Can animals switch off their sense of taste when cleaning themselves?

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   innerspinposted 12 years ago

   Can animals switch off their sense of taste when cleaning themselves?
   
   Just watching our cat lick herself clean, I couldn't help wondering this.

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   A. Riterposted 12 years ago

   Probably not but they would be used to their own scent so it wouldn't interfere with their job of cleaning themselves and getting rid of unpleasant odors/parasites that may be clinging to them. But the best thing would be to google this. It's an interesting question though and I'm sure science has an answer for it. MIne is just a guess.

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   hwarner050posted 12 years ago

   Animals love the taste of some pretty disgusting things.  Since they don't get grossed out by things like we do I bet they taste good to themselves.

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      innerspinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Haha! Maybe that's true.

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   mistyhorizon2003posted 12 years ago

   Having worked at a couple of vet's surgeries now, I know the head nurse I last worked with explained that cats don't have any 'sense of taste'. They do however rely strongly on their sense of smell, which is why when they are ill and refusing to eat it is best to feed them warm strong smelling foods as opposed to bland foods (especially if they have a cold that could affect their sense of smell).This knowledge is part of the training she received, and naturally it originates from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Cats don't have taste buds, but this does not stop them enjoying tasty food, because (like most of us) a large part of the enjoyment is from the enticing scents that certain foods give off.

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      innerspinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, that's really interesting, thanks!

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   Mommy Engelmannposted 12 years ago

   I would think probably not, but anybody can become used to a particularly awful flavor or smell.
   I recall taking a cough syrup called cremulsion as a teen, though I probably spelled that wrong. The smell made you gag, and the taste made my mother sick. After 2 weeks I didn't even blink at the flavor. I got so used to it I would take it in front of my brother just to gross him out.

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