Why can't cats taste sweets?

Cat's taste buds

There are only a few hundred taste buds in a cat's mouth, which is incomparable to the nine thousand in humans.
And at the same time, she will unmistakably distinguish a desired treat from an unloved one. Incredible! It turns out that her sense of smell is much better developed than one would expect. What motivates an animal when it chooses a treat? Does it rely on smell or taste?

The sense of smell is extremely important in attracting an animal to food. A cat's nose is many times more sensitive than a human's. This is thought to help cats differentiate between tastes.

But representatives of the Feline family have something special - Jacobson's organ of smell. This is part of the nose area, which became isolated during the process of evolution, and is connected to the external environment through small holes in the roof of the mouth behind the front teeth. Meowing pets use it to understand tastes and aromas. Although the function of this olfactory organ is still debated.

At the tip of the tongue, on its underside and on the sides, the cat has taste buds.

And yet, what is the best way to attract your pet to a bowl of food? A big piece is better for him than crumbs. And soft food is preferable to hard food. They say that even the shape matters and it is better if the large pieces are not the same from day to day. Warm food will attract you more quickly than food fresh from the refrigerator.

In addition, these animals remember the taste for a long time. And they will establish the connection between the food eaten and its consequences for the body quite quickly. If some food leads to an upset stomach, the pet will refuse it in the future. And vice versa, what you like will be readily consumed.

Do cats feel taste?

Cats are big food lovers, but at the same time they are not gluttons, but rare gourmets. Cats are known for their...

Other flavors

Just like us, cats perceive the world through their five senses. Using sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, we observe, learn, navigate the world around us and have sensory experiences. The sense organs of a domestic cat were inherited from its ancestor - a wild cat, a dangerous and furious hunter and predator, and are intended for stalking, hunting and killing.

Almost all five of your pet's senses have increased sensitivity compared to human ones. So, what are we better developed and what are worse developed compared to our furry comrades? A cat's vision is superior to ours at night, but inferior to ours during the day. Cats have a slightly larger viewing angle than humans.

READ Names and nicknames for black kittens boys

We have a similar range of audible sounds at low frequencies, but cats can hear sounds much higher than we can. A cat's sense of smell is fourteen times better than ours. Cats have a specialized taste, as they are carnivores that prefer to eat meat and fat. They do not have the gene that allows them to taste and enjoy sweets - this would greatly help many people diet!

Vision

Cats have excellent night vision. They can easily distinguish objects even in dimly lit environments, although they cannot see in complete darkness. There are two types of cells on a cat's retina: one type perceives vertical objects, the other - horizontal ones. Cats' vision is tuned to detect motion, so they can see moving objects that are too fast for our eyes to detect, but they have difficulty focusing on very slowly moving objects.

This ability, in addition to night vision, makes the cat a successful hunter, active at night. A unique feature of the domestic cat's eye is the shape of the pupil. A cat can see in dim light because its pupils can open three times wider than a human's. Cats also have an inner eyelid that helps clean and protect their eyes.

Cats have keen hearing, adapted specifically to detect high-pitched sounds. The ears are quite large in relation to the head and can move from side to side to catch the source of sound more accurately. Cats' ears have a unique design that carries sound into the ear canal, allowing them to hear a mouse rustling in the bushes within a 30-meter radius.

Cats can turn their ears 180 degrees. In addition, they can detect the smallest deviations in sound, identifying differences as small as one tenth of a tone. This discrimination ability helps them pinpoint the type and size of prey making noise, or quickly locate a meowing kitten.

Smell

Cats rely on their sense of smell. They always smell food before eating, and leaving their scent on objects is an integral part of cat communication. A cat's sense of smell is much better than a human's, but not as good as a dog's. A cat uses scent to find food, friends, enemies and to mark its territory.

Cats also have a unique mechanism at the top of their mouth that allows them to make special analyzes of air molecules. A pair of organs, called Jacobson's organs, allow a cat to analyze the air it inhales through its mouth rather than through its nose. There are several hypotheses about how cats use Jacobson's organs, including: searching for food, predicting unusual events such as earthquakes, and sensing sexual odors or pheromones.

Compared to humans, cats have little taste for food. We have 9,000 taste buds, while cats only have 473. Thus, cats smell food rather than taste it. Cats use taste to determine whether foods are edible to them. Since they are carnivores, their sense of taste is aimed at identifying proteins and fats in food.

Cats are also not very sensitive to the taste of salty or sweet. Food straight from the refrigerator is not meant for these animals, whose wild ancestors ate freshly killed victims. Try heating your pet's food if she doesn't eat it very well. This will enhance the aroma and improve your pet's appetite.

Touch

Like their human companions, cats have sensory receptors throughout their bodies. The paw pads and whiskers are especially sensitive. They are particularly rich in nerve cells that transmit sensations of pressure, temperature and pain to the brain, but these cells are found throughout the body. The most sensitive places on a cat's body are the face and front paws.

koshka.by

What tastes does a cat have?

Bitter

Cats have a sharply negative attitude towards this taste. Even in the lowest concentration, it is recognizable and alarming. It's in the genes of meowing pets. It is bitterness that serves as a warning about harmful, even poisonous products or objects. Moreover, there is quite a lot of really poisonous stuff in the house, especially for a small kitten, such an inquisitive and restless one - indoor plants, cheap toys, household chemicals.

Humans have long been actively using the ability of pets to avoid bitter taste for educational purposes in the form. Bitter-tasting liquids that do not irritate the skin and mucous membranes can be used even in the area of wounds, bandages and stitches, not to mention spraying furniture, fabrics, etc. With the help of such measures, the animal is weaned from sharpening its claws in the wrong places, and is stopped in the desire to lick wounds. But the bitter pill that must be fed to the animal will force the owner to be inventive.

Sour

Even the pronounced sour taste of cats is extremely attractive. Most meowing pets are very respectful of sour cream and kefir. But the owner should not forget that in large quantities sour foods are harmful to health.

Salty

The cat likes the salty taste. Some even advise adding salt to your animal’s food and drink in moderation. But it should be remembered that after salty food, the animal feels the need to drink frequently.

A group of researchers at the Monel Chemical Senses Center (USA) was looking for an answer to this rather controversial question. The conclusion was unequivocal - cats do not have sweet taste receptors, neither domestic nor wild.

We invite you to read: What is the significance of a cat’s tail?

A carnivorous predator, although tame, is forced to eat meat. He doesn’t particularly need sugar and carbohydrates, which means there’s no reason to have the appropriate receptors for sweets either. It turns out that the taste buds of cats, reacting to the meat and fats it contains, drive the animal’s appetite.

Some might argue, especially if their pet enjoys eating candy or ice cream. Most likely, the animal is attracted to the fat contained in these products. And he will find it easily.

Cats do not taste sweetness and do not experience any discomfort from it. By the way, in nature, sweet fruits are not included in the diet of members of the family.

Taste of meat

This taste has another name - broth. It's close to salty. A special umami receptor quickly recognizes glutamic acid salts in food. This is how a cat distinguishes between types of meat, fat content, and freshness of the product. These salts are found in every animal protein and are also synthesized in the body. By the way, if you add monosodium glutamate to your food, the food will become much more attractive to your cat, even if there is no meat in it. In fairness, it is worth noting that it has the same effect on humans.

Many different studies have been conducted to determine the taste of cats. There are no clear unambiguous answers. But there is certainly a connection between the preferences of a mother and her kitten. The baby will certainly choose the food that his mother cat ate, even if it is cucumbers or bananas.

Do cats feel taste?

To better understand your beloved cat and give her only the best, learn how the taste perception of furry pets works and what tastes cats cannot taste.
Taste is one of the most complex senses. Taste sensations are usually divided into four main ones: sweet, salty, sour and bitter. And recently, the taste of “umami” (the taste of high-protein substances) and the taste of water have also been distinguished. Can cats taste this? In fact, the taste of cats is different from that of humans, and what a person likes is not always to the taste of a cat.

Let's figure out how best to attract your pet to the bowl or, conversely, protect it from dangerous objects in the house.

Sour taste

The distinct sour taste is very attractive to cats, but consuming food that is high in acid can lead to health problems.

Salty taste

Animal foods contain optimal levels of sodium chloride, so salt sensitivity in cats is less developed than in omnivores. And yet cats distinguish the salty taste. If you add salt to food, your cat will eat it with greater pleasure and will also drink more water, which is definitely a plus. The main thing is not to overdo it.

Sweet taste

Do cats taste sweets? Definitely not: cats do not have sweet taste receptors, so they do not perceive sweet tastes and do not respond not only to sugar, but also to its substitutes. This feature does not cause any inconvenience to cats, because the diet of wild cats in nature does not include fruit, so cats do not need the ability to recognize sweet taste.

Bitter taste

But cats have a very negative attitude towards bitterness. Interestingly, they have a higher threshold for bitterness than other animals, such as dogs. But you can use this! With the help of bitterness, you can wean your cat from gnawing unwanted objects in the house by lightly spraying them from a spray bottle.

Umami taste

This is another taste along with sweet, salty, sour and bitter. It is also called broth or meat flavor. Since it tastes close to salty, cats react positively to it.

Other flavors

In addition to the aforementioned “basic” tastes, cats are able to recognize amino acids. This feature is characteristic of most large cats in nature. Thanks to it, the cat can determine the type of meat, its fat content, freshness and other important features. They also have water taste receptors. This is why cats often drink water from the tap or from large containers where the water does not stagnate longer.

Therefore, try to change the water in your pet's bowl at least twice a day. Remember that cats tend to remember taste for a long time. When choosing food, they are guided by past experiences. Cats quickly establish a connection between the substance they consume and the consequences for the body.

Therefore, after eating food that led to eating disorders, the cat will refuse it in the future. On the contrary, if food with a certain taste and smell gives the cat pleasure and does not lead to digestive disorders, the cat will be willing to eat it again. However, a variety of tastes is very important for a cat from childhood.

In the Whiskas® range you can find both dry and wet diets to provide a complete and varied diet for your pet. Take a closer look at the variety of Whiskas® diets in a special article.

Reasons for the popularity of cats

A century ago, cats were bred mainly to hunt mice and rats. Now, for this purpose, a cat is taken into the house only in 10% of cases. The main reason why people now decide to adopt a kitten is the opportunity to interact with the animal.

According to statistics, the main cat lovers are pensioners over 60 years of age (43%) and single women (36%).

Most pensioners keep cats at home

Interestingly, only 25% of cat owners preferred purebred and rare animals - in this case, when choosing an animal, cat owners are guided not only by the desire to find a friend, but also to confirm their status or start a business selling kittens.

Other flavors

Remember that cats tend to remember taste for a long time. When choosing food, they are guided by past experiences. Cats quickly establish a connection between the substance they consume and the consequences for the body. Therefore, after eating food that led to eating disorders, the cat will refuse it in the future.

However, a variety of tastes is very important for a cat from childhood.

Source

Interesting facts about cats and cats

Pet owners tend to humanize their pets, and this is their big mistake. Domestic cats, despite their long history of living side by side with people, have not lost their special animal habits. They do everything differently, and even hear, see and taste differently than you and I.

The difference between how a person and a cat sees the world around them is obvious

Taste perception

People have 9 thousand receptors on their tongue, but cats have only 473. Our meowing friends distinguish tastes, but their palette will not be as bright as ours, without the ability to distinguish taste “halftones” (for an animal there will be several variations of hot or sour united). The only taste that a cat does not feel at all is sweet. Any sugary dessert for a cat will be tasteless.

A cat may try sweets, but not because of the taste, but because of curiosity or an interesting smell for them

They have little discernment of salty taste, so they will easily eat a very salty dish, and this is unsafe. But cats secrete bitterness better than us - this is a protective mechanism that protects the animal from possible poisoning.

Do cats sweat?

Cats have 10 times fewer sebaceous glands than humans, so they sweat very little. This is due to the fact that cats rarely run for a long time (in their nature they lie in wait for their prey, and do not catch up), moreover, the copious secretion of odorous sweat would prevent them from hunting. If cats need to lower their temperature, they try to lie on a cold surface, use changes in the frequency and depth of breathing, and wet their fur with saliva, which will increase heat transfer.

When overheated, cats can, like dogs, open their mouths and breathe rapidly.

Sphynxes are the only cats that sweat

The cat clearly reacts to certain phrases: he responds to a nickname, knows when he is called to eat or is about to be scolded. Some animals even understand commands (“place” or “fetch”). The most intelligent cats are able to remember the meaning of several dozen words (memorization occurs after 5-6 repetitions, while dogs require 12-15 repetitions).

Cats can remember the meaning of some words and commands, but they still react more to intonation, voice volume, and gestures.

Cats' memory is based on conditioned reflexes, not feelings. The pet will easily remember what resulted in the necessary conditions (delicious food, privacy, encouragement, etc.). But associative connections in the memory of cats must be built quickly: if more than 3-7 minutes have passed between cause and effect, then memorization will not occur.

If a cat is separated from her brothers, sisters, mother and her own kittens for a couple of months, then when she meets them she will not recognize them - all because in nature, family ties are not important for a cat and any other animals become competitors for resources and territory

Cats see well at a distance of 70 cm to 5.5 m. And such farsightedness is justified: a normal mouse will not fit into its mouth on its own, it must be seen from afar. What is important is that a cat is able to concentrate on a specific object; its eyes cannot “bring clarity” to a large-diameter picture.

We suggest you read: What to do if your cat pulls wallpaper and how to wean him off

As for hearing, it is 4 times sharper than that of a person. This is helped by the shape of the auricle and its location like an antenna - even muffled sounds are well caught in such a pointed funnel.

Many white, blue-eyed cats are born hearing impaired or deaf due to a genetic defect.

Play behavior

Games for cats are training of hunting instincts. Favorite entertainment is to track, catch, catch and fight.

Kitten games are preparation for adulthood

The tendency to be playful is largely determined by the breed. For example, Persian, Burmese and ragdoll cats are considered the calmest and most unplayful. Siamese, Abyssinians and Orientals are very active in childhood and will drive their owners crazy with their wild jumps and desire to catch and pat everything around. But most representatives of these breeds practically stop being naughty by the age of two.

Cats and water

Very few cats are calm about water, much less voluntarily agree to take a dip in the bath.

It is believed that of all the breeds, the Bengal shorthair cat is best suited to water procedures.

The cat refuses to bathe because the water pushes out the air gap between the fur and skin. This layer warms the animal, and wet wool, on the contrary, promotes rapid heat transfer. In addition, it is heavy, the cat becomes slower, which means that in case of danger it will be more difficult for it to escape from the enemy.

Why does a cat show interest in sweets?

Many owners often notice how their domestic cat persistently reaches out and even demands sweet foods: chocolate, candy, ice cream, cookies, marshmallows, cakes, etc. How hard it is to resist treating your little friend with such a delicious dessert! But is it possible to give chocolate or cookies to domestic cats without subjecting their body to certain stresses?

In fact, cats genetically lack a taste receptor that recognizes sweets, so when they consume various desserts and chocolate, they do not experience the pleasure of a pleasant taste at all.

So why does a cat reach for such products? This interest is caused by other components that are understandable for the body of a carnivorous predator. Many sweets contain protein, carbohydrates, vegetable, dairy fats and other elements that are useful and necessary for the cat’s body.

Based on this information, many owners can draw the appropriate conclusions: this means that cats can have sweets and even need them! But, unfortunately, this opinion is somewhat erroneous, and we will tell you why!

When sugar enters the cat’s body, it “absorbs” the beneficial elements necessary for proper development and growth. In small quantities, consumption of sweets will go unnoticed by your pet, but in excess, these products can cause serious harm.

You should also consider the high carbohydrate content of sweet dishes. When consuming them, it is necessary to maintain the most active and energetic lifestyle possible. But can domestic cats allow such an active pastime in the cramped conditions of a small living space?

All these treats will lead to the accumulation of fat deposits. Obesity is a dangerous condition for cats that impairs the functioning of internal organs and other important body systems. The consequence of eating sweet food can be the early death of a domestic cat.

During the tasting process, the animal’s body does not recognize sugar, so the pet can eat a large portion without controlling the permissible dosage of the forbidden substance. As a result of such overfeeding, serious poisoning, allergic reactions and other adverse consequences for the small predator can occur.

If cats do not recognize the taste of sugar, and their body only suffers from such food, then why do they urgently demand dessert and eat sweet dishes with such pleasure? This question troubles the minds of many owners. Let's listen to what experienced experts have to say in defense of animals!

The main reasons why cats love sweets:

they are attracted by the pleasant smell of dessert, which often has various synthetic additives that cause a wild appetite;
a cat can appreciate the consistency of a sweet dish, and therefore will happily absorb the next portion, imagining with all its appearance that it receives incredible pleasure from this food, which in reality is not at all the case;
an unbalanced diet in cats, in which there is a lack of carbohydrates in food, makes the pet want to eat sweets;
vitamin deficiency, in which there is also a lack of useful minerals and vitamins in the animal’s body;
Some furry representatives of the feline family simply love to eat from the table or from the hands of their beloved owner, so they react to any treat with a joyful reaction.

Having learned many specific facts about the body of an animal that is unable to recognize and digest food containing sugar, you can come to the right decision - exclude sweet dishes from your pet’s menu.

Signs associated with cats

According to popular observations, cats intuitively sense change. They say that by observing the behavior of your pet, you can predict the weather, the arrival of guests, an impending illness, a change for the better or misfortune:

a cat sleeps with its belly up - to the heat;
the cat curled up into a tight ball - it will soon get colder;
the cat washes its face all day - wait for guests;

A cat washing itself means the imminent arrival of guests
a cat reaches out to a person - for a new thing;
a cat rubbing against a person’s ear means an increase in money;
The cat sneezed three times - someone in the house will get sick.

By the way, it is believed that if a cat lies on a sick person, then it cannot be driven away, since the animal takes the illness upon itself.

It is believed that a red cat in the house attracts money, a black one wards off evil spirits, a white one protects the health of its owners, and a tricolor one is responsible for peace in the family.

What sweets should you not give?

As we have already said, cats should never be given chocolate, which is regarded as a real poison for the animal, as well as ice cream with an excess of sugar, which will lead to serious poisoning and intoxication of the body.

Fermented milk products are recommended for feeding cats, but not all. The ban includes glazed cheese curds, sweet yoghurts, curds with various fillings, the Snowball drink and other products containing sugar, dyes and additives harmful to the body of cats.

Sweets, sweets and confectionery products are prohibited. All these products provoke serious diseases that shorten the life span of a pet.

What harm does sugar have on cats?

destroys healthy cells and leads to oxygen deficiency in tissues;
weakens the animal's immunity;
leads to kidney failure;
causes the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
provokes the development of diabetes mellitus and obesity;
high risks of developing allergic reactions;
problems with teeth and gums appear.

If you want to keep your furry family member healthy and live longer, eliminate all foods containing glucose from your diet! The sweet life will result in very “unsweet” consequences for your cat.

Let's figure it out: can cats have sweets or not? Why do cats love sweets?

Can cats have chocolate?

Definitely no. Any veterinarian will tell you that this product is poison for your cat. Chocolate contains substances such as theobromine or methylxanthine, and excess of them can be fatal.

One of the biggest problems is that a cat, not feeling the taste of sweets, can eat a product that is harmful to it in large quantities. Excess theobromine causes increased heart rate, has a negative effect on the nervous system and can even lead to convulsions and seizures. The cat's body is not able to absorb large amounts of glucose and sweets cause excessive production of insulin, to which the cat's body loses sensitivity over time, leading to a disease such as diabetes.

Why does a cat eat ice cream?

The cat happily eats ice cream as a dairy product. A seemingly harmless treat of ice cream can lead to an overdose of sugar, which enters the cat’s body unnoticed and can lead to serious poisoning with vomiting and diarrhea. How to provide first aid to a cat, read the article The cat is sick.

Sugar not only causes digestive upset, but also causes dental disease.

So, let's name the main reasons why a cat can't have sweets.

Sweets lead to the development of urolithiasis. With an increased sugar content in food, the kidneys cannot cope with their function, increase in size and work under increased load.
Sweets lead to the development of diabetes. Increased glucose content in sweet foods leads to the development of this insidious disease.
Sweets lead to decreased immunity. When eating sweets, the entire digestive system suffers, because the cat’s body is not designed to process such food products.

If you want to pamper your cat with something tasty, buy cat treats at the pet store, which will not only please your cat with their taste, but will also take care of maintaining the health of your pet.

Only proper feeding of your cat will keep it active and healthy for many years.

How to choose cat food, read the article Choosing cat food

Is it the gene's fault that cats don't taste sweets?

Scientists from the American Center for Chemical Senses Monel were concerned with the question of what taste cats, cats and kittens do not feel. Studies of blood and saliva samples taken from six members of the cat family, including a cheetah, lion, jaguar and tiger, showed that the gene responsible for the formation of the sweet receptor does not work in all animals.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with: Turkish Van - photo of the cat, description of the characteristics of the breed and characteristics of the Turkish Van cat

True, there is no consensus on what was the cause and what was the effect. Some scientists believe that the gene “disappeared” during the process of evolution - it simply became unnecessary for cats, which eat mainly meat. Others believe that cats became “meat eaters” precisely because they initially did not know the sense of sweetness and did not enjoy eating fruits and berries.

Do cats taste sweets? Definitely not: cats do not have sweet taste receptors, so they do not perceive sweet tastes and do not respond not only to sugar, but also to its substitutes. This feature does not cause any inconvenience to cats, because the diet of wild cats in nature does not include fruit, so cats do not need the ability to recognize sweet taste.

In what form can a cat eat sweets?

Nature has not endowed the cat’s body with the ability to synthesize insulin, which breaks down sugar; large amounts of glucose are simply not absorbed. Therefore, all confectionery products, sweet yoghurts, and drinks are prohibited to those with a mustache, even if they express a desire to treat themselves.

This happens in the case of vitamin deficiency, the desire to get food from the owner’s hands, sympathy for a certain consistency of food, or a tempting aroma.

You can offer your cat a healthy alternative - apple, plum, pear, apricot, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries. Many people like honey, but the product is a strong allergen; it is necessary to introduce it into the diet in small doses, monitoring the body’s reaction.

Dry and fresh fruits do not force the cat to eat if he doesn’t want to. Wanting to give your pet a cooling treat, they freeze natural milk. Cats happily eat this homemade ice cream; the lack of sugar in it does not bother the animals.

The right sweet foods, eaten voluntarily by your pet, will benefit your health and become a source of pleasant emotions, vitamins, fiber, and valuable microelements. You shouldn’t humanize a cat by thinking that it gets tired of eating a high-quality, complete, but monotonous menu. What do you give your pet for dessert?