Within the past couple of years genetic researchers claimed that cats can not taste sugar because they lack the gene, common to most/all mammals, that allows them to sense sweetness.
I have a basic objection to this, along the lines of a 'so what'?: Parallel evolution. A cat may have lost that 'standard' gene that allows sugar tasting and replaced it with another, with perhaps somewhat different mechanical operations. Especially the selectively bred little mutants we call house cats.
Much like the claim 'cats don't eat carbohydrates", another objection I have is the experience of myself and thousands of others: many cats will, without prompting, steal and devour fruit, drink beer, drink Coca-cola and break into jars full of hummingbird feed.
I am not saying the cat CAN taste sugar, I am saying that I don't think their finding 'proves' that cats can't taste sweets. And until there is a better explanation to why my carnivore likes to down bananas and Dr. Pepper, I remain skeptical.
