Scottish Folding Cat (details)

Cats are natural gourmets and carnivores, so cats are very picky about their food. Many parents take great pains on their diet, but cats just lose face and still don't like to eat. The latest research results of American scientists show that cats have genetic reasons for developing their unique eating habits.

1. This research was completed by Monet Chemical Sensory Center in Philadelphia, USA. Researchers at the center obtained saliva and blood samples from six cats, including a tiger and a cheetah besides cats. The results of sample analysis show that other mammals can make "sweet receptors" on their tongues through a specific gene, thus enjoying a sweet taste; However, this gene in these six cats failed to produce one of the two protein necessary for the production of sweet receptors.

2. All mammals have receptor cells on their tongues, which transmit taste signals to the brain for processing. Receptor cells are gathered together to form taste buds. A human taste bud consists of 5 to 1 receptor cells, which can perceive five main tastes: salty taste, sour taste, sweet taste, bitter taste and soap taste (soap taste is the taste produced by monosodium glutamate and some fermented bean foods). Most mammals' sweet receptors are composed of two kinds of protein, and cats just lack one of them.

3. One of the sponsors of this research is a large American pet food manufacturing company, which hopes to develop more popular cat food through this kind of research. At present, the company has the right to commercialize the results first. Brand also pointed out that their research results can help veterinarians treat sick cats, because cats are very picky animals, and it is very important to cook delicious food for a sick cat.

4. Other experts believe that this study can also help scientists to further understand human diseases related to diet and how diet affects evolution. Dr Alan Hirsch, from the smell and taste therapy research institute in Chicago, said: This study proves that obesity and other related diseases, such as diabetes, are not only caused by excessive love of sweets. He said, "Some cats can grow very fat even though they don't like sweets."