Supports lean muscle, for dogs who prefer smaller kibble
Supports healthy joints, lean muscle, and beautiful coat for large breed dogs
Supports lean muscle and beautiful coat for adult dogs
Grain free, easy-to-digest food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
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Dr. Laci Schaible
|January 31, 2022
Cats are known for their night vision, unmatched jumping abilities and even nine lives, but what cat food tastes like to cats is not as well documented.
Scientists do know feline taste buds are far less complex than our own, and that's likely rooted in evolution. According to Scientific American, cats are the only mammals that lack taste receptors for sweetness. They do seem to have taste receptors for sour, bitter, salty, umami (savoriness) and possibly fat along with a taste for something we don't have: adenosine triphosphate (ATP). While researchers don't entirely understand this taste profile, ATP seems to be a signal for meat as it is the compound that supplies the energy in every living cell.
But how exactly do we know what cat food tastes like to cats and if they even like it? With wet vs. dry cat food, tuna vs. chicken, gravy vs. sauce and all the other choices out there, let's dig into the different types of cat food options and some of your cat's potential food preferences.
There are three main categories of commercially available cat food, each in a variety of flavors:
According to Merck Veterinary Manual, dry foods make up the most popular type of commercially produced cat food in the U.S. and other countries. Also called kibble, these foods generally contain about 90% dry matter and 10% water. They are available in a variety of flavors and specialty formulations, such as indoor cat formula and hairball formula. Some dry foods are formulated to help prevent dental calculus accumulation.
Canned cat foods contain closer to 70%–80% water and 20%–30% dry matter. Wet cat food is safe to be refrigerated for up to three days but is not stable for long when left at room temperature. Because cats typically eat many times a day, instead of in one or two large meals, uneaten wet food is prone to forming a crust on the outermost parts as it dries up, decreasing both its palatability and convenience, as the dishes have to be repeatedly cleaned.
These types of cat food are what they sound like: softened kibble pieces that aren't dry and crumbly but also aren't wet and soggy like canned food. They often come in pouches, and their ratios of water to dry matter are 25%–40% to 60%–75% respectively. The advantage these have over wet food primarily is the convenience factor since they usually don't require refrigeration and their preservatives assure shelf life.
There are several questions to ask your vet to help you pick the most appropriate food for your cat. Reviewing meal choices with your vet is a good habit to incorporate at each appointment, regardless of whether it's for wellness or illness. Here are some questions to consider asking your vet:
All in all, there is no one-size-fits-all kind of food, texture or flavor for any of our cats and no single way to know exactly what cat food tastes like to cats. In addition to trying samples to identify your cat's individual food preferences, consult your vet for guidance on selecting the best cat food. The adage "you are what you eat" holds true with our feline family members as choosing the right food can help your cat live a longer and healthier life.
Dr. Laci Schaible is a small animal veterinarian, veterinary journalist, and a thought leader in the industry. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M University and her Masters in Legal Studies from Wake Forest University.
Natural fiber comfortably reduces hairballs
Grain free, easy-to-digest food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
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