Cat feeding habits shaped by smell: Japan univ. study

MORIOKA, Japan - Picky eating in cats may have less to do with finicky personalities and more to do with their sense of smell, according to a new study by a team at Iwate University in northeastern Japan.

The researchers found that when cats are repeatedly given the same food, the amount they eat gradually declines. However, their appetite can rebound when the smell changes -- even if the food itself remains the same.