Other important nutrients included in cat food are a source of energy and to keep their metabolic processes at a level conducive for growth and maintaining a healthy weight. According to the ASPCA, a healthy diet for kitties should be centered around wet cat food.ĭry cat food does not have high enough levels of protein to be an important part of the feline diet but may be included if it is something that your cats enjoy. Since cats are carnivores, their diets need to be mostly meat or fish and thus high in protein. What is Considered a Healthy Diet for Cats? The only symptoms of taurine deficiency are the diseases themselves and are therefore hard to catch in the earlier stages. When it is finally diagnosed, the damage might already be significant. Taurine deficiency does not have early clinical signs. Litters born to taurine-deficient queens tend to be smaller in number, and include kittens with low birth weight who may not have the best chances of survival. Taurine deficiency can also lead to complete reproductive failure. While you might not catch deficiency early enough to prevent blindness, providing additional supplements of taurine can save what is left of your cat’s eyesight.įor breeding queens, taurine is essential for the development of kittens while they are still in-utero as well as in their early stages of kittenhood. As the deficiency continues, the degradation of the optical structures in the retina is irreversible. Taurine deficiency can also lead to blindness due to degeneration of the retina. Fortunately, when the disease is caught in the early stages, taurine provided as a dietary supplement can reverse DCM. When a cat does not receive enough taurine in their diets or totally does not receive taurine for more than 6 weeks, they can develop a condition known as taurine deficiency syndrome.Ī taurine deficiency can manifest itself as a type of heart disease known as Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).Ĭats suffering from DCM experience difficulties in the way that their heart muscles contract ultimately leading to congestive heart failure. If you prefer to prepare fresh food for your cat, you will need to add a taurine supplement to their food. The amount of required taurine for cats’ diets is substantial. PetCoach outlines the various nutritional requirements for cat food. See also How Long Can A Cat Go Without Food And Water Before Dying?ĭietary requirements for cats and dogs are very different and are the main reason that you should never feed dog food to your cat. While cats in the wild will eat enough prey to meet their nutritional needs, our domesticated house cats are fed smaller amounts of food than that eaten by their wild counterparts who tend to be much more active. Taurine is found naturally in muscle and organ meats and fish. Some food high in taurine includes the following Commercially prepared cat food is required to follow requirements set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Taurine is only minimally present in plants and plant products. When cats are in the wild, they can get enough taurine from the prey they catch. What foods Are High In Taurine For Cats?Ĭats are carnivores. Taurine is essential for the digestive process, specifically the bile acids and bile salts conjugated within the liver.īile is responsible for the absorption of nutrients, fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the small intestine. In many mammals, taurine can be naturally synthesized from other naturally occurring amino acids.Īccording to the Feline Nutrition Foundation, cats are unable to synthesize enough taurine naturally and need to get it from their diets. In Closing The Importance of Taurine for CatsĪs an amino acid, taurine is found naturally in meat and seafood.Taurine as an Added Nutritional Supplement.What is Considered a Healthy Diet for Cats?.What foods Are High In Taurine For Cats?.
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