Khaberni - A recent Japanese study has unveiled a mystery that has long puzzled cat owners: Why does a cat suddenly stop eating its favorite food even though it hasn’t finished its portion yet? The answer simply is "boredom with the smell" and not actual satiation.
"Sensory satiety"
According to the "Science Alert" website, researchers from Iwate University in Japan found that cats are affected by a phenomenon called "qualitative sensory satiety," which is similar to what happens to us as humans when we are full from salty food, but suddenly find "room for sweets" just by smelling them. For a cat, its enthusiasm for eating stops as soon as its nose becomes accustomed to the recurring food smell in front of it.
Key findings of the experiment:
Voluntary stopping: Even after fasting for 16 hours, most of the cats stopped eating after consuming only a third of the meal, and then returned to eat after a short while.
The magic of change: When different types of food were offered to the cats in sequence, they ate much larger amounts compared to presenting only one type.
The trick of the smell: Surprisingly, the cats regained their appetite for eating simply by changing the "scent" of the surrounding food, even if the food itself remained unchanged.
Why this behavior?
This behavior is due to the ancestral instincts of wild cats as solitary hunters. Unlike dogs, which devour their food quickly (due to their history of hunting in packs), cats have evolved to eat small and multiple meals throughout the day; thus, their sense of smell is the main controller in their desire to start or stop eating.
Benefits of the discovery
For cats with obesity: Their appetite can be controlled by avoiding the variation of strong scents that stimulate them to overeat.
For sick or elderly cats: If your cat is losing its appetite, simply changing the "scent" of the place or the food (by adding a simple different touch) may be sufficient to encourage them to eat again.
In short, scientists say "If your cat leaves its dish full, it most likely doesn't need 'Ozempic' for cats, but just needs a change in the aromatic environment of its meal".
