Cats Can’t Taste Sweetness — But Why?
It may sound strange, but cats can’t taste sweetness. Their tongues don’t have the receptor needed to detect sugary flavors — specifically the Tas1r2 gene that most mammals use to sense sweetness.
This isn’t just a weird fact — it’s part of feline evolution. Cats are strict carnivores, and their ancestors never needed to eat fruit or carbs. Over time, their sweet taste receptor simply disappeared.
🧠 Why it matters: Understanding why cats can’t taste sweetness helps explain their behavior — like ignoring sugary treats — and reveals how animals evolve based on their diet.