Cats cannot taste sweetness the way humans do because they lack a functional sweet taste receptor, so sugary foods do not register as “sweet” to them. They may still show interest in sweet foods, but usually for the fat, protein, smell, or texture, not the sugar.

How cats’ taste works

  • Cats have about 500 taste buds, far fewer than humans, and their “sweet” receptor is genetically broken (the Tas1r2 part of the sweet-receptor pair does not work).
  • Because of this, they can taste salty, sour, bitter and umami (savory/meaty), but not sweetness in the human sense.

Why some cats “like” sweets

  • When cats lick ice cream, cake, or candy, they are usually attracted to fat, animal protein (like cream or milk), strong smells, or interesting textures, not the sugar.
  • Some research suggests they might sense something at very high sugar concentrations, but if so, it does not match the sweet taste people experience.

Is it safe to give cats sweet foods?

  • Regular sugar is not immediately poisonous but can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and contribute to obesity and other long‑term health issues in cats, whose bodies are not designed for high‑carb diets.
  • Many sweet foods contain ingredients that are dangerous for cats, such as chocolate, grapes/raisins, and some artificial sweeteners, so it is best to avoid giving sweets at all.

Quick forum-style note

“My cat loves ice cream, so they must taste sweetness, right?”
In reality, the cat is almost certainly after the cream, fat, and smell, not the sugar, because their sweet receptor does not work like ours.

TL;DR: Cats do not truly taste sweetness; they are obligate carnivores whose taste system is tuned to meatiness and other basic tastes, not sugar.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.