Taurine for Cats: Why It Matters and Where Cats Get It

If you have spent any time reading cat food labels, you have probably seen taurine on the ingredient list. It is one of the most important nutrients in your cat’s diet, and one of the few they can’t do without.

Here is what taurine is, why cats need it, and how to make sure your cat gets enough from their food. Explore our complete and balanced cat food.

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What Is Taurine?

Taurine is an amino acid found mostly in animal tissue, especially heart muscle, dark meat, and shellfish. Unlike most amino acids, it isn’t used to build protein. Instead, it plays a role in heart function, vision, digestion, and reproduction.

Many animals, including dogs and people, can make enough taurine on their own. Cats can’t. Their bodies produce very little, so taurine is considered an essential nutrient for cats and has to come from their diet.

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Why Cats Need Taurine

Cats are obligate carnivores. In the wild, their diet of whole prey delivers plenty of taurine, so they never needed to make it themselves.

Taurine supports:

• Heart health: it helps the heart muscle contract normally.
• Vision: it is concentrated in the retina and supports healthy eyesight.
• Digestion: cats use taurine to make bile acids that help digest fat.
• Reproduction and growth: it supports healthy pregnancies and kitten development.

Long-term taurine deficiency has been linked to a form of heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy and to retinal degeneration, which can lead to vision loss. These conditions are rare in cats eating a complete and balanced diet, which is why every complete cat food must meet a minimum taurine level.

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Where Cats Get Taurine

Taurine is naturally found in:

• Heart, from chicken, turkey, beef, and other animals
• Dark meat and muscle meat
• Organs like liver and gizzards
• Shellfish and fish, like mussels

Plant ingredients contain little to no taurine. That is one reason meat-rich diets are so important for cats.

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How Much Taurine Does a Cat Need?

You don’t need to measure taurine yourself. AAFCO sets minimum taurine levels for complete and balanced cat foods, and any food carrying a complete and balanced statement for cats is formulated to meet them. Look for that statement on the bag.

Taurine can be reduced by heavy heat processing, which is why many conventional foods add it back. Minimally processed foods made mostly of meat, organ, and bone start with more of it naturally.

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How Smallbatch Cat Food Delivers Taurine

Our cat recipes are made with 98% meat, organ, and bone, including heart and other organs that are naturally rich in taurine. Every recipe is complete and balanced for cats.

Each protein is a little different. Rabbit, for example, is a lean novel protein, so our frozen raw rabbit sliders for cats include added taurine to make sure the recipe meets your cat’s needs.

Want to add more? Our freeze-dried chicken heart treats are a single-ingredient, taurine-rich treat cats love.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do cats need taurine?

Yes. Cats can only make a small amount of taurine on their own, so it is an essential nutrient that must come from their diet. Complete and balanced cat foods are formulated to include enough.

What does taurine do for cats?

Taurine supports normal heart function, healthy vision, fat digestion, and reproduction. Long-term deficiency has been linked to heart disease and vision loss in cats.

How much taurine does a cat need per day?

AAFCO sets minimum taurine levels for complete and balanced cat foods. If your cat eats a food labeled complete and balanced for cats, it is formulated to meet those levels. Talk to your veterinarian about specific amounts if your cat has a health condition.

Do cats need taurine supplements?

Most cats eating a complete and balanced diet don’t need a taurine supplement. Homemade diets and some special situations may need one, so ask your veterinarian before adding a supplement.

Can cats get too much taurine?

Taurine is generally considered safe, and cats excrete excess taurine in their urine. Still, talk to your veterinarian before supplementing on top of a complete diet.

What foods are high in taurine for cats?

Heart, dark meat, organs like liver and gizzards, and shellfish like mussels are all naturally rich in taurine. Freeze-dried chicken hearts make an easy taurine-rich treat.