I thought that an exclusively dry diet for cats wasn't good as they should naturally get moisture from their food and wouldn't naturally drink much water; apparently on a dry diet they are effectively dehydrated?

And as someone very politely said - Most vets aren't nutritionists. It might seem a little harsh to say but if a large percentage of your business' income came from selling burgers and chips, would you tell all your customers that fruit and veg is better for them?

It's possible that the person that told you that dry was better had been feeding Whiskas or Felix or similar and had changed to a superior dry food and found their cats' health improved. However I do think it's important for them to have some wet and/or raw meat in their diet. Not mixed with the biscuits mind (they'll thank you for the variety by barfing it up all over your house) but at separate meals.

I also find that their poos are often more solid the higher the ratio of (quality) wet/dry I feed. It seems a bit back to front I know...

I think feeding exclusively dry is the equivalent of feeding your kids just on crackers and fishpaste. Ok comparatively it's not the worst thing in the world and they'll probably live, but better to substitute for a wholesome meat or fish broth, right?

It's also definitely true that the price is not necessarily a reflection of the quality.

I'm really surprised that people aren't being more vocal on this - possibly as some of the more outspoken members have managed to get themselves banned ... I've asked about the quality of other dry foods on here before and been told in no uncertain terms and been given countless educated arguments that cats' don't need carbohydrates and that it's pretty much all bad stuff!

I feed about half and half where possible for separate meals. It's convenient for us to get dry and our kits LOVE the Burns esp the ocean fish, and seem to do very well on it, but I also give them tins or pouches of Hi-Life or Feline Fayre and if I've run out or as an alternative they'll have perhaps raw bones, cooked fish, raw mince, seafood, depending on what I've got in. Always at separate meals.

Also I don't think cows milk is a good idea for cats, usually gives them the runs! I've heard sheeps milk or goats milk is better, and I did give my kits a little kitten milk (basically goats milk with taurine, marketed at a slightly extortionate price considering) when they first arrived as they were used to it but I haven't bought it since, they seem to be coping without!