Table of Contents
An Essential Amino Acid for Cats
An Essential Amino Acid for Cats – Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins in both plants and animals. One of these amino acids is called taurine, which is essential for cats. Unlike most mammals that can synthesize taurine within their body, cats need to get it from their diet in sufficient amounts.
An Essential Amino Acid for Cats
Why Does My Cat Need Taurine?
Taurine has several vital functions in a cat’s body, including supporting heart and retinal function, digestion, and reproductive development. If a cat is not receiving enough taurine in its diet, it may develop symptoms related to these functions within five months to two years, such as feline central retinal degeneration, reproductive failure and impaired fetal development, feline dilated cardiomyopathy, and issues with digestion.
An Essential Amino Acid for Cats
Untreated retinal degeneration can cause blindness in a cat. While supplementing a cat’s diet with taurine may slow down or even stop the progression of retinal degeneration, it won’t reverse any blindness that has already occurred before supplementation. On the other hand, if taurine-related dilated cardiomyopathy is caught early and treated with dietary supplements, it can be reversed. But, if left untreated, DCM can lead to heart failure and even death.
Low taurine during pregnancy can also lead to smaller litter sizes, lower birth weights, and other congenital abnormalities in kittens. Feeding taurine-deficient diets to these kittens may also cause delayed growth and development.
Where Can My Cat Get Taurine?
Commercial cat food has been supplemented with taurine since it was discovered to be an essential amino acid for cats in the 1980s. Taurine, which is only found in animal tissue, makes cats obligate carnivores. However, not all taurine in canned cat food is usable by a cat’s body due to the heat applied during processing. To compensate, pet food companies add more taurine to wet food formulations than dry food, ensuring that sufficient levels of taurine are present in a cat’s diet as long as the cat is fed commercial cat food appropriate for its life stage.
An Essential Amino Acid for Cats
While checking the life stage of cat food is essential for a cat’s health, relying only on what is written in large font on the front of the bag is not enough. The best way to determine the appropriate cat food is to read the AAFCO statement, which is typically found on the back or side panel near the ingredient list and the guaranteed analysis. An AAFCO statement indicates if the food is formulated or if it is tested, and it helps determine if a pet food meets the required guidelines or if it has gone through more rigorous testing.
Prescription diets, which are formulated for treating specific illnesses, have levels of taurine factored into them. For home-cooked cat food, it is essential to make sure that the protein source has adequate taurine levels, and it is always best to consult a veterinarian to confirm that the recipe has all of the necessary nutrients.
Do Cats Need Taurine Supplements?
For healthy cats who are appropriately fed, supplementing their diet with taurine is not necessary. However, if a cat has a taurine deficiency-related illness, supplementation may be required in addition to an appropriate diet until the symptoms dissipate. It may also be necessary to supplement the diet if the majority of a cat’s food is not from commercial sources. Taurine supplements are available over-the-counter, but it is best to consult with a veterinarian before starting to use them to make sure that the supplement is of high quality and suitable for the cat’s needs.
Taurine is a vital nutrient that all cats need to have in their daily diet. If you are unsure whether your cat is getting enough taurine or if they are showing signs of deficiency, consult with your veterinarian. They can help you evaluate the cat’s diet and answer any questions you may have about their food.
What are essential amino acids?
Essential amino acids are amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own, and must be obtained through food sources. There are nine essential amino acids: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
Why are essential amino acids important for cats?
Essential amino acids are important for cats because they are required for the production of proteins, which are essential for growth, maintenance, and repair of the body’s tissues. They also play a role in many physiological processes such as enzyme production, hormone synthesis, and immune function.
What are some good food sources of essential amino acids for cats?
Good food sources of essential amino acids for cats include animal-based protein sources such as meat, fish, and poultry. Some plant-based protein sources such as soybeans and quinoa also contain all the essential amino acids, but cats are obligate carnivores and require a diet high in animal protein.
What happens if a cat doesn’t get enough essential amino acids?
If a cat doesn’t get enough essential amino acids, it can lead to a variety of health problems such as muscle wasting, weakened immune system, and stunted growth in kittens. In severe cases, it can even lead to death.
Can a cat overdose on essential amino acids?
It is unlikely for a cat to overdose on essential amino acids through food sources alone. However, over-supplementation with amino acid supplements can lead to an imbalance in the amino acid profile, which can cause health problems. It’s important to consult with a veterinarian before giving any supplements to a cat.
