1st choice "Fest Choice" cat food: review, composition, range, pros and cons, reviews from veterinarians and owners

Every pet owner puts a lot of effort into providing their pet with quality nutrition. Healthy and properly balanced food not only affects the appearance and behavior of the cat, but is also a preventive measure against many diseases. In order to choose the right food for your pet among the huge range of industrial feeds, you need to be careful about the composition of these products. Not long ago, the Fest Choice brand appeared on the Russian market, and although it is not yet very popular, the composition of its products and the manufacturer indicate the good quality of the product.

2 Assortment line of feed "Fest Choice"
2.1 Table: description of the composition of dry food “Fest Choice”
2.1.1 Photo gallery: Fest Choice food line
2.1.2 Table: nutritional standards for grain-free anti-allergenic food (for adult animals)

2.2 Table: canned food (eighty-five grams)

3 Cost of cat food “Fest Choice”

3.1 Table: advantages and disadvantages of Fest Choice food

4 Reviews

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.

Positive reviews

Rigina

I have 2 adult sterile ordinary noble cats and a long-haired cat, also neutered from a shelter. He was eating whiskey when I took him. It shed absolutely terribly in clumps, and when I cleaned the tray after it, tears welled up in my eyes from the extremely disgusting stench! I switched all the cats to Fest Choice with salmon in the hope of improving the quality of their fur. After 2 months of feeding only dry food with salmon, I would like to note that shedding in apartment cats has actually decreased significantly. The long-haired cat's fur has become shiny, fluffy and he looks much better than before. The nasty smell from cat stool is gone, everything is fine. They drink a lot of water and often, they refused to eat food for the first few days (transferred from the piano), but then apparently they got a taste of it and now everything is great! Feed consumption is much lower for 3 adult cats than for the same royal, and this is also pleasing!

The photograph is not a direct representation of the reviews presented in the review.

Lisbeth

Having adopted a very small kitten, the question of choosing food immediately arose. Unfortunately, domestically produced food (Hills, Royal, Proplan) did not suit her. We decided on Fest Choice food for kittens. It is produced in Canada. The family-owned manufacturing company has its own feed production plant. Which is very important. Also, veterinary standards for feed quality abroad are much higher than in Russia. Therefore, there was no doubt about the quality of this food. The cat immediately began to eat it. Digestion improved, the fur became shiny and soft, and did not fall into clumps. The kitten became playful. Many people are confused by the salt in food. But it makes the cat drink more water, which prevents the formation of urolithiasis. The vet also approved of our choice.

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:

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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Beet pulp. Contains plant fiber, helps cleanse the intestines and promotes the development of natural microflora.
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.
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.
Dried egg. Contains animal proteins and B vitamins. Not a bad ingredient.
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.
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.
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.
Dried tomato pulp. It contains practically no useful substances, but is a source of fiber. Cleanses the intestines.
Pea fiber. In small quantities it helps improve digestion.
Potassium chloride. A safe emulsifier that helps give food a specific texture.
Yeast extract (source of mannan-oligosaccharides). Contains prebiotics and polysaccharides. The latter improve immunity.
Yucca Schidigera extract. Helps destroy bacteria, therefore reduces the smell of feces and normalizes digestion.
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.

Feeding tips

Do not mix 1st Choice dry formulas with natural nutrition. This can lead to gastritis, intestinal upset, and other unwanted digestive problems.

Remember the principles of regularity and moderation:

do not pour granules to the edge of the bowl, because overeating is no less harmful than undereating;
follow the dosage indicated in the instructions on the back of the package;
use a measuring cup;
teach your dog discipline - leave the bowl out for 20-25 minutes;
feed the animals at the same time, preferably a quarter of an hour before the walk;
adult dogs should have two meals a day, puppies - from 5 to 3;
remember the need for constant access to clean, fresh water;
Wash both bowls regularly;
change the water at least once a day, more often in the summer.

The table shows the approximate daily feeding rate, which should be divided by the recommended number of meals:

Age	Dog's weight in kilograms	Daily value in grams
2–3.5 months	1,5–6	120–250
6–10	250–390
10–16	390–565
16–23	565–745
from 3.5 to 6.5 months	1,5–6	90–235
6–10	235–350
10–16	350–510
16–23	510–660
23–34	660–905
34–46	905–1140
from 6.5 to 10 months	1,5–6	65–180
6–10	180–275
10–16	275–395
16–23	395–520
23–34	520–715
34–46	715–885
46 +	885 (+50 g for every 5 kg of weight)
from 10 to 12 months	1,5–6	55–145
6–10	145–215
10–16	215–300
16–23	300–415
23–34	415–550
34–46	550–695
46 +	695 (+50 g for every 5 kg of weight)
From one year and older	1,5–6	40–105
6–10	105–160
10–16	160–245
16–23	245–305
23–34	305–410
34–46	410–515
46 +	515 + 50 (+50 g for every 5 kg of weight)
From 8 years and older	1,5–6	55–100
6–10	100–165
10–16	165–235
16–23	235–300
23–34	300–420
34–46	420–530
46 +	530 +50 (+50 g for every 5 kg of weight)

Advantages and disadvantages of food

The advantages of the food include the following factors:

Availability of percentage of components. This helps to evaluate the composition and quality of the product. Having specific information creates trust.
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.
A wide range of. It is easier for buyers to choose the optimal product for their pet, taking into account the characteristics and needs.
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.
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:

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.
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.
High proportion of cereals. In most feeds they occupy several of the high positions. In total this is more than the amount of meat.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Super premium nutrition features

There is no single global system for classifying cat food today, however, among manufacturers there are 4 main categories that differ from each other primarily in the quality of ingredients. The cat owner can choose for his pet:

economy food, in which the source of protein is usually fat or bone meal, and contains a lot of flavor enhancers. They are characterized by low cost;
Premium food is made from higher quality ingredients (the source of protein will be meat and plant ingredients), but its composition is not ideal. The addition of approved stabilizers and preservatives is allowed;
super premium food. Its main difference is the content of proteins with the highest biological value, for example, lamb, turkey, Atlantic fish, eggs, etc., and the percentage of each component is indicated in the composition. The source of carbohydrates will be rice, oats, barley or potatoes. Super premium formulations always contain a lot of vegetables, and the preservatives and antioxidants necessary to preserve the product are of natural origin (usually a mixture of tocopherols and rosemary). For production, special equipment is required to preserve all components in the finished product. For this reason, cats usually eat such food with pleasure and without additional flavorings. The digestibility of such food is more than 83%, which makes it especially valuable;
Holistic is a type of super premium class, the “elite” of industrial cat nutrition. Their peculiarity is the use of hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly components in combinations that are best absorbed by the animal’s body. This food is considered to be as close as possible to the natural diet of a predator.

When creating super premium feeds, hazardous and allergenic components are usually not used, namely:

artificial preservatives (butylated hydroanisole or BHA, sodium metabisulfite, ethoxyquin, etc.);
artificial flavor enhancers (digest, sodium monoglutamate);
sucrose (sugar, caramel) - cats do not need it at all, and excessive sugar content in food can cause a temporary reaction in the form of loose stools or provoke diabetes;
unspecified animal fat (the quality of this component is not checked; it can be obtained from any animal, including a sick or deceased one);
sugar beet pulp and cake;
soybean and its derivatives. This ingredient is used as a source of protein in cheap food; it makes the cat feel full faster, but it is poorly digested, has no benefit and often causes bloating;

In some feeds you can find corn, wheat and their derivatives (flour, gluten). Corn is practically not digested by the cat’s body and is considered useless, and wheat often causes allergies, so such additives are undesirable, although they are used by manufacturers.

Advantages and disadvantages

Based on the features of most industrial products, we can talk about the following advantages of super premium cat food:

quality sources of protein;
no harmful additives. If it is necessary to increase the attractiveness of the product (for example, for picky individuals), natural ingredients are used - herbs, vegetables, etc.;
a minimum amount of ballast components that are not absorbed in the digestive tract. When using super premium food, the daily consumption rate is lower than when feeding economical feed options, and the volume of excrement will not increase;
the presence of additional useful components (for removing hair, improving metabolism, maintaining healthy hair, etc.);
a wide range, based not only on tastes (like cheap items), but on the needs of a particular category of animals (for kittens, cats with an active or passive lifestyle, for older animals, for certain breeds, for pets with various diseases, etc.) .

The main disadvantage of premium food is its cost - it is significantly higher than that of lower quality food. In addition, some foods are not so well known or widely distributed, so they may be difficult to find and are not often advertised.

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.

General characteristics, manufacturer

Go Natural Holistic is a cat food manufactured by Petcurean, Canada. Its main feature is the absence of grain crops; such diets are also called holistic. They are aimed not just at satisfying the animal’s hunger, but also at protecting its health and emotional state.

Holistic is a food in which the components are not mixed with each other in a random order, but are combined in such a way that the pet receives maximum benefit from the food intake.

The manufacturer has worked to ensure that the components of the diets are as similar as possible to those that animals receive in the wild. After all, this type of food is best suited for cats - it protects their body from all kinds of diseases, and also gives energy and prevents obesity, which often happens when animals are fed cheap food with grain components.

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.

Products for adult animals

The line of food for adult pets is divided into several types. Obviously, cats that lead an active and sedentary lifestyle need to eat differently, as do neutered cats, animals with allergies or obesity. All these features are taken into account when compiling Fest Choice recipes.

For healthy pets, including neutered ones

For adult cats without health problems, there are several food options:

Indoor Vitality. Designed for pets who do not leave the premises, but at the same time lead an active lifestyle. The diet is designed for cats aged 1 to 10 years. The meat base is chicken, which helps to obtain the necessary supply of protein to replenish energy. An undeniable advantage of this product is the addition of yucca extract. Surely many have noticed an unpleasant smell in apartments where cats live. Yucca has antifungal properties and neutralizes ammonia odor, keeping your cat's litter box odor-free.
Healthy Skin and Coat. Suitable for long-haired cats, but it can also be given to representatives of other breeds. It contains salmon, which contains many essential fatty acids necessary for health. This food has a beneficial effect on the condition of the coat, making it fluffy, shiny and silky.

Finicky Chicken Formula. What should you do if your pet refuses its usual food and demands unusual food? Then this diet based on herring with chicken will suit him.
Weight Control. In neutered pets, hormonal levels and metabolism change, which leads to obesity. They lead a less active lifestyle and eat more. For such animals, chicken food “Weight Control” has been created, the balanced formula of which allows you to maintain normal weight.

For cats with kidney disease, obesity, allergies

The most common diseases of domestic cats are diseases of the urinary system. By purchasing 1st Choice products, pet owners do not have to worry that the diet is not suitable for a pet with kidney disease.

The composition of each product is balanced in the amount of salts and minerals, so it is suitable both for a cat with existing diseases and for the prevention of pathologies of the urinary organs, but the line also includes a specialized food “Urinary Health”. It contains reduced amounts of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, which reduces the risk of oxalate formation and helps dissolve bladder stones.

For obese cats, you also don’t need to look for specialized food. The “Weight Control” diet for neutered cats is quite suitable. The amount of calories in it is small, and the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is designed for animals prone to overweight and sedentary.

Food allergies are common in purebred cats. For pets with individual intolerance to certain foods and a sensitive gastrointestinal tract, the brand has developed a special “Hypoallergenic” food. The most common allergen is chicken protein, so chicken is replaced with duck meat, and grains, which worsen digestion, are completely excluded from the composition.

Grain-free food is also available for spayed and neutered animals. It is suitable for cats with impaired digestion and promotes rapid recovery after surgery.

For elderly and inactive animals

For cats over 10 years old and pets leading a sedentary lifestyle, the manufacturing company offers specialized food “Mature or Less Active” with chicken meat. The product is enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin, which improve the condition of joints and the entire musculoskeletal system. Antioxidants slow down the aging of the body, and an optimal acid-base balance prevents the development of urolithiasis.