Science explains why cats are so much neater drinkers than dogs

Science explains why cats are so much neater drinkers than dogs
(Image credit: YouTube)

The first thing you might notice from this story is that multiple scientists at multiple universities study how domestic pets consume liquids. "Three years ago, we studied how cats drink," biomechanics engineer Sunny Jung explains with refreshing candor. "I was curious about how dogs drink, because cats and dogs are everywhere."

Jung, an associate professor at Virginia Tech, and his fellow researchers are presenting their findings on "How Dogs Drink Water" at the American Physical Society's fluid dynamics division meeting in San Francisco. Neither cats nor dogs can suck in liquids, since they have "incomplete cheeks" — the better to catch prey with their jaws — so they rely on gravity-defying tongue action to move liquid into their mouths.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.