Wild Insides
#Animals
The Songbird That Skewers Its Prey On Thorns
The shrike looks like a harmless little grey songbird, but its feet are too weak to hold prey.
Short. Strange. True.The real science
cats · cat facts · why cats can't taste sweet · sweet taste receptor · cat tongue · taste buds
The real science
Cats can't taste sweetness. The sensor that detects sugar is built from two parts, and in cats the gene for one of them is broken, so the sensor never forms. Tigers and cheetahs carry the same broken gene.
Don’t try anything shown in this video.
Follow the facts
- PLOS Genetics: Pseudogenization of a Sweet-Receptor Gene Accounts for Cats' Indifference toward Sugar
- NIH: Cats Lack a Sweet Taste Receptor
Ask about this science
Curious about something in “Why Your Cat Ignores Your Cake”? Our AI-powered helper answers using only this page’s write-up and sources.
AI answers can be wrong; check the sources. Not medical advice.
Our illustrations simplify anatomy and scale. Educational content only; not medical advice.
Still curious?
#
#Animals
The Parasite That Replaces A Fish's Tongue
The tongue-eating louse is a tiny ocean parasite that slips into a fish through its gills and clamps onto the tongue.
Short. Strange. True.The real science
#43Animals
This Turtle Breathes Through Its Butt
The Fitzroy River turtle in Australia pumps water in and out of its rear end.
Short. Strange. True.The real science