Taste

Compared to humans, the cat's sense of taste is weak. Where we have 9,000 taste buds, cats have only 473. Therefore, most of a cat’s sense of taste is really his sense of smell. Cats use their sense of taste to determine which foods are good for them. As they are true carnivores, their sense of taste is geared towards identifying protein and fat. Cats are also not very sensitive to the taste of salt or sweet. Food straight from the refrigerator doesn't appeal to a cat; whose wild ancestors ate freshly killed prey. Try heating Kitty's food to intensify the aroma if he is not eating well. SEE THE COMPANION ARTICLE ON FEEDING YOUR CAT

Touch

Like their human companions, cats have touch receptors all over their body. The Sense of Touch is especially keen on the foot pads and at the whiskers. These nerve cells transfer sensations of pressure, temperature and pain from any point to the brain. The most sensitive places on the cat's body are the face and the front paws. The cat's whiskers are the most sensitive of all. The special hairs, called vibrissae, are set deep within the skin and provide the cat with sensory information about the slightest air movement around it - a valuable tool for a nocturnal hunter.

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