What is Taurine?
An explanation of what taurine is and why it is important to cats.
Taurine is an essential amino acid for felines, critical for their heart health, vision, and reproductive function. This in turn is a building block of proteins. Unlike omnivorous humans and many other animals, cats are obligate carnivores and cannot synthesise sufficient taurine on their own, so we must make sure to include this amino acid component in their diet.
Taurine is pivotal for several bodily functions, including the maintenance of healthy vision, proper heart function, and a robust immune system. Additionally, taurine supports reproduction and foetal development, ensuring that kittens are born healthy and strong. A deficiency in taurine can lead to severe health issues.
It is crucial for cat owners to provide a meal plan that includes adequate amounts of taurine. The best natural sources of taurine are found in raw meat. Cooking can often degrade or destroy the taurine along with other precious nutrients.
High quality raw muscle meats that contain a natural source of taurine:
Beef
Lamb
Chicken
Turkey
Certain raw organs are also naturally rich in taurine such as:
Chicken livers
Beef livers
Chicken hearts
Taurine can also be made into a supplement and it's often added to complete raw foods for cats to ensure they are receiving plenty of this essential amino acid in their everyday meal plan.
If in doubt, always check the ingredients and analytical composition of your raw cat food of choice.
