What Food Tastes Like to a Cat

What Food Tastes Like to a Cat

@...@**Cats are known as picky eaters,** said Monell Center molecular biologist and study lead author Peihua Jiang// **Now that we know that they can taste© different bitters, our work may lead to better formulations of cat food that eliminate the bitter off~taste associated with certain flavors and nutrients//**

@...@For the study, Jiang and colleagues examined DNA from domestic cats and identified 12 different genes for cat bitter receptors// The scientists then probed the© receptor cells to see if one or more of 25 bitter~tasting chemicals activated them// The researchers confirmed that at least seven of the identified 12 receptors did indeed have the ability to detect one or more bitter chemicals// It is likely that the other five receptors have this ability too, but that they may respond to bitter compounds not included in© this particular study//