Taurine is an amino acid and amino acids are the building blocks of all proteins in the body. Proteins are long chains of different amino acids that form all different body parts like muscle, tendons, ligaments, brain, skin, and so on. Besides protein production amino acids also support your cat’s health by:

• Breaking down fat
• Supporting muscle function, especially the heart
• Maintaining eye health
• Supporting the immune system
• Providing antioxidant properties
• Providing anti-inflammatory properties

Taurine is one of 11 essential amino acids needed by your cat’s body because they do not make enough taurine themselves so it must be added to their diet. On the other hand, dogs can make taurine, so it is not considered essential for them.

What are the Best Natural Sources of Taurine for Your Cat?

• Meat is a great source of taurine. Both fresh meat and meat meals contain good levels of taurine.
• Fish is a good source of taurine, especially oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and menhaden. Shellfish like shrimp and crab are also good choices.
• Organ meats like heart, kidney, and liver are excellent sources of this amino acid.

Deficiencies

Symptoms of taurine deficiency can be slow to develop over several months’ time.

• Vision becomes impaired. Feline Central Retinal Degeneration is the term commonly used by veterinarians.
• Heart muscles are weakened which causes the heart to enlarge which increases the risk of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and Congestive Heart Failure.
• Digestive issues can occur since taurine is a part of bile salts produced by the liver.
• Reproductive disorders are common with deficiency.

Treatment

This deficiency is treated with supplements and often this can reverse many symptoms if caught early.

Prevention

• Meat contains the amino acid and meat should be listed as the first ingredient of your cat’s food.
• Provide a diet that is rich in meat and low in carbohydrates.
• Provide a diet with some fresh meat or fish and concentrated named animal meat meals, and organ meats are the best source of taurine.

Fortunately, it is rare in cats today because quality pet food manufacturers like those found at Pet Planet. These pet food manufacturers provide the right amount of taurine and guarantee those levels in their healthy pet foods.