp. It contains practically no useful substances, but is a source of fiber. Cleanses the intestines.
14. Pea fiber. In small quantities it helps improve digestion.
15. Potassium chloride. A safe emulsifier that helps give food a specific texture.
16. Yeast extract (source of mannan-oligosaccharides). Contains prebiotics and polysaccharides. The latter improve immunity.
17. Yucca Schidigera extract. Helps destroy bacteria, therefore reduces the smell of feces and normalizes digestion.
18. Dried mint (0.01%), dried parsley (0.01%) and green tea extract (0.01%). Theoretically, they help freshen breath. Since cats do not chew food thoroughly, the effect is questionable.

It also contains vitamins, minerals and amino acids. In fact, food should be positioned between premium and super-premium. It contains therapeutic additives and virtually no potentially dangerous substances, but it does not meet the needs of the cat's body. Carnivores need meat, not grains. The food does not contain quality sources of animal proteins. The proportion of meat components is artificially high due to fresh chicken.

Ideally, the share of meat components in the animal’s diet should be about 80%; in 1st Choice dry food their amount in dehydrated form barely reaches 20–25%

Taurine in the composition also raises doubts. His presence is a disadvantage and an advantage at the same time. In the complete absence of a component, the condition of the animal’s visual organs and immune system worsens. In high-quality food, taurine is not included separately, since it is present in meat components. Its presence indicates an insufficient proportion of ingredients of animal origin.

Distrust in the manufacturer is caused by dubious marketing moves. They border on deceiving the buyer, since “chicken meal” and “chicken flour” are 2 completely different ingredients. They try to present the presence of barley and oats as an advantage of the product, but in reality it is a disadvantage. Fresh meat at the top of the ingredient list is also undesirable, as it gives the wrong impression to buyers.

Assortment line of feed "Fest Choice"

Feed "Fest Choice" is a super premium food, this is clearly visible from its composition. The food is well balanced, contains fresh chicken (or duck), vegetable protein (peas), does not include soy, corn and wheat. Chicken flour has a low ash content, which indicates good quality. The source of fat is chicken and salmon, which also indicates good quality of food. Fiber, which promotes weight control, is provided by beet pulp and peas. Sources of carbohydrates include white and brown rice, flax seeds, and oat grains. Green tea extract, parsley and mint help maintain dental health. The addition of Yucca Schidigera reduces the odor from the tray as it binds ammonia. A variety of nutritional supplements are used as a preventive measure to maintain the health of pets: reducing the likelihood of atherosclerosis, obesity, improving vision and heart function, increasing immunity, reducing the acidity of urine (all supplements are of natural origin).

Table: description of the composition of dry food "Fest Choice"

Photo gallery: Fest Choice food line

Chicken based food for sterilized cats

Chicken based food for adult cats

Chicken-based food for older and inactive cats

New grain-free chicken-based food for sterilized cats

Chicken-based food with reduced magnesium, calcium and phosphorus content for the prevention of urolithiasis

Grain-free duck food for cats with digestive problems

Salmon-based food with a high content of fatty acids to improve the condition of the skin and coat

Chicken-based food designed to improve immunity, stabilize digestion and optimize weight

Chicken-based food is intended for complementary feeding of kittens from two months

The packaging of dry food contains a table of nutritional norms; it may differ for different types of food (there is a measuring cup to correctly determine the portion).

Table: nutritional standards for grain-free anti-allergenic food (for adult animals)

Table: canned food (eighty-five grams)

The following ingredients are added to each of the Fest Choice canned food (quantities are given per kilogram of product):

• vitamin A - eight thousand nine hundred and sixty international units;
• vitamin D3 - one thousand eight hundred international units;
• vitamin E - thirty milligrams;
• iron - seventy-nine milligrams;
• calcium - thirty-five hundredths of a milligram;
• copper - five milligrams;
• manganese - six point six milligrams;
• zinc - seventy-four milligrams;
• selenium - ninety-five thousandths of a milligram.

Calorie content of any wet food: seventy-eight kilocalories per hundred grams.

All Fest Choice wet food has the same type of packaging, weighing eighty-five grams

To feed cats, you can use up to two cans per day when combined with dry food. Opened wet food can only be stored in the refrigerator for no more than forty-eight hours.

When using ready-made food, the cat should always have access to clean water to drink.

Advantages and disadvantages of food

The advantages of the food include the following factors:

1. Availability of percentage of components. This helps to evaluate the composition and quality of the product. Having specific information creates trust.
2. The presence of grain-free food in the line. Diets with vegetables are less likely to cause allergies. They usually contain more nutrients, but in this case the proportion of meat components is approximately the same. Cereals are replaced with potatoes.
3. A wide range of. It is easier for buyers to choose the optimal product for their pet, taking into account the characteristics and needs.
4. Meat components are in first place. There are foods in which the proportion of animal products is even lower, so this can still be called an advantage.
5. Poor choice in terms of types of meat used. Most of the products contain chicken and fish; the grain-free, hypoallergenic food contains duck. If the animal is allergic to all these types of meat, you will have to choose a different food.

The disadvantages of the product include the following factors:

1. Attempts to deceive the buyer. It's not yet a scam, but changing the names of components and trying to portray flaws in a different light is misleading.
2. Relatively low meat content in dry matter. The proportion of fresh product decreases after evaporation of water, and chicken meal additionally contains waste: bones, beaks, claws, etc.
3. High proportion of cereals. In most feeds they occupy several of the high positions. In total this is more than the amount of meat.
4. Not all therapeutic feeds can be used for the intended purposes. For example, theoretically, hypoallergenic food should be a complete diet, but it cannot be used for a long time due to the almost complete absence of meat in the composition.
5. Wet food is identical to each other. Only the taste is different. There are no foods with low or high calorie content, various therapeutic additives, etc.
6. There are no natural antioxidants in most foods. Tocopherols and rosemary could help reduce the amount of salt in the feed. Excess sodium negatively affects the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and urinary systems.
7. The presence of a potentially dangerous preservative in the composition. The manufacturer uses sodium bisulfate (E222) to extend the shelf life of products. The preservative is also added to sausages and processed into fruits, but it is assigned a third degree of danger. With prolonged use and accumulation of the substance, gastrointestinal problems, kidney stones, dental defects and allergic reactions may occur.

I once bought First Choice food because of my inexperience, and the choice was small. It was difficult to find holistic products in pet stores, and at that time I did not trust online resources. Nothing bad happened to the cats, it’s still better than Whiskas or Royal Canin. However, there is nothing particularly good about the food. Now I would not buy it because of the weak composition and inflated price. On average, 1 kg costs 500 rubles. (RUR 600 for grain-free formulas), but for the same money you can find a better option. First Choice food should only be purchased by animals with very sensitive digestion and who are not suitable for holistic diets. Due to the use of barley, peas, oats and rice, the risk of allergies is reduced.

Analysis of the composition

The composition of 1st choice food is quite diverse and balanced:

• - poultry meat, fish flour, chicken eggs, chicken liver, pea protein - all these are proteins of animal and plant origin, they are simply necessary for the proper formation and growth of the body.
• - salmon fish oil and chicken oil
• - grain crops (rice, barley, oats) - as sources of carbohydrates.
• — a complex of vitamins and minerals ensures the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system, pancreas, nervous system, and liver. By exerting an effect at the cellular level, they ensure the proper functioning of the entire animal’s body.
• — pea fiber and beet pulp help normalize digestion and provide a feeling of fullness.
• — Yucca extract helps prevent the appearance of unwanted odor from your pet’s mouth
• — no artificial preservatives or flavors are used. Tocopherol (vitamin E) is used as a natural preservative.

Is First Choice food suitable for everyone?

Conventionally, First Choice food can be given to any healthy cats, however, due to the low proportion of animal proteins, it can provoke the development of diseases. It is advisable to prefer holistic-class products or natural nutrition.

Holistic food contains more than 50% components of animal origin, including dehydrated and fresh meat, as well as offal

If you have health problems, you should consult a veterinarian. Food may not be suitable for animals with kidney disease, gastrointestinal tract or allergies.

Feed cost and sales points

The bulk of dry food is produced in small (907 g), medium (2.72 kg) and large (5.44 packages). The average price is 550 rubles, 1400 rubles. and 2500 rub. respectively. In the case of grain-free food, the cost is higher: 1,750 rubles. for 2.72 kg and 3000 rub. for 5.44 kg. Canned food (85 g) costs 80–100 rubles.

The food is not sold in regular supermarkets. It cannot be found in all pet stores. It’s easier to order First Choice products online. There is a map on the manufacturer’s website that shows stores selling feed, but they are present only in some localities.