These Taste Testers Have Four Legs and Picky Palates

Imagine dozens of cats napping or milling around a space that looks a lot like a pet day care center.Every day at 4 p.m., dinner is served.The cats step into cubbyholes, each with two trays of kibble atop scales.

The cats choose which food they like better, and the scales measure how much they consume.Nutritionists at a Royal Canin pet center in southern France are watching: Which kibble do the animals prefer? How enthusiastically do they chow down? A team uses the data to adjust recipes and devise new ones.Pet food makers like Royal Canin, owned by the global consumer conglomerate Mars, are pouring money into research to understand the palates of cats and dogs — and to cater to people who see their pets as family members.

Even as the war in Iran has spurred inflation and wage growth has not kept up, the pet food market has kept growing.And as pandemic pets, adopted in droves in 2020, enter middle age, pet food makers are zeroing in on foods aimed at aiding aching joints, strengthening tired muscles and protecting cognitive function.“Aging is one of the biggest opportunities,” said Cécile Coutens, president of Royal Canin.The company’s senior cat food line includes extra-soft mousse for cats ages 11 and up and easy-to-eat kibble for cats 15 and up.

Many companies sell supplements for cats with dementia and to support healthy brain aging....