{"id":38154,"date":"2019-02-05T21:37:50","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T21:37:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/?p=38154"},"modified":"2023-03-17T16:29:25","modified_gmt":"2023-03-17T16:29:25","slug":"why-do-cats-need-taurine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/why-do-cats-need-taurine\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Cats Need Taurine?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A well-balanced diet is of the utmost importance if we want to make sure our feline companions maintain good health. Likewise, people who are concerned about staying healthy often take dietary supplements. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To this end, energy drinks containing taurine have become very popular. But, what about cats? Do cats need taurine just like people do?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might be surprised to find out that taurine supplements are even more important for cats than people. However, before you start giving your cat energy drinks; let\u2019s find out the best way to make sure your cat gets the taurine they need.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article we\u2019ll cover the following:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cats and Taurine, What You Need to Know<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Do Cats Need Taurine?<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should Cats Drink Energy Drinks Containing Taurine?<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should I Feed My Cat A Grain-Free Diet?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<style>.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-right:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-bottom:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-left:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);padding-top:15px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px;margin-bottom:40px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover{background:#ffffff;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic-container{max-width:101px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic-container .kadence-info-box-image-intrisic{padding-bottom:100%;width:300px;height:0px;max-width:100%;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, .kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, .kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-media{color:#444444;background:#ffffff;border-color:#eeeeee;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover .kt-blocks-info-box-media{color:#444444;background:#ffffff;border-color:#eeeeee;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-infobox-textcontent h2.kt-blocks-info-box-title{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:5px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-infobox-textcontent .kt-blocks-info-box-text{color:#555555;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-color:#555555;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin:10px 0px 10px 0px;}.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{color:#ffffff;background:#444444;border-color:#444444;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-right:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-bottom:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-left:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-right:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-bottom:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);border-left:2px solid var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-box_ce71ab-0d\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-left kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media-container\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media kt-info-media-animate-none\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic-container\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-image-intrisic kt-info-animate-none kb-info-box-image-ratio kb-info-box-image-ratio-square\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-image-inner-intrisic\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/guarantee-f-e1676260441883.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"kt-info-box-image wp-image-37684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/guarantee-f-e1676260441883.png 300w, https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/guarantee-f-e1676260441883-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">This content has been reviewed and approved by our in-house Veterinarian for accuracy.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cats and Taurine, What You Need to Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taurine is a biological molecule that is often mistakenly referred to as amino acid. While the molecule is an acid and does contain an amino group, it is not an amino acid because the carboxyl group (carbon bonded to oxygen) found in amino acids is replaced with sulfur bonded to oxygen, thereby technically making taurine a sulfonic acid.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, like the amino acids, taurine is extremely important in many of the essential biological reactions found in mammals. Taurine plays substantial roles in many body systems, including being integral in the creation of bile for digestion, stabilizing cell membranes, modulating nerve signals, and ensuring the proper functioning of skeletal and cardiac muscles. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People get much of the taurine they need from fish and meat that they eat. In fact, vegetarians show significantly lower blood and urine taurine levels than people eating an omnivorous diet.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luckily, humans, like most mammals, can create taurine in their body through an enzymatic reaction on the amino acid cysteine. Still, many people consume supplements or energy drinks to give a boost to their taurine intake.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Do Cats Need Taurine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cats also require taurine so their biological systems function properly. However, our feline friends are unusual among mammals because they lack the enzyme required produce taurine themselves and must acquire it from their diet. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If they don\u2019t get enough taurine in their diet, cats will begin to suffer retinal degeneration and will eventually become blind. Taurine deficiency can also lead to dilated cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart), and reproductive failure in female cats.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because of this, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) requires that any dry or wet food product labeled as meeting minimum nutrient requirements of the AAFCO should have a minimum of 0.1% taurine in dry food and 0.2% in wet food. The recommended amount of taurine a domestic cat should consume each day is 10 mg\/kg of bodyweight.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a pretty good breakdown of the importance of taurine in a cat\u2019s diet, let\u2019s check out this short video:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should Cats Drink Energy Drinks Containing Taurine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if &nbsp;fortified with taurine, cats absolutely SHOULD NOT drink energy drinks because these beverages often contain significant amounts of caffeine. While most people know not to give dogs and cats chocolate, many do not realize that caffeine is closely related to the toxic substance found in chocolate, theobromine. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Signs of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petpoisonhelpline.com\/pet-safety-tips\/is-caffeine-poisonous-to-dogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">caffeine poisoning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in cats usually occur with 1 to 2 hours of exposure and include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hyperactivity and restlessness, <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vomiting, <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tachycardia (elevated heart rate), <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hypertension (elevated blood pressure), <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">abnormal heart rhythms, <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tremors, <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hyperthermia (elevated body temperature),<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">seizures,<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">collapse<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your cat has consumed more than just a lick of coffee, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/can-cats-drink-tea\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tea<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or an energy drink, keep a close eye on them over the next couple hours. Make sure to take them to a veterinarian immediately if they start to show any of the above symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I Feed My Cat A Grain-Free Diet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As cats are obligate carnivores and really only need to eat meat, it makes sense that grain-free diets are very popular. Often, grains are thought of as filler in dog and cat foods.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because fish and meat are natural sources of taurine, a grain-free diet would seem to be the best choice to make sure they don\u2019t become taurine deficient and start to suffer from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy, commonly referred to as DCM. However, a recent rise in DCM in dogs being fed exclusively grain-free diets has caused some to question that wisdom.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists have found a <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/vetnutrition.tufts.edu\/2018\/06\/a-broken-heart-risk-of-heart-disease-in-boutique-or-grain-free-diets-and-exotic-ingredients\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">link between dogs fed a grain free diet and DCM<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Although there is not enough data yet, veterinarians are concerned that something similar could be occurring with cats.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DCM used to be the most common heart disease in cats; however, in 1987 scientists determined feline DCM was usually caused by insufficient dietary taurine. &nbsp;With taurine supplementation, DCM in cats was able to be reversed, and now all AAFCO approved cat foods contain enough taurine to prevent DCM.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it makes sense to suspect taurine deficiency could be behind the recent uptick in DCM, it\u2019s not clear if this is the actual issue. Instead, it may be some other factor associated with eating increasing popular \u201cBEG\u201d diets \u2013 boutique companies, exotic ingredients, or grain-free diets.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/vetnutrition.tufts.edu\/2018\/11\/dcm-update\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Veterinary nutritionist Lisa Freeman<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reports that, \u201cmore than 90% of our [canine] patients with DCM in which taurine has been measured have normal levels (and the majority are eating BEG diets). &nbsp;Yet some of these dogs with DCM and normal taurine levels improve when their diets are changed.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Freeman believes there\u2019s something else going on with BEG diets, such as a deficiency of a different nutrient than taurine or some sort of ingredient toxicity. In regards to cats, Dr. Freeman recommends that if your cat is diagnosed with DCM and is eating a BEG, vegetarian, vegan, or home-prepared diet, you should switch to one made by a well-known reputable company, containing standard ingredients such as chicken, beef, rice, corn, wheat.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>So, I guess my cat does need taurine?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s clear that taurine is an essential nutrient in your cat\u2019s diet in order for them to stay strong and healthy. If your cat doesn\u2019t get enough taurine, they risk suffering blindness, heart disease, and reproductive failure in females.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The jury is out on whether grain-free diets are the best for your cat, or if some may increase the risk of DCM. If you do decide to go grain-free, make sure to pick one that meets AAFCO nutrient requirements such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2TzXhhw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck Diet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are worried about DCM, there are plenty of good diets made with standard ingredients such as chicken, beef, rice, corn, wheat. A good choice is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2D8f3RQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Purina ONE cat food<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, introduced in 1986 as Ralston Purina&#8217;s first super-premium pet food, millions of healthy cats can\u2019t be wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What did you think of this post? If you have any questions or would like to share a story about your cat and their healthy diet, please tell us in the comments below! We\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A well-balanced diet is of the utmost importance if we want to make sure our feline companions maintain good health. Likewise, people who are concerned about staying healthy often take&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":38156,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":5,"label":"Nutrition"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Why-Do-Cats-Need-Taurine.png",800,578,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Phil Ruth","author_link":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/author\/ruth_phil\/"},"comment_info":3,"category_info":[{"term_id":5,"name":"Nutrition","slug":"nutrition","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":108,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":5,"category_count":108,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Nutrition","category_nicename":"nutrition","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38154"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38154"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55024,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38154\/revisions\/55024"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catkingpin.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}