Palatable Foods for Cats
- Equipo NUPEC®
Does your cat have a very demanding palate? If so, you are probably an owner who is always looking for foods with flavors that will satisfy your pet's tastes.
To help you in your search, in this NUPEC Blog article we explain why cats are so picky about their food and which palatable cat foods can help stimulate their appetite. Keep reading to find out.
Why are cats so picky about their food?
Several scientific studies, such as the one published in 2005 titled “Pseudogenization of a Sweet-Receptor Gene Accounts for Cats' Indifference toward Sugar”, have found that, unlike other mammals, cats lack the genes and physiological features needed to taste sweet things. Experts believe this genetic difference is why cats prefer proteins (and their flavors) over carbohydrates and sweets.
On top of this, cats have a strong sense of smell, so aroma is a decisive factor in their tastes. Finally, it is believed that cats are so fussy about food because their dietary preferences form when they are kittens; some experts point out that their tastes develop as early as gestation and nursing, as a result of the flavors the mother exposes them to during their first stage of life.
These are some of the likely explanations for why cats are so particular about what they eat. But whatever the origin of their tastes or preferences, to help cats fully enjoy their food, animal nutrition science has developed concepts such as palatability, which allows a pet to accept and enjoy a food thanks to characteristics such as smell, taste and texture.
That is why cats with demanding palates should eat highly palatable foods—but what are these options?
Which palatable cat foods are easiest to find?
To support your cat's conscious scientific nutrition, NUPEC® offers a wide variety of cat foods, including cat kibble and wet cat food, formulated by veterinarians to include all the nutrients cats need for optimal physical development and designed to be highly palatable, meaning they have the right smell, taste and texture to stimulate your cat's appetite.
The NUPEC Feline line offers your pet high palatability in all its presentations. These products are also easy to find: you can buy them at your trusted veterinary clinic, in department stores (Liverpool, Fábricas de Francia), in specialized online stores and from NUPEC® authorized distributors.
To find where to buy our highly palatable products, visit our Where to Buy section.
At NUPEC®, we are committed to enhancing the health, beauty and life of pets through responsible scientific nutrition, bringing fulfillment to their owners.
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Frequently asked questions
Why is my cat so picky about food?
Cats lack the genes to taste sweetness, so they prefer proteins; they also rely heavily on smell, and their tastes are shaped from kittenhood.
Can cats taste sweetness?
No. A 2005 study showed that they lack a functional sweet taste receptor.
