Mar. 8

Cats lack the ability to taste sweetness, unlike every other mammal examined to date.

The tongues of most mammals hold taste receptors—proteins on the cellular surface that bind to an incoming substance, activating the cell's internal workings that lead to a signal being sent to the brain. Humans enjoy five kinds of taste buds (possibly six): sour, bitter, salty, umami (or meatiness) and sweet (as well as possibly fat). The sweet receptor is actually made up of two coupled proteins generated by two separate genes: known as Tas1r2 and Tas1r3.

When working properly, the two genes form the coupled protein and when something sweet enters the mouth the news is rushed to the brain, primarily because sweetness is a sign of rich carbohydrates—an important food source for plant-eaters and the nondiscriminating, like humans. But cats are from the noble lineage Carnivora and, unlike some of its lesser members, such as omnivorous bears or, even more appalling, herbivorous pandas, they exclusively eat meat.

Whether as a result of this dietary choice or the cause of it, all cats—lions, tigers and British longhairs,—lack 247 base pairs of the amino acids that make up the DNA of the Tas1r2 gene. As a result, it does not code for the proper protein, it does not merit the name gene (only pseudogene), and it does not permit cats to taste sweets. They don't taste sweet the way we do.

Scientists do know, however, that cats can taste things we cannot, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the compound that supplies the energy in every living cell. There isn't a lot hanging around in meat, but it's a signal for meat. And plenty of other animals have a different array of receptors, from chickens that also lack the sweet gene to catfish that can detect amino acids in water at nanomolar concentrations. Their receptor is more sensitive than the background concentration. The catfish that detects the rotting food first is the one that survives.

So far, cats are alone among mammals in lacking the sweet gene; even close relatives among the meat-eaters like hyenas and mongooses have it. And cats may lack other components of the ability to enjoy (and digest) sugars, such as glucokinase in their livers—a key enzyme that controls the metabolism of carbohydrates and prevents glucose from flooding the animal. Despite this, most major pet food manufacturers use corn or other grains in their meals. This may be why cats are getting diabetes. Cat food today has around 20 percent carbohydrates. The cats are not used to that, they can't handle it.

go

Yep, cats cannot taste sweets. I first read that about 30 years ago.
Cats are apparently the only animal that reacts to the plant, Catnip (nepeta cataria). It's a genetic thing among them, and some individual cats don't get giddy, excited or playful when exposed to catnip.
Nope, catnip has no such effect on humans. It makes a good tea when humans have a cold, and may be chopped and put into salad as a substitute for mint, but you won't find yourself rolling on the floor, pie-eyed.
Catnip is a member of the mint family. It looks very much like mint, having the characteristic square stems, small broad leaves and spike-like clusters of flowers.
I grow catnip for my cats. It's easily done but must be grown in a hanging basket, out of their reach. A cat can smell the tiniest sprout of catnip when it breaks surface, and will chew it off at ground level. To give catnip a chance to grow and flower, it must be grown in a hanging basket or within a fence that is cat-proof.

Cats may not taste sweets, but some cats like things that are sweet. My own cats like yogurt, sugar cookies and ice cream. They wanted some, so I gave them a very small piece as an experiment. In this case, they're attracted to the texture or the presence of other ingredients (cream, shortening, etc.). I don't often give my cats milk or ice cream, but reserve it as a treat. They get canned food twice a day, and always have a bowl of dry food for nibbling, and fresh water.
So between the catnip, canned food, dry food, clean water, sleeping on my bed, regular exams by the vet, lounging on the couch or sitting in folding chairs on the patio, my three cats have it mighty good.
I've often said, "If reincarnation exists, I want to come back as one of Gatofeo's cats. What a life!"

This is why you need to feed your cats meat.

You mean like bunny rabbits.

Bunny rabbits, squirrels, mice, the occassional chihauhua...

This may seem a rather strange reply and one more suited to the "Urban Legends" forum, but here goes...


One day when I was outside talking to my neighbour he noticed some old car batteries that I had sitting on the floor of my carport, and told me that I should put them up where the cats could not get at them.

I was a little curious as to why, and he told me that cats are attracted to the corrosion that forms on the terminals of old batteries, and that they will lick the battery clean if given the chance.

Of course the conversation also switched to the topic of "antifreeze poisoning" (hmmm some of you folks probably have no idea what I'm taking about).

I've never heard about cats being attracted to batteries, but I do know for a fact that they will drink antifreeze.. and what's odd about that is I was told they were attracted to the sweet taste of it.

My cat loves to lick plastic and eat things that have adhesive on them, hates catnip and loves pumpkin bread and banana bread.

My sister's cat loves chocolate and catnip.

Our other cat loves garbage, sweets, most anything, but not catnip (she was a stray that was living in a bird nest as a kitten when she adopted us, that is why she enjoys garbage)

Cat will eat some strange things. I have to watch rubber bands around my cat cause she will eat them. Antifreeze poisoning is a hazard it is best to use the non-poisonous kind, I do.

One thing cats to need besides meat is greens. They need them for minerals. My cat loves to eat grass.

Never feed dogs or cats chocolate it is poisonous to them!

Thanks for the quote, It couldn't have come at a more perfect time. Now all I have to do is convince my wife

I know, my sister has to push her cat away whenever she eats chocolate, the cat is all over her. It's sad, she just wants it so bad D:

Especialy bunny rabbits.

Those are the best.

My cats used to love ice cream but it was probably because it was creamy.

animals eat weird things, as do humans i guess! I mean thing about how we drink cows milk- we are the only animals on this plant who drink another animals milk.
This might be a little off subject, but my rabbit ate strawberries- which i was told really unusual.

But poor cats, can you imagine not being able to taste sweet stuff! i would die during "that time of the month"- chocolate is my faviout- especially tim tams!

Dogs and bunnies eat their own poop can't get much weirder than that.