Palatability enhancing compositions for pet foods, and pet foods with increased palatability, are provided. In some embodiments, the compositions and pet foods contain tea, such as green tea. In some embodiments, the compositions and pet foods contain brewer's yeast, liver hydrolysate, phosphate, and green tea. Shrimp meal and Tuna meal can also be utilized in these embodiments. In some embodiments, the compositions and pet foods comprise an ingredient having at least one of theanine; glutamine; tea; 1,5 octadien-3 one; 1,5-octadien-3-ol; and Camellia sinensis plant. In one example, green tea is used in a pet food palatability enhancing system at 0.1-25%, 1-15%, or 2-9% by weight of the system, and at 0.025-0.5% or 0.01 to 1.0% by weight of the pet food.