Gaps and Controversies in Feline Food Palatability
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Feline food palatability is fundamental to ensure nutritional intake and the commercial success of pet foods, yet the field has several gaps, unresolved contradictions, and methodological inconsistencies. A literature search identified 141 relevant publications. Critical evaluation of this body of work revealed four recurring areas of tension: the inconsistent definition of palatability, where the same term evaluates different constructs; contradictory behavioral indicators, where the same behaviors (e.g., nose-licking) are variably interpreted as positive or negative across studies; methodological fragmentation arising from overarching test selection, study design implementation, and inconsistent or selective reporting; and the disconnect between owners' perception of palatability and objectively measured feline responses. This critical narrative review discusses the origins of these inconsistencies, their implications for cross-study comparison, and their combined effect on the reliability of existing evidence. Resolving these contradictions may benefit from a proposed integrative framework for defining palatability, a standardized ethogram for behavioral indicators, and a decision framework for selecting assessment methodologies. These approaches could improve the comparability and reliability of future studies, but their effectiveness requires validation.
Source: Animals
DOI: 10.3390/ani16172721
Institutions: University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Language: English
Subfield: Small Animals
Field: Veterinary
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W7204952418