WHY DO CATS LIKE FISH SO MUCH?

We all know that cats are simply drawn to the fish smell and they would do anything for a bite when they see you cooking that delicious fish. According to historical accounts, the Egyptians were the first humans to domesticate cats and they lured them into their homes with offers of fish. People speculate that this is how cats developed their taste for fish. After all, cats hate water, right? So, chances are that they didn’t hunt the fish themselves.Cats are basically opportunistic feeders and they have been around humans for thousands of years and scavenge their leftovers. So, it’s basically related to natural-selection or co-evolution.If you have a kitty as well as fish at home, you may often find your cat sitting near the aquarium and stalking the fish.Cats are known to be obligate carnivores which means that they must eat primarily meat as their main source of food and they don’t need a lot of carbs in their diet. However, a small amount of fruits, vegetables, and grains are acceptable.Cats have short intestines which means that they can’t fully digest plant materials.So, cats need food that contains high concentrations of taurine which is often found in the muscles, heart, and liver of animals. Fish too contains taurine. But, what exactly is taurine?Taurine is actually an amino acid which helps in regulating your cat’s heart rhythm, digestion, reproduction, and vision. Most mammals manufacture taurine from other amino acids. However, cats can’t do that so it is important to have their diet supplemented. Fish is also an excellent source of protein for cats. Since cats’ digestive systems haven’t caught un with this change in their diet, it is only recommended to give fish to your cat in moderation.A cat can taste significantly less than humans – cats only have about 470 taste buds when humans have 9,000. They can detect all of the five flavors: bitter, salty, sour, sweet, and umami. Yet, their taste of the sweet flavor is restricted since they can’t fully digest carbohydrates and sugars, and they don’t really need them in their diet. However, fish may sometimes contain high levels of mercury and other toxins. Also, feeding a diet that’s mostly fish can cause your kitty to have hyperthyroidism and Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). So, you should limit fish meals to no more than twice weekly. Remember that some cats can even be allergic to fish!

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