Research overview: changes in taste and food acceptance with age

As cats age, their perception of taste, together with smell, can change in ways that affect food acceptance. This overview surveys age-related changes in feline taste and their interaction with declining olfaction, both of which influence how appealing food is to an older cat. Reduced taste and smell can make a senior cat less interested in eating, contributing to weight loss or finicky behavior. The survey relates these changes to the importance of palatability in feline feeding and to strategies for encouraging older cats to eat, such as enhancing the aroma and warmth of food. It discusses how taste and smell decline are difficult to assess separately in cats. Understanding age-related changes in taste extends the account of feline taste across the lifespan. It connects sensory aging to nutrition, showing that the taste system that guides a carnivore's food choices can shift with age, with real consequences for the eating and health of senior cats.