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Cats are very choosy about their food habits due to some good reasons. A recent study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia finds that "pickiness" does not lead to the cat's food aversion, but because of its bitter taste receptors in its mouth, according to Gizmodo.

Most herbivores have bitter taste receptors, while plants use toxins to defend themselves. Animals have evolved bitter taste buds in order to avoid toxins.

Hence, researchers find that cats have 12 genes that can find out which foods taste bitter. This is a novel finding for scientists who have thought that carnivores such as cats do not have any bitter tasting genes, reported The Daily Mail. "Over the course of time and evolution, genes mutate to meet with dietary needs of an animal. When the animal no longer needs the gene, it stops making working proteins."

Scientists have found some bitter taste receptors in dogs and even polar bears. However the cats' receptors are the strongest and most potent.

It is clear then that cats will just avoid certain tastes that don't appeal to their palates.

This animal is among the greatest epicureans and gourmets!