Study Finds Cats May Be Picky Eaters Due to Food Smell Fatigue

Researchers conducted a series of experiments to understand the dietary habits of cats, positing that these animals grow weary of repetitive food scents. The findings suggest that varying a cat's meals, or the odors around them, could encourage better eating habits.

Masao Miyazaki, co-author of the study and an animal behavior researcher at Iwate University in Japan, noted a marked difference in eating behavior between dogs and cats. He observed that while his five dogs quickly finish their meals, the research cats often eat slowly and leave food behind, prompting his interest in this phenomenon.

Unlike dogs, which are descended from pack-hunting wolves and tend to consume large meals at once, cats originate from African wildcats. They are more inclined to eat small portions throughout the day.

The study also considered the issue of obesity in cats. A pharmaceutical company in San Francisco recently initiated clinical trials to assess whether GLP-1 medications, similar to Ozempic, could assist overweight cats in losing weight.

Miyazaki and colleagues observed 12 cats over several feeding cycles, presenting them with six different commercial dry foods. After fasting for 16 hours, the cats were allowed to eat for 10 minutes, followed by a 10-minute interval with an empty bowl, a pattern repeated six times. Results showed that cats that were given the same food each time reduced their intake over successive meals. However, those offered different foods ate more across the sessions compared to when they received the same food repeatedly.

In another setup, when cats were served the same food for five sessions but given a new food smell during the sixth, their appetite increased, demonstrating the impact of scent on their eating behavior.

Scott McGrane, a pet food researcher at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, commented that this research provides valuable insight into cats' eating behavior and suggests that varying food flavors can help maintain their appetite.

The study’s final phase involved exposing the cats to the smell of food during empty bowl intervals. It found that if the scent matched the food provided, the cats ate less overall compared to setups without food scents. Conversely, smelling different food encouraged better eating.

Miyazaki concluded that cats' reduced motivation to eat does not stem from fullness but rather a desensitization to familiar smells. By introducing new aromas, owners may stimulate their cats' appetite when they are prone to leaving food behind.