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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / July 2005Cats Have No Sweet Tooth?
I have to wonder about this sometimes... The complete article can be found here: http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/07/25/feline.sweet.gene.ap/index.html Genetic flaw leaves felines without sweet tooth SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Cats are notoriously finicky eaters, as millions of pet owners can attest. Now, there's a scientific theory explaining, at least in part, why cats have such snobby eating habits: genetics. Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia and their collaborators said Sunday they found a dysfunctional feline gene that probably prevents cats from tasting sweets, a sensation nearly every other mammal on the planet experiences to varying degrees. Researchers took saliva and blood samples from six cats, including a tiger and a cheetah and found each had a useless gene that other mammals use to create a "sweet receptor" on their tongues. The gene in question does not produce one of the two vital proteins needed to form the receptors. "Because cats can't taste sweets, they're cranky," joked Joseph Brand, Monell's associate director and an author of the paper being published Sunday in the inaugural issue of the Public Library of Science's journal Genetics. <snip> Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha ============ http://www.jhedge.com Lacking a sweet tooth, doesn't seem to stop Meg stealing marshmallows, and chewing them, dropping sticky bits everywhere. Mind you, she is the only one of our cats who likes sweet stuff to eat, so maybe there's somthing in it. Kate. (Owned by Fudge, Caramel & Meg) > Lacking a sweet tooth, doesn't seem to stop Meg stealing marshmallows, > and chewing them, dropping sticky bits everywhere. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Kate. > (Owned by Fudge, Caramel & Meg) The irony of your other two cat's names gave me a big smile. Thanks! Tweed Used to have Toffee and Treacle too (both RB). Kate. > I have to wonder about this sometimes... > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Genetic flaw leaves felines without sweet tooth Max had a sweet tooth, preferred leftover milk with sugar from cereal, but then he was part-Siamese, e.g. eccentric tastes. The male Siamese loved coffee, even "raw" instant coffee. -- "The web has got me caught. I'd rather have the blues than what I've got." <via Nat King Cole> >I have to wonder about this sometimes... > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Genetic flaw leaves felines without sweet tooth <snipped> Polly obviously doesn't have this genetic flaw - she eats Liquorice Allsorts, licks the sugar off of Shortbread, licks icing off of cakes and recently DH forgot to re-wrap the chocolate bar he had opened and I caught Polly licking it. :-)  SignatureShirley http://community.webshots.com/user/shirleycatuk Memphis and Phoenix obviously have not read this research. Sweetened milk they will go for, but not unsweetened. Ice cream, sweet puddings, sweet yogurt....... SignatureSandra >Memphis and Phoenix obviously have not read this research. Sweetened milk >they will go for, but not unsweetened. Ice cream, sweet puddings, sweet >yogurt....... I view these kind of studies just like I do the hoomin research. Seems like lots of medications work, even though the research doesn't show WHY they work. Some of that may be a placebo effect, but sometimes a drug ends up being marketed for an unintended "side effect" for which there seems to be no explanation. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Spot with loving memories of Rocky (RB) stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > I view these kind of studies just like I do the hoomin research. Seems > like lots of medications work, even though the research doesn't show > WHY they work. Some of that may be a placebo effect, but sometimes a > drug ends up being marketed for an unintended "side effect" for which > there seems to be no explanation. And some hot shot researcher has "proved" that, contrary to all the anecdotal evidence, Ecchinacea is no more effective than a placebo in fighting colds and flu! "Psychosomatic" or not, it works for me and a great many other people I know, every time I use it soon enough after the onset of symptoms. I'm not about to stop using it, just because some researcher has decided the Native-American folk-wisdom of centuries isn't true. (If it demonstrably works, who CARES whether "it's all in your head" or not?) >> I view these kind of studies just like I do the hoomin research. >> Seems like lots of medications work, even though the research [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > centuries isn't true. (If it demonstrably works, who CARES > whether "it's all in your head" or not?) I agree. I use it all the time and fully believe it works. I find that the liquid works much better than the pills though. You can only get the pills here so I have friends from Canada bring me the liquid when I run out. -- Britta "There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast." -- Unknown Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > >Memphis and Phoenix obviously have not read this research. Sweetened > >milk [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > drug ends up being marketed for an unintended "side effect" for which > there seems to be no explanation. More and more, we know, at a molecular level, how something works -- but there are still things that work in mysterious ways. One FDA approved indication that has everyone baffled is injecting morphine into the fluid of a joint following surgery. As far as anyone knew, morphine just works in the brain and spinal cord. It doesn't get into the circulation from the joint fluid, yet it suppresses pain in that joint for 48-72 hours. Of course, there was the orthopedist who was operating on the knee of an exceptionally charming and beautiful gymnast. Looking sadly through the arthroscope, he wondered, "What's a joint like you doing in a nice girl like this?" This is somewhat on topic, as it can be observed that female gymnasts tend to imitate feline movement, but not as well. > Of course, there was the orthopedist who was operating on the knee of an > exceptionally charming and beautiful gymnast. Looking sadly through the > arthroscope, he wondered, "What's a joint like you doing in a nice girl > like this?" Hmmm. Not a good response. Patronising. Compare it with if he was doing the same operation on a man and you'll understand what I mean. > This is somewhat on topic, as it can be observed that > female gymnasts tend to imitate feline movement, but not as well. Stop digging a deeper hole, Howard. Retire to bed straight away and learn a little about feminism ;-) Tweed > > Of course, there was the orthopedist who was operating on the knee of an > > exceptionally charming and beautiful gymnast. Looking sadly through the [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Tweed I don't think Howard is a sexist... a *terrible* punster, maybe, but not a sexist! ;> [I only *wish* I could move like a cat - I don't know about gymnasts, but I know that's the aim of dancers!] Hugs, CatNipped > > Of course, there was the orthopedist who was operating on the knee of > > an [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Compare it with if he was doing the same operation on a man and you'll > understand what I mean. And a classic movie line that can be put to use. Arguably, virtually all humor patronizes someone. > > This is somewhat on topic, as it can be observed that > > female gymnasts tend to imitate feline movement, but not as well. > > Stop digging a deeper hole, Howard. Retire to bed straight away and > learn a > little about feminism ;-) And which particular feminist theoretician did you have in mind? Dodson, Dworkin or Califia? >> > Of course, there was the orthopedist who was operating on the knee of >> > an [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > And which particular feminist theoretician did you have in mind? Dodson, > Dworkin or Califia? I favour Andrea Dworkin who sadly died in April this year aged 58. I also have a soft spot for Germaine Greer. Tweed Bah, humbug. Try and tell Chaos that when she notices I have a cinnamon roll, a brownie or anything else with frosting! I thought cats were supposed to actively dislike citrus-y stuff. So why was Carrie licking the foil lid from my lemon mousse last night? SignatureCathi > I thought cats were supposed to actively dislike citrus-y stuff. So why > was Carrie licking the foil lid from my lemon mousse last night? And my yoghurt lover liked lemon-flavored yoghurt best of all! (Even though the brand I used was so acidic that she'd drool hard enough to refill the spoon with saliva as she consumed the youghurt.) > I have to wonder about this sometimes... > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > question does not produce one of the two vital proteins needed to form > the receptors. Like most statements used to describe ALL cats, I think the research is flawed. It's true MOST cats don't care for sweets, but I've know of some who adored such things as canteloupe. I had one who wouldn't let me eat a carton of fruit-flavored (sweet) yoghurt in peace without begging her share. I had one who would sit on my chest when I was eating cake or cookies in front of the TV and vacuum up any spilled crumbs as they fell. First cat I ever had absolutely LOVED ice cream - he'd eat as much as I was willing to give him, even though a portion of any size would set him shivering! |
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