What makes food appealing to dogs and cats?

What makes food appealing to dogs and cats?

If you have a fussy pet, you probably feel like you’ve tried every flavour combination under the sun searching for a food your pet will eat. Chicken, beef, fish, venison, pork, lamb and more – there are a lot of flavour options out there. However, flavour is not necessarily the thing your pet is turning their nose up at.

That’s a fact.

There are other components of food that dogs and cats find more appealing than flavour.

It’s important to note that food preferences are subjective.

Your pet is an individual, with their own preferences when it comes to food. It can take a bit of experimentation to figure out which flavours, textures, and temperatures your pet finds most appealing.

Aroma, temperature, and texture are more important to dogs and cats than flavour.

Dogs and cats have fewer taste buds than humans do¹. On average, humans have 2000-8000 taste buds on their tongues. In contrast, dogs only have about 1700 taste buds and cats have around 470 taste buds. Cats also don’t have functioning taste receptors for sweetness.

Dogs and cats may not have many taste buds, but they do have strong olfactory (smell) senses and can detect many more distinct aroma profiles in food than humans can. They will take the time to sniff their food before taking a bite. It’s no surprise that food with a strong aroma that appeals to your pet is one they’re more likely to eat.

Temperature is another factor that can change the appeal of food for your pet. This is thought to relate to how temperature may influence aromas – warmer food has a stronger aroma. In one study examining the palatability of wet food for senior cats at different temperature levels, it was found that most of the cats preferred slightly warm or room temperature food over cold food².

Texture relates to the form of the food. Is it a soft, wet food with lots of gravy or more of a loaf? Is it made up of crunchy, easy-to-break pieces or does it require more time and effort to chew? Different animals will have different preferences when it comes to texture.

Make sure there’s not a medical reason for your pet’s inappetence.

If your pet suddenly goes off their food or changes their usual eating habits, don’t just brush it off as them being fussy. There’s always the chance your pet is refusing food because they’re unwell or have another issue like mouth pain, so it’s important to visit your vet and make sure there’s no medical reason behind their unusual food refusal.

The Nosh Project is an easy way to add interesting textures, aromas, and visuals to your pet’s normal diet.

Best served at room temperature, Nosh bowls contain a wide range of meat, vegetables, and other high-quality ingredients that are sure to tempt your pet with interesting aromas and textures.

Add a bit of variety to your pet’s diet with Nosh.

Shop Nosh today

Want to learn more?

1. Waltham pocket book of essential nutrition for cats and dogs 2^nd Edited by D. Grandjean & R. Butterwick.
2. Aging cats prefer warm food by R. Eyre et al. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 2021; 47:86-92.