Why do cats love tuna so much? Scientists may finally know

Re:Why do cats love tuna so much? Scientists may finally know by reaperducer on Friday August 25, 2023 @08:39PM (#37268782)

I always just thought it was because my cat isn't smart enough to differentiate between "can noise, human making tuna sandwich" and "can noise, human is dispensing cat food."

To me, the weird thing is that my cat knows the sound of a can opener at all.

We got her when she was waaaaay too young. Someone abandoned her on the vet's doorstep. She has never known that a can opener means food because for her entire life, she has been fed canned food with a pop-top.

But still, when I pull out the can opener to open some vegetables, she comes running.

I have no idea why, but it's one of those things that makes me think that knowledge can be encoded in DNA and passed down through generations.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why do cats love tuna so much? Scientists may finally know by ajmurmann on Friday August 25, 2023 @08:45PM (#37268820)

Are you sure it's sound and not scent?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why do cats love tuna so much? Scientists may finally know by dsr_ on Friday August 25, 2023 @09:04PM (#37268940)

I'm convinced that it's both, for different households.

One of our cats will run into the kitchen any time someone opens up tuna, or warm butter, or mayonnaise. That's scent.

She makes a noise which summons all the other cats.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why do cats love tuna so much? Scientists may finally know by mplewis on Friday August 25, 2023 @09:27PM (#37269077)

Absolutely.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why do cats love tuna so much? Scientists may finally know by jjtheblunt on Friday August 25, 2023 @09:03PM (#37268937)

Maybe because she didn't do that the very first time, and then rememebered can opener is for opening food cans. i mean, dogs and cats are super smart, obviously, with different expressions of it.

[ Parent | on HN ]