Cat food 1st Choice Cat Adult Sterilized Chicken Grain Free

Cat food 1st choice reviews and composition overview.
The quality of food is the key to your cat’s health. Caring owners strive to choose food that will not only ensure the pet’s excellent health, but also give it beautiful fur, strong teeth and a great mood. An advertisement by the Canadian company PLB International Inc., which has been operating in the Canadian market for more than 30 years, promises that their food will fully satisfy the needs of the cat’s body. Customer reviews and a review of the composition of 1st Choice cat food will help you decide whether you are satisfied with the product of this manufacturer.

Animal sources of protein

No fresh or raw (frozen) meat ingredients were used in the production of 1st Choice Cat Adult Sterilized Chicken Formula Grain Free food.
Ingredients #1 and #2 are chicken meal and chicken. This is a good indicator, and yet, due to the large number of plant carbohydrate and protein components, the share of animal protein in the feed is generally low. The percentage of main food ingredients in this food is not indicated.

Chicken liver hydrolyzate occupies only eighth place in the diet, so it is more likely a protein component that improves the taste and smell of food than an independent source of animal protein.

In addition, in the English composition of the product this component is indicated as “natural flavor” - “natural flavoring”, and in translation into Russian it was for some reason called “liver hydrolysate”, which cannot but raise questions.

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.

Healthy Ingredients

Dried brown seaweed is not only a source of fiber, but also iodine. They improve digestion, immunity, thyroid function, as well as the skin and fur of animals.

Taurine is a vital amino acid for cats. The English version of the composition of this food states that it is added to the diet as a separate component - this is an indicator of the low quality of the protein components of the diet or their insufficient quantity: since they cannot provide the cat’s body with the necessary amount of taurine, it is necessary to add it additionally.

Dried pineapple – This additive may add a sweet taste to cat food and help improve digestion. It is debatable whether the amount of pineapple added to the feed has the desired effect, since its amount in the diet is not precisely known.

Yucca Schidigera extract reduces fecal odor.

L-carnitine is useful for animals prone to obesity; it is also listed in the English version of the composition. Since this food is intended for adult spayed and neutered cats, it is quite possible that this ingredient will be useful for them to prevent weight gain associated with changes in hormonal levels.

This food also contains a variety of other vitamin and mineral supplements, which are necessary partly due to the lack of minerals and vitamins in the raw materials, partly due to the peculiarities of the technological process for the production of dry food (this is the industry norm, and therefore is not a direct indicator of high or low quality diet).

It should be noted that the English version of the composition contains many additives that, for some reason, were not translated into Russian by the manufacturer - information about them is limited to the words “vitamins and minerals” and a partial mention in the “Guaranteed Analysis” section.

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.

Cons of food

The first five ingredients contain sweet potatoes, isolated vegetable protein (rice) and lentils - thus, we can objectively assume that there is more vegetable protein in the food than animal protein. In addition, the diet contains little animal fat.

The manufacturer did not indicate the exact amount of useful additives, so it is not possible to judge their effect on the animal’s body. When translating the names of ingredients into Russian, advertising techniques are used, which can mislead the buyer and also undermines trust in the food.

Who produces Fest Choice food for cats?

Fest Choice food is produced by PLB International (Canada). She has been engaged in this activity since 1969. It supplies its products to the markets of more than thirty countries, including European ones. This company's animal feed is not only certified by the Canadian Veterinary Service, but also has a European Quality Certificate, which gives the right to direct deliveries to Europe. Since 2002, the company joined the HACCP system, which ensures control of all stages of food production for the purpose of food safety.

Food "Fest Choice" (1ST Choica) was created in 1990. Thanks to its innovative composition, the company was able to compete in the pet food market. In addition to this brand, the company also produces Pronature food (premium class).

Canned food is produced in Ecuador under the strict supervision of the parent company.

conclusions

A mixture of raw and processed (dried) sources of animal protein, root vegetables, isolated vegetable protein and legumes is used as the basis of grain-free chicken food for spayed and neutered cats in the First Choice line. At its core, this food has a plant-protein and carbohydrate base, which does not meet the initial needs of cats for a large amount of high-quality animal protein.

Grain-free food is now being promoted quite actively by manufacturers, since the idea that our domestic carnivores would not eat grains in nature has successfully taken root in the minds of consumers. Cat Adult Sterilized Grain Free with Chicken is another grain-free product in the 1st Choice brand's cat line, created with spayed and neutered cats in mind.

It’s good that the first five components include two sources of animal protein: chicken and chicken meal, and sweet potatoes and other carbohydrate components are listed after them. Among the carbohydrate components you can see rice protein - considering that this diet is declared as grain-free, this is quite unusual. After all, rice protein (aka gluten) is a derivative of rice, that is, a grain.

In our opinion, this cat diet generally contains a lot of vegetable protein and carbohydrates, and a lot of fiber. The fact that the component labeled as “liver hydrolysate” is in fact a natural flavoring, the exact raw material for which is not specified, is also puzzling. It would be great if manufacturers translated the ingredients of products into Russian without changes, and did not try to embellish them.

But the food contains only 9% fat - this is a good indicator, since cats move less after surgery, sleep more and are more likely to gain excess weight. In order to reduce these risks, it is necessary to take into account that their energy needs have decreased by almost a third, and such a diet will not allow them to gain weight.

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.

Reviews

Positive reviews about First Choice food:

• 
  Despite the shortcomings found in the food, customers are satisfied with it.

• In their opinion, cats are satisfied with the food, they are satisfied with the prescribed norm, without requiring supplements.
• Bag with a convenient zip-lock fastener.
• Reasonable price.
• Possibility to buy food in online stores.
• Good effect on animal fur and skin.
• Pleasant appearance and smell of food.

Negative feedback:

• Some owners have noted the appearance of allergies in their cats when using 1st Choice.
• Other caudates experienced stool disorder.
• Some cats chose to refuse food.
• The owners noticed shortcomings in the composition of the product.
• Some people are not satisfied with the price.
• Some people think that kibble is too big for older cats.

Various types of reviews about 1st Choice and conclusions about the composition of the food will help you decide whether to purchase this product for the first time. Further purchases of products from the line of food from the Canadian manufacturer will be dictated to the owners by the cat.

Detailed review of Vitality food

Compound

Analyzing the composition of feed, we will focus on the example of Vitality feed.

Ingredients included:

1. Fresh chicken - 17%. The disadvantage of the component lies in the reduction in the volume of chicken up to five times after evaporation of moisture. The quality of the component depends on what part of the chicken carcass was used.
2. Chicken flour - 17%. Must be made from at least 60 percent chicken meat. The remaining 40 percent may be skin and bones.

3. 
   Rice. Contains fiber and carbohydrates, does not cause allergies like corn or wheat. Can be used to reduce the cost of feed due to an increase in volume due to grain.

4. Pea protein. It serves as a cheap source of protein, but is poorly absorbed by the cat’s body. Safe for allergy sufferers.
5. Chicken fat preserved with a mixture of natural tocopherols (vitamin E). A typical component of similar products.
6. Beet pulp. Fiber, which improves intestinal function and develops microflora.
7. Brown rice Hypoallergenic cereal containing proteins and minerals.
8. Specially processed barley and oat kernels. Cereals that are undesirable in the composition.
9. Dried egg. Animal protein and B complex vitamins.
10. Chicken liver hydrolysate. Natural flavoring.
11. Whole flax seed. A natural stimulator for the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
12. Salmon fat. Omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil are essential for proper metabolism.
13. Dried tomato pulp. Dietary fiber is involved in cleansing the intestines.
14. Pea fiber. Good for the digestive system.
15. Potassium chloride. A component that gives food a certain consistency.
16. Yeast extract. Includes substances that develop normal flora in the intestines and stimulate the immune system.
17. Yucca Schidigera extract. It has a beneficial effect on digestion and minimizes the unpleasant odor of excrement.
18. Dried mint (0.01%), dried parsley (0.01%) and green tea extract (0.01%). Benefit is unclear.

As a result of the analysis of the product composition, it should be concluded that the presented food can be placed between premium and super-premium class.

Benefits of the feed

1. Indication of the percentage content of product components.
2. Possibility to choose grain-free food for your allergic pet.
3. Increased meat content in the composition compared to feed from other manufacturers.

Feed disadvantages

1. The use of marketing techniques to present useless components in the composition as beneficial.
2. Relatively low percentage of meat.
3. Increased volume of cereals.
4. It is impossible to use food for cats with special needs on an ongoing basis due to the low meat content.
5. The range of wet food differs only in taste.
6. Low content of antioxidants and high content of salt, which negatively affects the cat’s vital systems
7. Manufacturer's use of a preservative that is hazardous to animal health when used long-term.

When choosing food for cats suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary system, or prone to allergic reactions, owners should consult a veterinarian.