A taste for fish need not imply an ancestry of fishermen. The little white cat in the illustration casts a line into a cabinet aquarium crowded with yellow fish and colorful plants, but its real relatives inherited appetites shaped largely on dry land. The apparent contradiction dissolves once taste, rather than habitat, takes center stage.
Fish appeals to a palate built for meat, not necessarily for seafood. Cats are obligate carnivores, adapted to obtain nutrients from animal tissue, and their umami receptors respond to compounds associated with savory foods. Research suggests that the feline receptor formed by T1R1 and T1R3 is activated by combinations of amino acids and nucleotides; fish contains such compounds, including histidine and inosine monophosphate. The chemistry is suggestive, not destiny. Individual cats differ, and smell, texture and previous meals can shape what they choose. Food manufacturers have also made fish familiar to many domestic cats, though familiarity is not proof of an inherited preference.
A tempting fish is not a complete nutritional argument. Cats need a balanced supply of nutrients, including taurine, and a diet of fish alone may fail to provide the right balance. Raw fish can also carry pathogens, while bones present a physical hazard. A complete cat food is a safer foundation than a catch from the tank. Back in the illustration, the line hangs between appetite and opportunity: an ancient hunter has found a very modern pond.
