Nancy Rawson, seated across from me, is AFB's director of basic research and an expert in animal taste and smell. She volunteers that cats are more or less "monoguesic," meaning they stick to one food. Outdoor cats tend to be either mousers or birders, not both. But don't worry, as most of the difference between Tuna Treat and Poultry Platter is in the name and the picture on the label. "They may have more fish meal in one and more poultry meal in another," says Moeller, "but the flavors may or may not change." The
Nancy Rawson, who is the director of basic research at AFB and a specialist in how animals perceive taste and smell, explains that cats generally exhibit a trait known as "monoguesic." This means that they prefer sticking to a single type of food. For outdoor cats, their hunting habits usually categorize them as either mice catchers or bird hunters, but rarely both.
When it comes to cat food, the differences between types like Tuna Treat and Poultry Platter are often more about marketing than actual ingredients. According to Moeller, while one variety may contain more fish meal and the other more poultry meal, the taste might not differ significantly. This illustrates how consumer perception can be influenced by packaging rather than substantial changes in flavor.
