patrick.net

I wonder why my cats prefer milk after it's been in cereal? They always go after the sugared milk remaining after my kids eat cereal, for example. Yet, if you were to leave some milk in a bowl just poured from the container, they don't seem interested. I always figured it was the sugar. They really like milk that's had Frosted Flakes floating in it.... and Honey Nut Cheerios. They'll go after those even while you're eating.

Patrick says

the tongues of most mammals hold taste receptors

But don't they say smell is a big part of taste ? Hence cats with catnip. Perhaps smell is an even bigger part of taste for cats, if they don't have taste receptors on their tongue.

TD: I'm guessing they like the milk after cereal, because that's the milk smell they have learned. It does take on a smell from the cereal.

I don't know how well they can taste but I can tell when they get something they like, they will work it like a full time job.

Patrick says

Cats Cannot Taste Sweets

But as CIC can attest, dogs do taste peanut butter.

One of the World's Biggest Extinction Crises Is Being Caused by Cats

https://news.vice.com/article/one-of-the-worlds-biggest-extinction-crises-is-being-caused-by-cats

turtledove says

They really like milk that's had Frosted Flakes floating in it.... and Honey Nut Cheerios. They'll go after those even while you're eating.

You might just be conditioning them that they will get the milk after breakfast. You could run an experiment by putting out two bowls of milk (one plain and one with sugar) at some time other than breakfast. Then, see what they do.

YesYNot says

You might just be conditioning them that they will get the milk after breakfast. You could run an experiment by putting out two bowls of milk (one plain and one with sugar) at some time other than breakfast. Then, see what they do.

True, there could be other factors.... Like attention.... or habit.... or bonding, or something like that. I accept the challenge.

Obligatory:

indigenous says

One of the World's Biggest Extinction Crises Is Being Caused by Cats

https://news.vice.com/article/one-of-the-worlds-biggest-extinction-crises-is-being-caused-by-cats

Beyond time for a cat purge.

They should start a new hunting game, where people pay to kill cats competitively