Reviews of 1st choice food (Fest Choice) for cats

Features and composition of food

Among modern premium foods, Fest Choice occupies a leading position.

When developing the composition, only high-quality nutrients were selected that are necessary for the normal functioning of the animal. The main ingredients of the food are:

• natural meat (duck, chicken, salmon, etc.) - only 16-18% of the total volume;
• fish or chicken meal – 16-17%;
• grains – oats, barley, brown rice;
• vegetables – sweet potato, tomato, beetroot;
• pea fiber;
• flax seeds;
• chicken eggs;
• vitamins and minerals.

The company currently produces Fest Choice food for small kittens, adult cats and inactive, mature pets. Food is available only in dry form.

The assortment consists of diets for daily feeding, and there is also a special medicinal line of food.

Important! If you feed your cat dry food, be sure to provide a bowl of water. It needs to be changed daily.

By age category

1st Choice makes food for kittens, adult and senior cats. Kittens and old animals need special nutrition given the specifics of their age, so the Fest Choice brand produces a separate line for them.

Kitten food “Healthy Start” is suitable for pets from 2 months to a year, as well as pregnant and lactating cats. It is important for kittens to receive all the necessary substances for growth, so the composition contains chicken, salmon oil, yeast extract, chicory, parsley and green tea. Fest Choice for kittens is designed to form the central nervous system, bones, and improve immunity.

The food has small granules, convenient for small kittens.

Mature or less active for older cats is suitable for animals over 10 years old. A special formula slows down aging and strengthens bones. Chondroitin and glucosamine support joints, ensuring their mobility. Vitamins and minerals will help maintain healthy teeth and coat. A balanced PH prevents urolithiasis.

For older animals

Advantages and disadvantages

Before buying a certain food, the owner must familiarize himself with the specifics of production, composition, as well as its advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages of 1st Choice brand products for cats are:

• excellent balance of lipid and protein components in the composition - approximately 20-35% fats and 30% proteins;
• food ingredients are obtained only from high-quality products;
• chemicals are contained in minute quantities, in some feeds they are completely absent;
• acceptable competitive cost;
• a wide range of products, including medical nutrition;
• Convenient pack packaging with a reusable clasp.

The disadvantages include:

• the presence of ingredients in the composition that are questionable (herring flour, poultry flour);
• the presence of tomato mixture in the feed, which can cause food allergies;
• shortage in the domestic market, food is quite difficult to find in retail stores.

Important! Nutrition selection is an individual procedure in which it is necessary to pay attention to the cat’s lifestyle and health status. New food must be introduced into the diet gradually.

Where is 1st Choice cat food made?

This product is manufactured by PLB International, a privately owned, family-owned company that has been making pet food since 1969. The company is located in Canada. This country is known for its strict approach to quality control of pet products. When purchasing 1st Choice, you can be sure that only proven ingredients were used in the manufacture of products. Not only the composition, but also the color, shape and density of the feed is controlled. One of the main partners of PLB International is, which buys products from the company’s warehouse in Canada.

Popular food Fest Choice

Now let's start looking at some types of feed. All of them are in great demand:

1. 1st Choice Kitten Healthy Start;
2. 1st Choice Indoor Vitaliti;
3. 1st Choice Hypoallergenic;
4. 1st Choice Sterilized;
5. 1st Choice Urinary Health;
6. 1st Choice Mature Less Active.

Here is a short description of the food.

1st Choice Kitten Healthy Start

Dry food intended for feeding kittens from 2 months to 1 year. This is an ideal formula for first feeding. In addition, it is perfect for feeding both pregnant and lactating cats.

Contains 17% fresh chicken. Small granules are easily absorbed by the body and strengthen the immune system, ensuring optimal development of vision, brain and central nervous system.

Price: 1300 rubles per package weighing 2.72 kg.

1st Choice Indoor Vitaliti

Nutrition that is individually developed for cats kept at home. Contains 17% chicken meat. The food helps maintain optimal weight and ideal condition. Thanks to pH balance, the health of the urinary system is maintained.

Price: 2200 rubles per package weighing 5.44 kg.

1st Choice Hypoallergenic

Grain-free food containing hypoallergenic ingredients. Perfect for animals with digestive problems. Chicken protein is replaced with duck protein. Contains 17% duck meat. This is actually a unique dietary food that is aimed at maintaining cat health.

Price: 1600 rubles per package of 2.72 kg.

1st Choice Sterilized

The formula based on chicken meat (18%) is specially designed for castrated and sterilized pets. It is low in calories and nutritious at the same time. Sterilization always affects the cat's health: the likelihood of physiological, hormonal and even emotional changes increases. All these problems can be overcome with the help of this dietary food.

Price: 230 rubles per package weighing 320 g.

1st Choice Urinary Health

Food with the function of preventing urolithiasis. The composition contains 17% fresh chicken meat. Due to the low phosphorus, calcium and magnesium content, the pH of your cat's urine is maintained at a moderate level. As a result, the risk of oxalate formation is minimized and struvite stones in the bladder are dissolved. Suitable for continuous feeding.

Price: 1,700 rubles per package of 2.72 kg.

1st Choice Mature Less Active

The food is suitable for cats over 8 years of age. Contains 17% chicken meat. The diet is enriched with components such as chondroitin, glucosamine and collagen. They ensure healthy cartilage and joints. Carotene helps maintain normal body weight and strengthens the immune system. Their action is supplemented with probiotics and prebiotics, which improve the functioning of the aging gastrointestinal tract.

Price: 2300 rubles per package of 5.44 kg.

Price and where to buy

You can buy this food in online pet stores:

1. "Yandex Market" ():
   Packaging 1st Choice 0.35 kg - from 218 rubles;
2. Packaging 1st Choice 2.72 kg - from 1660 rubles;
3. Packaging 1st Choice 5.44 kg - from RUB 2,760.
4. "ZooMag"():
   Packaging 0.35 kg - from 250 rubles;
5. Packaging 2.72 kg - from 1620 rubles;
6. Packaging 5.44 kg - from 2320 rub.

Prices shown are current as of September 2021 and may change over time. To see current prices at the time of reading this text, go to pet stores using the links above.

Reviews

Valentina: “We were recently given a three-month-old British kitten. Unknowingly, we started feeding him Whiskas. The kitten began to have problems with stool and digestion. On recommendation, we bought Fest Choice dry food for kittens. They began to introduce them into the diet little by little, since the past experience with complementary feeding turned out to be sad. But the food was perfect: the pet is cheerful and playful, and no longer suffers from constipation.”

Maria: “I’ve been giving Fest Choice food to my cat for three years now. There were no problems. The cat eats it with a bang, this is not surprising, the smell is simply amazing. The price is reasonable, the food itself lasts a long time. The only thing is that it is not always available in pet stores. Sometimes you have to run around looking for it.”

Galina: “After sterilizing the cat, the question arose of what to feed her. I read on the Internet about possible diseases and got scared. First I bought one food. It seemed to fit well, but I was not happy with the condition of the fur. The veterinarian recommended Fest Choice for sterilized ones. The condition of the coat has improved a little, a slight shine has appeared and shedding has passed, although she only started giving food a month ago. In principle, according to other criteria, it suits me completely, the composition is natural, and it’s not that expensive for a premium food.”

Features of 1st Choice food

1st Choice brand products belong to the super-premium class. Initially it was produced only in the form of dry granules. But in February 2021, the assortment was diversified with canned food, and in May 2018, the line was supplemented with four more flavors. Both wet and dry foods are divided into categories for kittens, adult and senior cats. In addition, they produce products for sterilized and neutered pets, as well as for animals with problems with digestion, excess weight and the appearance of their coat. There are currently no treats in the 1st Choice line.

Canned food is suitable for both adult cats and the smallest furry cats who are just starting to try “adult” food.

The food has successfully passed laboratory tests and was found to be of high quality and safe for the life and health of cats. No bacteria or other harmful substances that could cause various diseases (including infectious ones) were found in it.

Each category of feed has its own characteristics, but we can also highlight the main components included in the product. For example, when making canned food, whole pieces of tuna and chicken fillet are used. Wet food also contains additives in the form of shrimp, berries and fruits. Papaya and pineapple help remove hairballs from the body, and Yucca reduces the odor coming from the animal's mouth and litter box.

One of the important ingredients of dry food is poultry. Chicken, duck, and chicken meal are the main sources of protein in 1st Choice. Typically the content of these substances in feed varies from 28 to 30%. This is enough for the normal growth and development of the pet, but the cat is not at risk of “protein overfeeding.” In addition, the feed contains chicken eggs, which contain important amino acids. The presence of flaxseed is also a definite plus. This component has a positive effect on the appearance of wool. In the composition you can see brown rice, fish oil and dried vegetables (for example, beets).

1st Choice contains a high amount of calcium, which is not good for cats prone to kidney failure.

In addition, 1st Choice foods contain:

• vitamins B2, B3, B6, D, A, E;
• phosphorus, potassium, zinc, magnesium, calcium and other trace elements;
• amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids - arachidonic acid is not contained in sufficient quantities, so if you regularly use the food, consult your veterinarian to understand how to compensate for the lack of the necessary component.

During laboratory research, experts proved that only fresh raw materials were used to produce the food. In addition, the color of the granules matches the original raw material. This indicates that no dyes were used during the production of the food. No foreign impurities (metal and wood shavings) were also found.

When testing the product in the laboratory, it was proven that the actual amount of manganese, iron and calcium does not correspond to the data specified in the composition.

Three ingredients raise doubts:

1. Cellulose - its benefits for cats are questionable.
2. Tomato mixtures (only in some foods, for example, 1st Choice Adult Cat Chicken Formula) are also not very healthy for cats.
3. Salt - its presence in food is more of a minus than a plus, although thanks to it, cats eating dry food are more thirsty and drink better, regularly replenishing the necessary supply of fluid in the body.

The granules have a round shape, convenient for chewing by adult animals and kittens

The disadvantage of the feed is the presence of trace amounts of chlorpropham in it. This pesticide gets into the feed with plant materials or is added intentionally as an insecticide. In any case, its presence in food is not welcome.

1st Choice brand food is distributed in supermarkets and veterinary departments only in large cities. In sparsely populated areas, finding it will be quite problematic. Therefore, it is easier to order food through online stores. This option can be even more profitable when purchasing food in large quantities. Approximate cost of products:

• 0.35 kg - from 194 rubles;
• 2.72 kg - from 1195 RUR;
• 5.44 kg - from 2134 RUR;
• canned food 85 g - from 95 rub.

At one time, my friends used 1st Choice Weight Control to feed their cat. She did not want to go outside and led a sedentary lifestyle. At the same time, she was completely healthy, she was just lazy, did not want to play or walk for a long time, and over time she gained weight. Not much, but the fat folds became noticeable. The veterinarian recommended Weight Control, which helped gradually rid the animal of excess weight. After this (about five months later) the cat was transferred to Adult Indoor Vitality.

Table: 1st Choice dry food range

Photo gallery: 1st Choice food

1st Choice Kitten Healthy Start promotes the proper development of the kitten's skeletal system and supports its immunity 1st Choice Adult Indoor Vitality helps maintain the animal's normal weight and reduces the risk of stones in the urinary system 1st Choice Healthy Skin & Coat makes the pet's coat shiny and silky 1st Choice Finicky granules made from fresh herring and chicken have an attractive smell and taste for cats. The low fat and calorie content in 1st Choice Weight Control is necessary to keep your pet in shape. The large percentage of fresh chicken meat in 1st Choice Sterilized ensures that the cat maintains muscle mass without adding excess weight. 1st Choice Urinary Health prevents stone formation by being low in magnesium, calcium and phosphorus and maintaining a moderately acidic urine pH Enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin, 1st Choice Mature or Less Active improves joint health and ease of mobility 1st Choice Hypoallergenic improves digestion and stabilizes intestinal motility

Comparison of the complete composition of 1st Choice feeds

To understand what exactly is used in the manufacture of food, you can consider the full composition using the example of Adult Indoor Vitality, intended for adult cats. Product includes:

• fresh chicken (17%);
• chicken flour (17%);
• rice;
• pea protein;
• chicken fat;
• preserved with a mixture of natural tocopherols (vitamin E);
• beet pulp;
• brown rice;
• specially processed barley and oat kernels;
• dried egg product;
• chicken liver hydrolysate;
• whole flax seed;
• salmon fat;
• dried tomato pulp;
• pea fiber;
• potassium chloride;
• lecithin;
• calcium carbonate;
• choline chloride;
• salt;
• calcium propionate;
• sodium bisulfate;
• taurine;
• DL-methionine;
• L-lysine;
• yeast extract;
• iron sulfate;
• ascorbic acid;
• chicory extract;
• zinc oxide;
• sodium selenite;
• alpha-tocopherol acetate;
• a nicotinic acid;
• Yucca Schidigera extract;
• calcium iodate;
• manganese oxide;
• L-carnitine;
• D-calcium pantothenate;
• thiamine mononitrate;
• riboflavin;
• pyridoxine hydrochloride;
• vitamin A;
• cholecalciferol (vitamin D3);
• biotin;
• dried pineapple;
• dried mint (0.01%);
• dried parsley (0.01%);
• green tea extract (0.01%);
• zinc proteinate;
• vitamin B12;
• cobalt carbonate;
• folic acid;
• manganese proteinate;
• copper proteinate

Food for kittens and older cats on the manufacturer’s website has a similar composition, but differs in guaranteed analysis. Products for cats over ten years of age contain less fat and protein. Kitten food has a high calcium content due to the need for this microelement for growing animals. 1st Choice Kitten Healthy Start also contains more protein and fat than adult cat food.

Other types of 1st Choice food also have distinctive features:

• Hypoallergenic - created for cats prone to allergies to various foods, the main components of this food are sweet potato (sweet potato) and duck, it also contains vegetable oil and dried alfalfa, there is no tomato pulp;

  Pedigree cats are most prone to allergies

• Urinary Health - contains corn gluten, lentils, tapioca, rosemary extract and dried cranberries, no tomato pulp, pea protein is replaced with potato protein and the content of magnesium, calcium and phosphorus is reduced;
• Healthy Skin & Coat - recommended as a food that helps improve the appearance of the coat, its main components are fresh salmon and menhaden herring meal, and otherwise the composition is similar to the Adult Indoor Vitality food, but has a higher content of proteins, fats and calcium;
• Sterilized - In addition to chicken meat and flour, the food contains sweet potato, rice protein, lentils and tapioca. Guaranteed analysis shows high protein content (33%) and low fat content (only 9%). Thanks to these compositional features, the risk of unwanted weight gain for animals is reduced;
• Weight Control - also controls the weight of the animal, but the composition contains tomato and beet pulp, which contains natural fiber that has a beneficial effect on intestinal function.

1st Choice Finicky food for picky cats has a similar composition to Adult Indoor Vitality food, but on the manufacturer’s website it is credited with “an extremely special aroma and taste of each granule.”

Composition of 1st Choice canned food

Three different flavors have been created for kittens from 2 to 12 months:

• Kitten Healthy Start is 45% chicken. Additional components are tuna oil and water generated during the processing of these products;
• the other two types of canned food belong to the Healthy Skin & Coat line, that is, they are designed to improve the appearance of the animal’s fur and skin. "Premium Tuna" consists of 44.5% tuna. Premium Tuna with Chicken contains 31% tuna and 7% chicken. In both cases, the additional ingredients are yucca, sunflower oil and vegetable broth. Guaranteed analysis shows 10% protein and 1.5% fat.

The approximate cost of canned food for kittens (85 g) is 80 rubles

You can find canned food for cats over 10 years old. They only have one taste. The composition of canned food includes:

• 40% chicken;
• apples;
• tuna oil;
• fructooligosaccharides;
• glucosamine;
• chondroitin sulfate;
• water that is formed during the processing of these products.

The protein content is 11%, and the fat content is 0.5%.

Canned food 1st Choice Mature or Less Active costs about 100 rubles

Canned food for adult cats has the largest range and amazes with the variety of additives used in preparation. For example, Adult Indoor Vitality canned food contains chicken (40%), apples and shredded cellulose, while products for sterilized cats contain chicken (45%), sardines (5%), sunflower oil, tricalcium phosphate (E341), tuna and water. All other canned food for adult cats belong to the Healthy Skin & Coat line and have the following varieties:

• tuna (45.5%), squid (4%), pineapple (4%);
• tuna (45.5%), tilapia (4%), pineapple (4%);
• tuna (45.5%), pineapple (5%);
• tuna (45.5%), shrimp (4%), pineapple (4%);
• tuna (44.5%), sea bass (4%), pineapple (4%);
• tuna (45.5%), papaya (5%);
• tuna (25%), chicken (7%), pineapple (6%);
• tuna (25%), chicken (7%), kiwi (6%).

Using 1st Choice canned food, you can significantly diversify your cat's diet. In the listed options, yucca, sunflower oil and vegetable broth are used as additional ingredients. The protein content in canned food is 13%, and fat 1.5%. As additives, canned food contains vitamins A, D3, E, as well as iron, calcium, copper, manganese, zinc and selenium.

Advantages and disadvantages of 1st Choice compared to other brands

1st Choice, like any other product, has its pros and cons. To better understand its advantages and disadvantages, you can compare it with other well-known cat foods:

• Royal Canin is a popular premium brand. This food is more common in supermarkets and pet stores. The approximate cost is 1057 rubles per two kilograms. That is, its price is slightly lower than that of 1st Choice brand products. But the composition of Royal Canin does not justify such savings. This food is based on grains, including corn, which can cause allergies in cats.
• Food from Germany Leonardo also belongs to the super-premium class. It is sold in large packages, which makes it convenient not only for use at home, but also in nurseries. A 7.5 kg package costs about three thousand rubles, which is more profitable than purchasing 1st Choice. The largest package of 1st Choice weighs 5.44 kg and costs a little more than two thousand rubles. But Leonardo food is even less common than 1st Choice. Therefore, often ordering online is the only possible option. The products of these brands have a similar composition: both foods are based on poultry meat, and cereals are contained in small quantities.
• Science Plan is more affordable than 1st Choice as it is sold in many supermarkets and pet stores. Its cost is about a thousand rubles per two kilograms, i.e. the prices of feed are approximately equal. Canned food of this brand is cheaper - 65 rubles per 85 grams. But the composition of Science Plan is not so good. The food contains corn, which can cause allergies. Together with wheat, they are fairly cheap fillers that the cat does not need in large quantities.

I use natural products to feed my cats (meat, vegetables, offal, etc.), but before that I tried to find suitable ready-made food for them. 1st Choice was also tested. The cats ate it, but without much enthusiasm compared to Whiskas brand products. But I don't consider this a disadvantage. Quite the contrary. The absence of chemical dyes and flavors prevented cats from “going crazy” from the mere smell of food.

When using dry food, it is important to provide your pet with plenty of fresh water, while a cat eating canned food requires less water.

Reviews from veterinarians

Veterinarians agree that 1 st Choice brand food fully meets the requirements for super premium food and is superior to many analogues that are considered a stretch in this class of food.

The quality of the First Choice food line is confirmed by the presence of a CVMA (Association of Canadian Veterinarians) certificate and the AAFCO abbreviation on the packaging, indicating that the food has received approval from the Quality Control Association of America (maximum nutritious and balanced).

In feed quality ratings and analyzers, the 1 st Choice brand occupies high positions, second only to brands such as Acana and Origen.

Compound

The main ingredients of the diet for cats permanently living in an apartment (Indoor), lightweight food for castrated or sterilized cats (Weight Control), food for older animals (Mature Less Active):

1. Fresh chicken (17%);
2. Chicken flour (17%);
3. Rice;
4. Pea protein;
5. Chicken fat;
6. Vitamin E preserved by natural tocopherols;
7. Brown rice;
8. Beet pulp;
9. Barley and oats subjected to special processing;
10. Dry egg;
11. Chicken liver hydrolysate;
12. Flax-seed;
13. Salmon oil;
14. Dry tomato pulp;
15. Pea fiber;
16. About 35 additional elements, including vitamins, minerals, valuable amino acids, extracts of Yucca Schidigera, green tea and chicory, dried parsley and mint.

The hypoallergenic diet contains no grain products and highly allergenic ingredients - chicken and eggs. The basis of the diet is sweet potato (sweet potato), its content in the diet is 34% and duck (17%).

The diet for capricious, picky cats is supplemented with herring flour.

The diet, for healthy skin and coat, contains fresh salmon fish as a basis - 18% and herring flour - 17%.