Taurine for cats: what is it useful for, what foods and products it contains

What will you learn from the article?

1. Why is taurine needed for cats? What does taurine deficiency lead to?
2. Symptoms of Taurine Deficiency
3. What does an overdose lead to?

Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is present in bile and other tissues of living organisms. Taurine for cats is an essential element, without which the animal cannot live and fully develop. In most mammals, taurine is synthesized in the body; nature has not endowed cats with this ability. Their body vitally needs taurine, but does not know how to “produce” it.

Why nature distributed it this way, what is the importance of taurine for cats, where do they get it in the wild and at home - we will answer these and other questions in this article.

What is taurine and why does a cat need it?

Taurine is an amino acid. The mammalian body produces it itself. It turns out that pets are always lacking it. Cats that hunt and eat rodents naturally supplement their taurine deficiency. Pets need to add this element to their food.

They first heard about it when German scientists obtained it from ox bile. Taurine is created on the basis of cysteine, which forms tissues and other substances necessary for the body, and neutralizes toxins.

Why is taurine so necessary for cats? There are a few of the most basic reasons to be convinced of the importance of taurine:

1. It strengthens the body's defenses . Those cats that do not have enough amino acids get colds more often and stay sick longer.
2. The functioning of the liver and kidneys improves . Fats in the body are digested with the help of bile, in the formation of which taurine takes part.
3. Sugar is normalized . Diabetes mellitus is very scary for cats, its treatment is quite difficult and expensive. On top of that, complications are possible.
4. The digestive organs work better . No bloating, good digestion and absorption of nutrients, monotonous stools.
5. Improving wool quality . It becomes shiny, smooth, does not climb, and takes on a healthy appearance. The animal looks well-groomed and beautiful.
6. The cardiovascular system, brain and nervous system work harmoniously.
7. The birth of healthy kittens . This amino acid is important in the development of the fetus and during the cat’s pregnancy.

Reference! Considering all of the above, it should be noted that this substance is vital. It is involved in many body processes.

Features of application

Taurine for cats can be found in two main forms: drops and tablets.

The first option is intended for the treatment of retinal diseases. One drop should be instilled 2-3 times a day. Naturally, the animal will resist, so it is recommended to firmly fix its body. The general course of treatment lasts three months. If during this time the problem cannot be eliminated, then you can repeat the procedures after a two-week break.

The dosage in tablets is determined by a specialist, depending on the degree of deficiency of this vitamin in the body. It is almost impossible to force a cat to eat medicine. It is recommended to add it to food or dilute it with a small amount of water.

What happens to a cat’s body with taurine deficiency?

Taurine deficiency is not immediately noticeable. If the animal is healthy and has a strong body, then the lack of amino acids does not appear at all at first. If the following symptoms begin to be observed, then it is imperative to take measures:

1. First, vision decreases . Observing your pet, you can notice that he began to bump into various objects, seemingly for no reason. The cat needs urgent treatment, as there is a risk of complete or partial blindness.
2. Dilated cardiomyopathy develops . The first step to heart failure. Oxygen starvation and uneven heart rhythm appear. The animal begins to eat and move less, and its body temperature becomes lower. If noticed in time, the condition can be quickly cured.
3. Dental problems. They break down and fall out.
4. Frequent respiratory diseases . A persistent cough and cold in the respiratory tract should alert the owner.
5. Blood clotting is impaired.
6. Animal growth is impaired.
7. Increased nervousness and fearfulness of the cat.
8. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth . Kittens may be born with birth defects or premature.

Even if there is not enough taurine in small quantities, the animal becomes lethargic, inactive, and eats poorly. Some advanced diseases may no longer be curable. Therefore, you need to provide your pet with adequate nutrition and care.

Attention! Breeders must monitor the taurine content in the diet of their pets to ensure healthy offspring.

Preventive measures

It is better to prevent taurine deficiency in cats than to treat it for a long time. There are special preventive measures to control its content:

• You should not feed the animal only food. His diet must include various types of meat (turkey, chicken, rabbit).
• It is not recommended to freeze this natural product in the freezer. Hot and cold processing significantly reduces the content of this vitamin.
• There is no need to cut it into small pieces, this will also destroy the nutrients.

You should provide your pet with the most healthy and nutritious food possible. Only in this case will it be possible to avoid many diseases, including vitamin deficiency.

What foods contain taurine?

In the wild, cats obtain this essential element by catching rats, mice and other rodents. Their meat contains the most essential microelements and taurine for the body.

Advice! Each cat should receive an average of 1000 mg of amino acid per kilogram of dry food and 2000 mg of wet food per day.

Taurine has been added to cat food since the 70s. Currently, all dry and wet foods contain taurine. It must be said that in cheap economy class food the taurine content does not meet the daily requirement, so it is better to switch to other food or buy vitamins.

For dogs, this element is not added, because the dog’s body produces it on its own. Therefore, you cannot use dog food for cats!

Important! Boiled meat has a lower taurine content than raw meat. Owners who feed boiled food to their pets should be aware that it does not contain enough substances necessary for the cat. Additional additives must be used.

Consider natural products for cats containing taurine:

In general, the leaders in taurine content are seafood and fish: shrimp, mussels, tuna, oysters. But these expensive products are unlikely to be the basis of nutrition for domestic cats. Therefore, the main sources of amino acids on natural feeding will be: dark meat of turkey, chicken, chicken and beef offal.

Consequences of taurine deficiency

The doctor may suspect that there is not enough taurine in the cat’s body due to disturbances that appear in the body. More often, the main blow falls on the digestive tract, organs of vision, teeth and gums, skin and fur.

Oral examination

Lack of appetite

The cat's appetite sharply decreases. He may refuse food for several days, then eat it in small quantities. Gradually he completely refuses to eat. This leads to additional negative consequences:

• weight loss;
• hypovitaminosis or vitamin deficiency, which leads to brittle bones, hair loss, hearing and vision impairment, and deterioration of cognitive functions;
• fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, lack of any physical activity.

Amino acid in industrial feeds

We reviewed several popular brands of dry cat food. The dosage of taurine may vary from batch to batch, so the data presented in the table is an average.

Why is a deficiency dangerous?

A lack of taurine can cause irreparable harm to a cat’s health, namely:

• Increased risk of infection and colds due to contact with another animal after a street walk.
• Pathological processes in the retina that impair the pet’s vision and result in blindness if not treated in a timely manner.
• Weakened heart muscle leading to dilated cardiomyopathy. Over time, the disease gives way to heart failure, which often ends in the death of the animal.
• The inability to synthesize bile salts that digest fats in the small intestine.
• Problems in the reproductive system, including falling birth rates and increased miscarriages. Born kittens are developmentally delayed and have many unmanifested pathologies.

If your pet does not get enough sulfonic acid, he may become apathetic.

The lack of taurine is not immediately visible, experts say. Symptoms can take anywhere from 5 months to 2 years to develop, depending on the health and age of the pet. The main signs of a lack of substance in cats:

• deterioration of teeth;
• decreased vision;
• hair loss;
• loss of appetite;
• apathy;
• hypothermia.

Harm of taurine

After numerous studies, it was found that taurine does not harm the cat's body. Excess taurine that is not absorbed by the body is excreted in the urine. The main harm of the amino acid lies in the cat’s individual intolerance to taurine. But this is quite a rare occurrence.

Symptoms of too much taurine include food allergies, gastrointestinal upset, and muscle weakness. Only a veterinarian can determine the final diagnosis and treatment.

Basic concept and history of origin

In 1827, specialists from a narrow circle were actively studying bull bile. A separate substance was extracted from it - taurine acid. Within a few days, its significant benefits for any living organism were determined. In almost all individuals it is synthesized independently from other amino acids. The exception is cats.

What is taurine? This term refers to an acid of natural origin. Cats absolutely need it for several reasons:

• It improves the development of the retina. Visual acuity becomes significantly better.
• Ensures the normal functioning of important components of the body: the nervous system, heart and brain.
• Supports the immune system.

Taurine for cats is found in high quality food and natural products. It can be purchased as a dietary supplement.

Prevention

Seafood, raw meat, especially heart or brain are rich in taurine. It is better to give meat to the animal, having previously chopped it into medium pieces, since finely chopped and beaten meat contains less taurine.

To prevent diseases during natural or economical feeding, it is best to use nutritional supplements. Their use protects the cat’s retina from atrophy and helps the animal feel healthy.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of taurine deficiency can be made by a veterinarian after a physical examination of the cat. Diagnostics may include the following research methods:

• general blood analysis;
• general urine analysis;
• biochemical blood test;
• electroretinogram - examination of the retina of the eye;
• ECG.

Vitamins with taurine

The range of vitamins is quite diverse, so this issue does not cause difficulties. You need to be prepared that the price will not be small. Before buying them, it is better to first consult a doctor to know for sure that these vitamins will not harm your cat:

• Beaphar Kittys Taurine + Biotin . Shape: hearts. Flavor: cheese. There are 180 pieces in a package.
• Omega Neo . Contains squid liver. You can take 3-6 tablets, which contain essential amino acids, for a whole year.
• Gimpet . Shape: hearts or mice. For small pets 3-4 tablets, for adult cats - up to 6 tablets per day.
• Doctor ZOO for cats Biotin + Taurine. There are 90 tablets in a package. When taken, metabolism improves.
• Petvital Vitamin-Gel . Vitamin gel. Prevents the development of urolithiasis.

Important Tips

Taurine is of particular importance for cats, since this substance cannot be synthesized on its own. It is worth paying attention to several rules for its introduction into the diet:

• This medication is sold in pharmacies without a prescription. This does not mean at all that you can buy it and give it to an animal for absolutely any ailment. The supplement can be given only as prescribed by a specialist, after a comprehensive diagnostic study.
• It is strongly not recommended to skip taking the vitamin, as the effectiveness of treatment will noticeably decrease. If this cannot be avoided, then in no case should the animal be given a double dosage of medication at the same time to fill this gap.
• You should closely monitor your pet for several days after taking the supplement. If frequent diarrhea occurs, you should stop taking it. You should contact a specialist to adjust your treatment.

Cats are the most common pets. They are always affectionate, sweet and kind. Is it possible to allow this lovely creature to suffer from taurine deficiency in the body?!

Sulfonic acid or taurine for cats is an essential amino acid necessary for the good health of the pet. A cat can obtain the substance from protein foods of animal origin and by consuming special vitamins. The cat's body is not able to store the amino acid, so taurine must be present regularly in food and various supplements. For preventive purposes, cats can be given vitamin complexes with taurine and biotin. They can be purchased at veterinary pharmacies and pet stores without presenting a prescription. Constant monitoring by a veterinarian and timely blood tests will help detect a lack of a substance in the pet’s body and prevent dangerous consequences for its health.