The Nutrient Your Feline Can’t Live Without

BY MEG MARQUARDT

Like humans, cats have a complicated biology, but unlike humans, cats require different sorts of nutrients and vitamins to be at their feline best.

“Cats have some fairly unique nutritional requirements because of the way they’ve evolved,” says Kathryn Michel, a professor of nutrition at PennVet at the University of Pennsylvania. One of the most important parts of a cat’s diet is taurine, which helps keep their hearts beating strong and eyes sharp enough to spot a bug from across the room.

Taurine is part of the amino acid family. Amino acids are protein builders. In the body, proteins are used in just about every function, from making bone and hair to hormones and enzymes. Taurine, as part of the amino acid network, is essential for many animals to stay healthy, and it’s especially crucial for cats.

According to Michel, cats have a unique relationship with taurine. Many omnivores, like humans and dogs, can make taurine out of other amnio acids, but cats aren’t able to. That’s because cats are carnivores, so they get their taurine directly from meat.

“There was no evolutionary pressure to synthesize [taurine] because it was readily available in the diet,” says Dr. Michel. But today, sometimes cats aren’t getting the right amount and can suffer from taurine deficiency.

Scientists have found that taurine is essential for proper functioning of feline hearts, eyes, and reproduction. Lack of taurine has been associated with heart failure. Taurine is needed to make heart muscles, so without it, a cat can suffer from dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart that can’t pump blood well.

Taurine is also important for eye health, especially the retina, which senses light. Without adequate taurine, the retina can start to deteriorate. Over a long enough time, it can lead to full blindness.

Pregnant cats are especially prone to taurine deficiency. Taurine is something that helps developing kittens grow strong. If the mama cat has low taurine, the kittens will likely be small and may have some abnormalities. Growing kittens need plenty of taurine, too, especially as their eyes continue to develop.

Luckily, lots of cat food is packed with taurine. Wet food made with high-quality meat products keep a cat’s taurine level up. Chances are if your cat is eating commercial food, it’s getting plenty of what it needs.

However, if you are making all your own cat food at home, making sure your cat gets enough taurine may require supplements. This is especially true if a cat is on a special diet that restricts meat consumption. If your cat is on a high-grain diet, talk to your veterinarian to make sure your cat isn’t at risk for developing taurine deficiency. Keep those hearts and eyes healthy!