What Is Taurine And Why Is It Important to Cats?

Cats are carnivores, and unlike many other mammals, are unable to produce a sufficient amount of amino acids from vegetable protein. Taurine is an essential amino acid that naturally occurs in animal protein and is a critical dietary component for normal heart muscle function, vision and reproduction in cats.

Taurine is also needed to form the bile salts that aid in digestion. Unlike other amino acids, taurine is found as a free amino acid in body tissues such as the heart and eyes and is not incorporated into proteins. Specifically, cats need meat to fulfill this requirement, as taurine is found exclusively in animal-based proteins. Eukanuba cat foods provide your pet with this essential nutrient combined with exceptional taste for a complete and balanced diet.

Why Isn't Taurine Always Listed As An Ingredient?
Because taurine is found naturally in animal-based proteins, including high-quality meats as the primary ingredient in a dry cat food is one way to ensure sufficient taurine.

Dry cat foods that contain enough high-quality animal-based protein to supply adequate levels of taurine will not include taurine in the ingredient list. This is because the list contains only the ingredients that are added in the manufacturing of the diet.

When Is Taurine Listed As An Ingredient?
Taurine is listed when added to manufactured dry cat foods that are low in animal-based protein and, hence, taurine levels.

Canned cat foods also list taurine as an ingredient because they must contain as much as twice the amount of taurine found in dry food for cats to maintain adequate blood taurine. Scientists are just beginning to understand how the canning process affects the complex taurine balance in the cat.

How Is Taurine Adequacy Checked?
To evaluate the taurine adequacy of a diet, blood taurine levels can be measured in cats fed that diet over time.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), an agency that provides standards for the manufacture, distribution and sale of animal diets, requires whole blood taurine measurements at the beginning and end of a 26-week feeding trial for a cat food with a "Maintenance" claim. An "All Life Stages" claim requires measurements at six weeks of lactation for the queen and at ten weeks of growth for kittens after weaning.

Eukanuba cat foods not only meet AAFCO standards, but also undergo an additional ten-week test in which whole blood and plasma taurine are measured at the beginning and end of the test period, as well as at two-week intervals. These data allow our nutritionists to monitor trends, ensuring that optimal taurine levels are sustained.

What Are The Benefits Of Taurine?
Cats eating a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes taurine can enjoy:

• Healthy, Clear Eyes
  Taurine is essential to the proper development and function of cells in the retina of the eye. If insufficient taurine is present, the retinal cells don’t function properly and may die, eventually causing impaired vision and even blindness. This process is referred to as feline central retinal degeneration.
• Strong Heart
  Taurine is also necessary for normal function of the heart muscle cells. Taurine deficiency leads to weakening of the heart muscle, which in turn can lead to heart failure. This condition is known as dilated cardiomyopathy and can be fatal.
• Optimal Growth and Reproductive Performance
  Taurine is necessary for optimal reproductive and growth performance. Both the queen and kittens must maintain adequate taurine levels during pregnancy, lactation and growth to ensure proper structural development.

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