Why do cats love tuna so much? Scientists may finally know

science.org ^

[Bullish]

I had a great cat. He preferred Tuna over all other wet cat food. Unfortunately, the coyotes around here preferred cat.

[algore]

“When was the last time you saw one in the desert?”

I saw on licking my ice cream cone just the other day.

desert, dessert? I never was good at speling whatever

[Fungi]

How doesthat prove they “evolved?”

[drwoof]

You Done Good by the gatos!

[rlmorel]

I just caught this this 44 inch Striped Bass the other day:

I had to throw this one back (it was too big, you can only keep it for eating if it is between 29 inches and 31 inches long). But we did catch one last week on that charter we could keep and bring home to eat.

When I was cleaning the filets, I like to take off the dark colored meat, I think it tastes fishy. So I gave the stuff I removed to my cats, and they enthusiastically chowed it down.

I caught some Pollak and Haddock recently and gave the trimmings to my cats, and one was indifferent but unenthusiastically ate it, while the other one turned up his nose at it!

I guess they have standards-they only like the good stuff like the Striper!

[Ouderkirk]

Both of my cats presently refuse to eat fish of any kind. It’s really odd. My previous cats would nearly tear you arm off once the can was opened.

[oldvirginian]

😜

[Don W]

So, all I need to do is coat my fussy cat’s food with MSG and he’ll eat! Eureka! My world is SAVED!

[Don W]

They may be averse to water, but I had a cat that used to go fishing in the fish tank I had. She left the goldfish and other species alone. EXCEPT for the Plecostomus. She ate at least five of them until I put a cover over the tank she couldn’t dislodge.

[Jonty30]

I think it depends on what they grew up with.

[logi_cal869]

My neighbor’s cat loves mouse heads.

Headless carcasses are all that are left.

Umami. /s

[Salamander]

My dad gave me a bag of fresh deer legs for my mixed pack of Dobermans and Ibizan Hounds.

Things went from sweet gentle puppers to bloody call of the wild in 20 seconds flat.

Had a helluva time getting the deer legs away from them before werewolf mode kicked in.

Geeze.

[Celtic Conservative]

So you lost that argument and now you’re pivoting? I said quite specifically leaving the question of evolution out, cats are indigenous to Africa. And since your reading comprehension is abysmally low, I bid you goodnight.

CC

[jmacusa]

EWWWWW!

[Libloather]

I think it tastes fishy.

Isn't that the whole point of catching - fish?

[COBOL2Java]

My cat’s on steroid pills (prednisolone) for his digestive issues. It has a terrible taste. The vet suggested I crush the pill and stir it into something that has a strong umami scent. I tried tuna, and it works. He eats it all up.

[COBOL2Java]

Smells like Cankles?

"Smells like Cankles? What are you, nuts?"

[rlmorel]

One would think...but as I have aged, my tastes have changed. I no longer enjoy fish except for a few types...I still enjoy Cod, Striper, and Halibut, but I have no appetite for other types of fish.

When I was cleaning the striper filets, I was gratified to notice that they had no smell to them...what turns me off is either a fishy smell or fishy taste...I only eat white fish now, and only certain kinds. I can’t eat salmon, but I was never a fan anyway.

[mewzilla]

Our current feline overlord likes fish.

He likes poultry.

Likes beef.

But you don’t want to let him anywhere near bacon.

He really, really loves bacon.

Go figure.

[mewzilla]

Here's a link to the study...

Umami taste perception and preferences of the domestic cat (Felis catus), an obligate carnivore

Doesn't look like the eggheads were spending their own money, but it's from the UK, so hopefully it wasn't ours.