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Can Cats Taste Spicy? Exploring Feline Taste Buds and Flavor

Compared to humans’ 9,000 taste buds, cats have only around 470. But their buds contain more sensory neurons overall, equipping cats to detect a wider range of flavors. Located primarily on the cat’s tongue, taste buds consist of receptor cells for specific taste categories. Cats lack receptors to perceive sweetness but have an abundance detecting bitter tastes critical for avoiding toxins. Umami, fat, and amino acid receptors attune cats to protein-rich foods. Despite some differences, cats share humans’ ability to sense salty, sour and sensory irritation that may allow appreciating spices.