Attitudes and preferences of cat and dog owners towards pet food quality attributes in Türkiye

In recent years, pet owners have been making significant efforts to ensure the well-being of their animals. One straightforward approach to enhance their welfare involves greater attention to nutrition. Consequently, pet owners have become increasingly sensitive regarding the food they provide for their pets. The aim of this study is to examine this sensitivity by investigating the extent to which cat and dog owners prioritize quality attributes and ingredients when selecting pet food. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with pet owners (n = 519) who visited veterinary clinics, using a random sampling method. Of the participants, 51.25% were male and 48.75% were female, with the highest participation observed in the 18–34 age group (60.50%). Among the respondents, 64.93% owned cats, while 35.07% owned dogs. Additionally, 66.67% of pet owners reported using both wet and dry food. When selecting pet food, 42.58% of participants stated that they relied on recommendations from veterinarians. “Pet preference (palatability)” clearly emerged as the most important selection criterion, receiving the highest average score (3.90) and highlighting its decisive influence on purchasing decisions as owners appeared to prioritize what their pets liked most. In contrast, “visual appeal of the food” received the lowest score (2.47). A significant difference (p < 0.001) was found regarding whose recommendation influenced the purchase decision. Moreover, a negative correlation was identified between price sensitivity and other selection criteria, suggesting that price was not a primary driver in most participants’ decisions and became less important as quality-related factors gained priority. Overall, pet preference (palatability) stood out as the dominant driver of purchasing decisions.