As we all know, pet cats are very picky eaters. Anyone who likes to raise cats knows about their "problem", but they don't know the reason why they are picky eaters. Now, scientists have largely uncovered the secret to this feline eating habit, and the answer is: a genetic defect. To put it more specifically, cats lack “sweet taste receptors” and they cannot taste sweetness at all. This may also be an important reason why cats become carnivores that rely on high protein to survive.

Norwegian Forest Cat

Cats have many hobbies: stealing fish, catching mice, and sleeping in. But no one can associate cats with sweets. No matter how high-quality sweets are put in front of cats, they won’t even smell it. However, have you ever thought about why cats don’t like sweets? In fact, not just cats, felines basically don’t like sweets. Why is this?

Due to a genetic defect, cats are unable to taste sweet foods.

Researchers at the Menil Chemical Senses Research Center in Philadelphia, USA, and their collaborators recently published the results of their study. They discovered a defective gene in cats that may prevent them from detecting sweet taste. With the exception of cats, almost all mammals on the planet can taste sweetness to varying degrees.

Researchers took saliva and blood samples from six cats, including a tiger and a cheetah, and found that they all had a defective gene that other mammals use. Generates "sweet taste receptors" on the tongue. The "sweet taste receptor" is formed by two proteins called "T1R2" and "T1R3", but cats do not produce one of these two important proteins, T1R2, due to a genetic defect.

"We spent about three years trying to figure out why cats don't like sweets," said Joseph Brand, deputy director of the Meunier Chemical Senses Research Center, who led the study. He also joked: "Because felines Animals can't taste sweet food at all, so if you feed them sweet food, they will naturally feel it is boring and may even throw a tantrum." Brand's report is published in the latest issue of the magazine published by the Public Library of Science. Genetics.

The lack of "sweet taste receptors" may be an important reason why cats become carnivores.