Taurine is a type of amino acid, which are the building blocks of all proteins. It is critical for normal vision, digestion, and heart muscle function, to maintain normal pregnancy and to maintain a healthy immune system. When your cat eats proteins, the proteins are broken down into their individual amino acid components before they are absorbed.
Cats have a limited ability to manufacture taurine and this is why taurine is considered as an essential nutrient. As long as your cat’s diet contains animal-based proteins they should be fine. Unfortunately, it is not stored in large quantities in the body and so must be consumed on a regular basis. Depending on the cat's life stage, signs of taurine deficiency can take several months before symptoms become apparent. A few signs of taurine deficiency are:
- Retinal degeneration, identified by night blindness
- Weakening of the muscles of the heart leading dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Digestive issues
- Fatal abnormalities
- Small litter sizes
- Low birth weights
A healthy cat that eats a high-quality cat food that is appropriate to its life stage does not require supplementation. Supplemental taurine is recommended for cats with health problems or cats that are not getting the majority of their nutrition from a high-quality commercial cat food. Meat and fish are excellent sources of taurine.
Taurine is indispensable for the development and the integrity of the retina of the eye and the nervous system. It also plays a role in blood coagulation, cardiovascular system, immunity, and protection of the respiratory tissue. Speak to your veterinarian and find out if a cat taurine supplement is needed
Taurine supplements for cats can be added to certain cat foods, especially diets that are formulated for specific needs such as growth and development or heart disease. Taurine supplement for cats is relatively safe, with no reports of problems associated with excessive dietary taurine in the cat.
We don’t currently stock any Taurine Supplement for cats, but we would always advise our customers to research the products they are planning to use, as the quality of supplements may vary significantly among brands.
If this is something you would like to see us sell in the future leave a comment below.