If you love your cats, give them a healthy dose of Taurine, and they will thank you for it. Human owners tend to pass on the kind of diet they have to their pets, and this is a big no-no. Pets have specific dietary needs and giving your kitty a vegan or vegetarian diet, for example, will result in vitamin deficiencies and illness.
Taurine is found in fish, meat, and dairy, and your kitty needs plenty of it to keep healthy. Taurine is vital to cats, more than to any other mammal, even dogs. Cats are incapable of producing Taurine from the amino acids in their bodies. The only way a cat can get Taurine is through animal products. Taurine is present in minimal amounts in plants, but it is not enough to supply a cat’s daily nutritional needs.
Taurine and Your Cat
Taurine is a type of amino acid. Amino acids create proteins needed for the proper functioning of the body. They help in the synthesis of nutrients. The body can produce amino acids, while some are obtained through food. Amino acids that can only be obtained through a diet are known as essential amino acids.
Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats because, unlike people and dogs, they can’t produce it on their own. If they don’t get enough diet of meat, which is an abundant source of Taurine, a cat’s health will decline. For cat foods higher in taurine always read the label first and see if protein sources such as meat, fish, and poultry are explicitly stated.
The following are some of the health benefits of Taurine for cats:
1. Taurine helps against vision loss
Taurine keeps your cat’s vision super sharp. If Taurine levels are inadequate, the retinal cells of your cat’s eyes will become weakened and eventually degenerate. This will affect the vision of your cat, and they will get a disease called feline central retinal degeneration or FCRD. This type of condition can result in complete vision loss. Once the retinal cells are lost, they cannot be replaced.
2. Taurine prevents heart disease
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a type of heart disease that affect the ventricular muscle. The heart gets dilated and enlarged, and there is a reduced ability to contract. DCM causes a reduced ability to push blood out of the ventricles. There is a wide occurrence of DCM in cats, and it is considered one of their top heart diseases.
Give your cat large amounts of Taurine in their daily diet to keep their heart functioning properly. Aside from DCM, felines can also get complete heart failure if they don’t get a diet rich in Taurine. Heart problems are a very serious danger for your cat and it can be fatal. Give your cat the proper diet and always consider what’s going on inside their bodies.
3. Taurine prevents tooth decay
A diet rich in Taurine means your cat will have good oral health. Taurine makes your cat’s teeth stay strong and healthy. Cavities are likely to occur when there is a lack of Taurine. Taurine combined with other compounds such as Vitamin E, selenium, and antiseptics fights the bacteria in a cat’s mouth keeping the cavities away and help promote fresh breath.
4. Taurine aids in reproduction
Having a diet rich in Taurine can improve the reproductive capacity of your felines. Taurine is essential, especially for pregnant cats. Experts say that a diet that is deficient in Taurine may cause pregnant mothers to have birth effects in their kittens and slowed neonatal development. If your cat is expecting, make sure to talk to a veterinarian about keeping your cat’s diet as healthy as possible. Ask about the amount of Taurine they need in their diet and if you need to give them supplements.
5. Taurine prevents development concerns
Mothers pass on their nutrition to their kittens, and mothers must get a diet rich in Taurine. If they didn’t get enough Taurine, the kittens produced will have growth problems and experience more instances of bone fractures. A mother that has had a rich Taurine diet will have healthier kittens that develop and grow normally.
6. Taurine prevents gastrointestinal problems
Taurine also works for your cat’s tummy health. When cats don’t get enough Taurine, they won’t be able to produce the bile salts necessary for fat digestion. When there isn’t enough Taurine, your pet will develop diarrhea and digestion problems.
7. Taurine protects the immune system
Taurine keeps your cat’s immune system functioning at an optimal level. If they don’t get enough Taurine, your pet will not be able to fight off disease and viruses. The result of a weak immune system will be frequent illnesses.
8. Taurine makes cats more energetic
A taurine deficiency can make your cat tired and lethargic. You will find that they just lay around most of the time and have little interest in exploring their surroundings or playing. Taurine rich foods give cats energy and make them more alert.
Final Thoughts
Cats have specific dietary needs that make them different from humans. Eliminating meat sources in their nutrition can spell disaster since they will not get sufficient Taurine to help their body function properly. Cats are amazing creatures, and cat owners should consider the unique dietary needs of their pets and follow science instead of personal beliefs or speculation.
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