I'm just curious really, after learning on this forum that wet food is hugely superior to dry food.

My cats do get a small amount of dried food, but I grew up in a family where cats and dogs were given wet food for their meals, and dried food as snacks/treats, so I just automatically did the same thing when I had my own cats.

Since living in Spain, I've noticed the vast majority of food in the supermarkets for cats and dogs is dry. The big supermarkets will have several metres of shelf space dedicated to dry food, and just one metre for wet. This really puzzles me in a hot country where dehydration is more likely.

So, I'm curious why people feed or have fed their cats dry food. Is it convenience, cost, special diet, the only thing the cats will eat, what's recommended by the vet, or just not knowing that wet food is better?

My cats were just lucky that I happened to feed them wet food (although not good quality wet food, which I'm trying to do something about now) because I certainly had no idea until I read hobbs' feeding guides here.

Cost + weight + poor education is my guess

Probably due to it being easier, less messy, less smelly? (I dont personally like the smell of dry food but I would say the smell of wet is stronger in my experience)

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Wet would go off quickly in a hot country + all the flies. You don't get maggots on dry food.

Just my guess.

i feed my kitties wet food but have a bowl of dry out for grazing. my vet always tells me that dry is best for dental reasons. some brands also advertise that their dry food make poo less smelly and less frequent. personally that rings alarm bells to me but thats just me opinion.
dry food is also easier to store and it smells less that wet food, also wet food attracts flies. i suppose its more convenient??

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The bit about it being good for their teeth is definitely wrong, unless a specially designed kibble for teeth which most arent.

I also sont believe those brands claims

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I've wondered about that myself. It also doesn't attract ants the way wet food (especially meaty wet food) does, and ants are a real problem here. You have to clear up right away after they've eaten, or ants start appearing, apparently from nowhere.

It just amazes me that people here are so aware of the dangers of dehydration, and bottled water is rarely sold in less than 5 litre bottles, and yet they feed dry food to their pets.

But, yes, I think probably most of the things that have been mentioned, lack of education being the biggest. If people don't know that dry food isn't the best health choice, they'll decide what to feed based on other considerations.

TBH, the situation is not that different here - there is more dry food to be had than wet food; particularly for cats. And we don't even have the "excuse" of hot weather spoiling wet food more quickly

Dry food is about big profits for the food companies, and maximum convenience to the owner. Being any good for the cat doesn't really come into it.

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Rescue cats for many years, currently one moggie and 3 young Maine Coons.

my vet says the teeth thing - i do 50/50 best & worst of both!