A method of selecting a preferred cat or dog food, comprising: (a) establishing a baseline of food receptiveness, which comprises: 1. presenting a sample of a high value contrast food to a cat or dog; 2. removing the sample of the high value contrast food after a set duration of time, tl; 3. recording instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; 4. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 5. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; (b) introducing a first test food, which comprises: 6. presenting a sample of a first test food to the cat or dog; 7. removing the sample of the first test food after the set duration of time, tl; 8. recording instances of refusal of the first test food; 9. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 10. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the first test food; (c) establishing a baseline of food receptiveness, which comprises: 11. presenting a sample of the high value contrast food to a cat or dog; 12. removing the sample of the high value contrast food after the set duration of time, tl; 13. recording instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; 14. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 15. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; (d) introducing a second test food, which comprises: 16. presenting a sample of a second test food to the cat or dog; 17. removing the sample of the second test food after the set duration of time, tl; 18. recording instances of refusal of the second test food; 19. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 20. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the second test food; and (e) selecting a preferred cat food between the first test food and the second test food based on a lower total number of instances of refusal. (a) establishing a baseline of food receptiveness, which comprises: 1. presenting a sample of a high value contrast food to a cat or dog; 2. removing the sample of the high value contrast food after a set duration of time, tl; 3. recording instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; 4. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 5. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; 1. presenting a sample of a high value contrast food to a cat or dog; 2. removing the sample of the high value contrast food after a set duration of time, tl; 3. recording instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; 4. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 5. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; (b) introducing a first test food, which comprises: 6. presenting a sample of a first test food to the cat or dog; 7. removing the sample of the first test food after the set duration of time, tl; 8. recording instances of refusal of the first test food; 9. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 10. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the first test food; 6. presenting a sample of a first test food to the cat or dog; 7. removing the sample of the first test food after the set duration of time, tl; 8. recording instances of refusal of the first test food; 9. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 10. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the first test food; (c) establishing a baseline of food receptiveness, which comprises: 11. presenting a sample of the high value contrast food to a cat or dog; 12. removing the sample of the high value contrast food after the set duration of time, tl; 13. recording instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; 14. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 15. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; 11. presenting a sample of the high value contrast food to a cat or dog; 12. removing the sample of the high value contrast food after the set duration of time, tl; 13. recording instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; 14. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 15. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the high value contrast food; (d) introducing a second test food, which comprises: 16. presenting a sample of a second test food to the cat or dog; 17. removing the sample of the second test food after the set duration of time, tl; 18. recording instances of refusal of the second test food; 19. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 20. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the second test food; and 16. presenting a sample of a second test food to the cat or dog; 17. removing the sample of the second test food after the set duration of time, tl; 18. recording instances of refusal of the second test food; 19. optionally, repeating steps through one or more times; and 20. computing a total number of instances of refusal of the second test food; and (e) selecting a preferred cat food between the first test food and the second test food based on a lower total number of instances of refusal.