It has a major role in foetal development and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Taurine is crucial for vision, digestive health, heart functioning, and maintaining a healthy immune system. However, it is a major constituent of animal-based proteins, meat and fish.Ī cat eating meat. Taurine is not found in cereals and grains. He explains the role Taurine plays in the everyday health of our cats and how a lack of Taurine can be avoided in the first instance, by following some dietary rules. Taurine deficiency can also cause other health problems such as cardiomyopathy (weak heart muscle), reproductive problems and growth retardation.ĭr Ali Raza, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine goes on to explain how the lack of Taurine can have major negative health implications for a cat. FCRD leads to blindness and currently there is no cure. This is why most commercial cat foods contain added taurine.Ĭats who do not get enough taurine in their diet can develop a condition called feline central retinal degeneration (FCRD). While taurine is found in meat, it is not as easily absorbed by cats as it is by dogs. It also plays a role in skeletal muscle function.
pp 301.Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is important for the health of your cat’s cardiovascular system, nervous system and eyes. Hand et al (2000) In: Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. 4th edn.Cote E et al (2011) In: Feline Cardiology.Case et al (2011) In: Canine and Feline Nutrition.
Trans Am Acad Ophthal Otolaryngol 81 (4 Pt 1), OP687-693 PubMed. Schmidt S Y, Berson E L, Hayes K C (1976) Retinal degeneration in the taurine-deficient cat.Pasantes-Morales H, Domínguez L, Campomanes M A et al (1986) Retinal degeneration induced by taurine deficiency in light-deprived cats.Pion P D, Kittleson M D, Thomas W P et al (1992) Response of cats with dilated cardiomyopathy to taurine supplementation.Smith C A (1993) Changes and challenges in feline nutrition.Novotny M J, Hogan P M, Flannigan G (1994) Echocardiographic evidence for myocardial failure induced by taurine deficiency in domestic cats.Novotny M J, Hogan P M (1996) Inotropic interventions in the assessment of myocardial failure associated with taurine deficiency in domestic cats.Hambrook L E & Bennett P F (2012) Effect of pimobendan on the clinical outcome and survival of cats with non-taurine responsive dilated cardiomyopathy.Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.Clinical signs develop after 5 months to 2 years of eating a taurine depleted diet.įurther Reading Publications Refereed papers.Platelet function abnormalities - hyperaggregation.DCM Heart: dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).Deficiency → disruption of cell membranes → cell degeneration and death →.Acts as a natural antagonist of angiotension II.Directly affects contractile proteins in the heart.Regulates flux of potassium and calcium ions across photoreceptor and myocardial cell membranes.Exact role of taurine in tissue metabolism unclear.Therefore, when exogenous supplies of taurine are low → depletion of tissue taurine. From there, taurine can be reabsorbed but a substantial amount is lost in the feces or degraded by intestinal microbes. Taurine is excreted into the intestine with bile acids, then deconjugated. Also, conjugation of bile acids with taurine is obligatory and cats cannot convert to conjugation with glycine.Cats have naturally low activity of cysteine dioxygenase and cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase → low endogenous taurine synthesis from cysteine and methionine.Certain proteins and fiber (rice bran) may bind to taurocholic acid and make it less available for enterohepatic recirculation.Bioavailability of taurine can vary with heat-treatment, potassium depletion and acidifcation of food.Taurine deficient diet, eg vegetarian diets, cereal or grain based diets, dog food diet.
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