Did you know taurine is essential for cats ? There are people you talk to about taurine and, at most, they know that Red Bull carries it.

Although most cat owners do know that it is an important compound for the health of our pets, the relevance of taurine goes much further.

Taurine for cats, why is it essential?

Taurine is an amino acid considered essential for two reasons:

• On the one hand the animals they are not able to synthesize it, so they can only get it through food or supplements
• For the other they need it to keep their body alive

Felines, unlike humans and other mammals, are not capable of synthesizing it under any circumstances.

This compound influences the health of your pet at all levels. Thanks to it, hydration, muscle response, vision, reproductive function and even the production of bile in your stomach are regulated so that you can digest food and take advantage of nutrients.

Its deficiency is the origin of multiple serious illnesses and, if it is maintained over time, it can end with the death of the animal.

Taurine is present in the muscle of animals and also in the bile of the stomach. Its name originates from the term ‘bos taurus’ which refers to the bile of the bull, since it was this animal that had the honor of being chosen by science to isolate this compound for the first time.

Minimum dose and recommended dose of taurine for cats

The minimum dose of taurine for cats It varies depending on the age of the animal. Those under one year of age will need to take daily a minimum of 300mg.

On the other hand, adult and elderly cats 200mg is enough.

The recommended dose of taurine for adult cats is 100mg for each kilogram of weight.. That is, if you weigh 5kg, the amount of this compound you need to be 100% healthy is 500 milligrams.

It is advisable to exceed the minimum dose and reach the recommended. Otherwise, the animal could develop some health problems, especially if it is a pregnant female.

In the case of kittens under 12 months of age, the dose that I recommend is 500mg a day And if you can overcome it, even better. This way you guarantee your pet a strong, fast and healthy growth.

Problems derived from a taurine deficiency in your cat

taurine deficiency It is a fairly common problem in cats of all ages..

Feeding based on a nutrient-poor feed added to a total absence of wet food or supplementation means that a relatively high percentage of animals does not reach the minimum dose.

The first symptoms of which taurine is lacking are the following:

• Excessive hair loss: if you have a long-haired cat and you brush it often enough it is very easy to detect a deficiency in taurine. On the other hand, if it is short-haired, it could be more difficult to see the difference.
• Vomiting: a deficiency of this compound means that it is not able to create the bile necessary to digest food. The result will be frequent vomiting.
• weakness and apathy: in many cats this is the most notable and easy consequence to detect since they stop showing their energy, they will be sad and even could refuse food.

If the deficit lasts longer without being corrected the consequences of a lack of taurine will be even worse:

• Partial or total loss of vision: This is the most common consequence of a taurine deficiency. The cells that inhabit the retina need this amino acid to function.
• Growing problems: Those kittens less than 12 months old use it to stimulate the development of bones and muscles. Growth could be slowed down or joint diseases could be generated.
• heart disease: there are studies that have linked the deficiency of this amino acid with myocardial infarctions and other pathologies of the heart. If it happens to you, it is bad news for the health and longevity of your cat.

All these consequences have an added problem and that is that They develop silently and progressively..

This makes it difficult to detect and makes it important to make sure your cat is getting all the food they need. In case that this deficit lasts for several weeks consecutive reminds that the consequences could be fatal.

Taurine-rich foods

Meat is the simplest and most effective option to avoid a taurine deficiency.

However, there are other sources that may also be valid in the diet. in order to increase the consumption of this amino acid in your kitty. Let’s review them:

Meat

Eating muscles and internal organs of other animals is the main source of taurine for cats.. As a result, these animals have a natural predilection for this type of food and that is why meat is the most used ingredient in almost all feeds.

The industrial revolution brought with it a greater production of feed with meat from the musculature and less organ content. That is just the opposite of what animals and humans ate instinctively. Organs were the first option due to their high content of essential nutrients and amino acids, while muscles were the last to be eaten.

If you want your cat to eat as much of this amino acid as possible The simplest thing is to give it a feed whose main ingredient is meat.

The less processed the meat, the higher the content since heat can destroy the presence of taurine as determined in several scientific studies.

Amount of taurine (mg/kg) according to the animal of origin of the meat

Red meat such as beef or beef is the most interesting regardless of the part chosen. On the other hand, the chicken presents great differences between the muscle and the organs since the latter have up to seven times more amount of taurine.

seafood and fish

Shellfish and fish are good sources of this essential amino acid for our cats..

Instead its concentration is lower than that of meat and that is why I think that fish and shellfish make more sense within food supplements such as wet food or the snacks.

Do not forget that it is advisable to give your cat at least 2 or 3 servings of wet food a week .

Tuna, salmon, sardines or prawns are the most frequent ingredients in cat food. It is normal to find them combined in cans of wet food and they are a delight for the palate of most kittens.

Dairy products

How many times have you heard someone suggest giving you a bowl of milk to a kitten ? In my case it has been hundreds of times!

By now we all know that giving cow’s milk to a cat is not recommended for your stomach. Despite this, this urban legend is still alive.

It is true that dairy contains taurine and that is the main reason why it has been recommended many years ago. Despite this, it is not the best food for cats, since they do not have the capacity to digest lactose.

Could they then be given lactose-free milk, yogurt or kefir? If you are in an emergency and you don’t have anything better, it would be a more interesting option than normal milk. but it is still not recommended.

Egg

If you have traveled to Japan or have seen videos of Japanese cats it is possible that someone came out enjoying a delicious egg. There it is customary to give them as a prize since they have a lot of taurine.

The maximum recommended dose for cats is one or two eggs a week.

The egg is a food that they tolerate well but it is less advisable than meat or fish. The best way to give it to them is cooked although the faithful followers of the BARF diet also use it raw and mixed with meat or fish.

Is there enough taurine in cat food?

In recent years advertising around taurine on feed packaging has increased.

However, there are some problems with the presence of this compound in the dry kibble that your pet eats.

• On the one hand most domestic cats still receive a food based on low taurine ingredients such as animal by-products or grains.
• On the other hand, the industrial processes of crushing and heat causes almost three quarters of what it had to be lost.

Tips for choosing a feed rich in taurine for cats

There is an increasing supply of I think for cats and we know that pick the right one it is not an easy task. Nevertheless There are three tips that will make it easier for you to find the best feed for your pet:

1. Avoid or reduce cereals: Feed manufacturers try to maximize their profits by reducing the meat content and including cheap calorie sources such as wheat or barley. choose a I think without cereals it will cause you to receive more taurine.
2. Discard those with these ingredients: animal by-products (beaks, feathers, etc) or vegetable fats are not advisable in your kitty’s diet. In fact they are detrimental to your health.
3. Prioritize fresh, unprocessed meat: Look at the label and look for “fresh meat” or “fresh chicken” among the first ingredients. If what you find is flour, crushed or extracts… bad for your pet.

Is more simple understand the difference with an example of two common products in many homes in Spain:

• I think Compy of Mercadona: first ingredient cereals, second ingredient meat with animal by-products and third ingredient oils and fats. Therefore does not meet any of the three recommendations mentioned in the previous points and its taurine content is minimal.
• I think Acana : the first ingredient fresh chicken meat and the second are organs (liver, kidney and heart) of chicken tied with turkey meat. It doesn’t have cereal.

You see the difference? Acana feed has more than 75% meat protein content while that of Mercadona does not reach 35%. In addition, much of the protein is of vegetable origin and therefore does not contain taurine.

Only with a suitable feed will your cat receive the minimum dose of taurine that its body needs. Despite this, supplementation is recommended for increase the levels of this amino acid and guarantee that you will not have any type of deficit that may affect your health.

Taurine supplements, the fastest and safest option

Taurine supplements for cats are the safest way to reach the recommended dosage. Options based on eating raw meat such as the BARF diet are valid to increase the consumption of this compound but are at high risk of contracting an intestinal parasite.

Supplementation is ideal for a cat that is pregnant or has just given birth. Both the mother and the small cats need to double the recommended dose to recover and grow without problems.

exist various types of supplements. In my case I have tried almost all of them and the one I use daily is powder. However, there are other formats that can be better adapted to your pet or your preferences.

have not been documented to date side effects caused by supplements of this amino acid. Science considers it 100% safe for all ages.

Taurine powder

Powdered taurine is the most recommended format. because your cat will not detect it and that eliminates the chances of rejection. It’s as simple as adding a teaspoon to your pet’s food and forget about it until the next day.

The recommended amount is one tablespoon or half a gram a day. If your pet is less than a year old or if it is elderly, you can double the dose and reach one gram per day.

This type of supplement lasts in good condition longer than the rest, the cost per dose is the lowest of all the formats and it is also the one that will take up the least amount of time each day.

taurine paste

Malt paste is one of the best supplements for the health of cats. Being a gelatinous texture, acceptance by your pet is guaranteed since they love to suck straight from the can and enjoy its taste.

The popularity of malt paste has encouraged supplement manufacturers to invent the taurine paste.

I consider it appropriate to give it to your cat from time to time as a treat or to apply positive reinforcement. On the other hand, I don’t like it for everyday use since the cost per dose is high and they are not made of 100% pure taurine. These products contain animal by-products, fats and vegetable oils.

Taurine pills

The third possible format is pills. Most animals hate receiving medication and even more so in capsules, but it is true that some kittens take them without problem. Each cat is a world.

In the event that your cats accept them two pills a day will be enough (500mg) for adults or four tablets a day (1000mg) for kittens.

This is the least advisable of the three options since it requires an additional effort in digestion to eliminate the tablet and also the risk of rejection is higher than the other two.

If your pet does not want to take the pills, you can open each capsule and put the content in the food. In that case, the operation would be the same as that of the powdered supplements and at least you will be able to take advantage of the bottle until it is finished. Nevertheless do it this way it will cost you more time and money than buying it in a bottle of powdered taurine.

Probiotics to improve taurine absorption

It is useless to give him huge amounts of this amino acid with feed and supplements if he is not able to take advantage of it.

For get you to metabolize as much taurine as possible the animal needs its microbiota or intestinal flora to be in good condition.

Do you brush it regularly, you give him the best malt for cats and still vomit frequently? In that case there is a great possibility that your microbiota is in poor condition.

Probiotics are supplements that provide millions of bacteria to your pet’s stomach. to enrich your intestinal flora. Consequently, you will have better digestions, you will vomit less and you will also be able to successfully metabolize all the taurine you eat..

Vegan diet in cats: a combination that can be deadly

We know that a vegan or vegetarian diet can be 100% healthy in humans. as long as it is supplemented with vitamin B12, or at least that is what science and the Spanish Vegetarian Union say. Instead our kittens are at the opposite pole.

The domestic cat is a strict carnivorous animal. Therefore, their diet must be based mainly on meat and you should not exclude in any way the intake of this group of foods in your diet.

If a cat receives a plant-based diet you will be depriving him of his own nature with the serious consequences that this could have. Their dental structure and digestive system are designed to process meat. And of course your body needs essential amino acids from animal proteins.

Would it then be possible to give him a vegan diet with adequate supplementation and strict veterinary control? It could be done but in no case is it recommended. His health would be compromised too much and his life expectancy would plummet.

for all this My advice is to always respect the carnivorous nature of cats. and not force your pet to metabolic stress that leads to diseases.

Conclusions about taurine for cats

By now you will have no doubts about the importance of taurine for cats of any age.. Whether you are a few months old or in your later years, you need the minimum amounts of this amino acid to survive.

In order to improve the health of your pet it is advisable to increase the dose and reach those levels considered recommended. You can achieve this effortlessly with both a I think rich in this compound or through appropriate supplements.

In this way you will get prevent diseases in the present and increase the life expectancy of your cat for the future.

With everything we’ve told you, you already know that taurine is super important for your cat. Try to add it to your diet whenever possible and you will be able to enjoy it for more years.