 |
Food For
Thought™ Technical Bulletin No. 31R
Innovative Research in Dog and Cat Nutrition™ |
|
|
What Is Taurine And Why Is It Important To Cats?
Taurine is an essential amino acid that is critical for normal heart muscle function,
vision and reproduction in cats, and should be found in any healthy cat food. 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.
Most mammals manufacture taurine from other amino acids. However, cats cannot manufacture a sufficient amount and, therefore,
must acquire enough additional taurine through diet to meet their needs. Specifically, cats need meat to fulfill this requirement,
as taurine is found exclusively in animal-based protein.
Return to Top
Why Isn't Taurine Always Listed As An Ingredient?
Because taurine is found naturally in animal-based proteins, including high-quality
animal protein as the primary ingredient in a dry cat food is one way to ensure sufficient taurine.
Dry healthy 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.
Return to Top
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, unsupplemented taurine levels.
Wet 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.
All Iams wet cat foods are supplemented with taurine to meet these higher needs.
Return to Top
What Are Some Effects of Taurine Deficiency?
Cats eating a diet that is deficient in taurine can develop
- Blindness
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.
- Heart Disease
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.
- Decreased Reproductive Performance and Growth
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.
Return to Top
Application
- All cat foods must contain taurine, an amino acid found naturally only in animal-based proteins, because cats
cannot manufacture sufficient amounts on their own.
- All of our dry healthy cat food is formulated with high-quality, animal-based proteins as their primary ingredient to
provide optimal levels of natural taurine.
- Because taurine requirements are different for wet foods, all Iams� wet healthy cat food includes
supplemental taurine.
Return to Top
|
|
|
