What is taurine and why do cats need it?
Taurine is an essential amino sulphuric acid that is found naturally in animal proteins, and good for cats.
Natural sources of raw food with taurine for cats are turkey, lamb, chicken, etc.
Unlike dogs and many other animals, cats are obligate carnivores, and cannot synthesize taurine from other amino acids.
It is therefore important that they consume sufficient amounts of taurine through their diet to meet their dietary demands.
Is Taurine good or bad for cats?
Taurine has many health benefits for cats.
This amino acid helps in cats’ optimal eye function, heart, brain, digestive and reproductive functions.
What are the symptoms of Taurine deficiency in cats?
A taurine deficiency can have serious consequences for cats.
It can lead to heart problems, anxiety and depression, high blood pressure, eye diseases, obesity, kidney problems, immune deficiency and other health complications.
It is therefore important to ensure that your cats are getting enough taurine in their diet.
Which cats need taurine supplements in their diet?
Cats that are fed a purely vegetarian or vegan diet are particularly at risk of taurine deficiency.
Since taurine is mainly found in animal products such as meat and fish, taurine supplements should be given to cats on such diets in consultation with a veterinarian.
There are good taurine supplements in credible pet stores, however, I’d rather not go into the absurdity of a vegan diet for an obligate carnivore like a cat.
In addition, pregnant cats, cats with heart problems or kidney disease can benefit from taking taurine.
How much taurine does a cat need daily?
The Farmpally recommended daily dose of taurine for cats is about 50-100 mg per kilogram of body weight.
The exact amount depends on the individual health and needs of the cat.
Let’s take an average cat with a body weight of 5kg. It needs between 250mg and 500mg of taurine daily.
This cat eats between 250g and 350g of wet food per day.
The wet food should therefore have a taurine content of at least 100mg taurine/100g wet food, Akin Chaktty opined.
The optimum would be 200mg taurine/100g food (or 2000 mg/1 kg food).
The calculation is a simple rule of three:
250mg in 250g of food = 250/250=1 multiplied by 100g of food to give us 100mg taurine in 100g of food; 500mg in 250g of food = 500/250=2 multiplied by 100g of food = 200mg taurine in 100g of food.
Which foods naturally contain taurine for cats?
Taurine is mainly found in animal protein sources such as meat and fish.
It is therefore important that the cat food contains high-quality animal protein to meet the taurine requirement.
Beef, chicken, fish and offal are good sources of taurine.
For raw-fed cats, the heart is often used as a special source of taurine in addition to dark muscle meat. Mice are also very rich in taurine, providing around 240mg/100g.
Are special taurine supplements necessary for cats?
In most cases, cats can meet their taurine needs through a balanced and high-quality diet.
In special situations, such as vegan or vegetarian diets or certain illnesses, a taurine supplement may be useful.
However, a veterinarian should always be consulted before using such supplements.
Are there any risks or side effects of overdosing on taurine?
There is generally no risk of taurine overdose in a normal diet via cat food.
Taurine is water-soluble and is excreted in the urine if an overdose occurs. However, it is important to adhere to the recommended dosages when using taurine supplements.
Most wet foods on the market contain between 1000mg and 2000mg of taurine per kg of food.
Dry foods usually contain a little more than wet foods, because dry foods have a lower meat content.
How can I make sure my cat gets enough taurine?
To ensure your cat gets enough taurine, choose a high-quality cat food that contains animal protein.
Pay attention to the nutritional information on the packaging and choose food that meets your cat’s specific needs.
If you are unsure, you can always consult a nutritionist. It is important, however, to ensure that the meat content is at least 90%, or even better, more.
Conclusion
Taurine is an important nutrient for cats and plays a crucial role in their health and well-being.
When choosing cat food, make sure that it contains sufficient taurine and meets the individual needs of your cat.
