Taurine is an essential amino acid that is critical for normal heart muscle function, vision, and reproduction in kittens. Unlike most amino acids that connect in long chains with other amino acids to make all the various proteins needed for normal body function, taurine is found free in many of the body’s cells/tissues as well as within bile, a digestive liquid produced by the liver and secreted into the intestinal tract.

Taurine is considered an essential amino acid in cats. In other words, they require relatively large amounts of it in their diet. Omnivores like cats can synthesize sufficient amounts of taurine from other amino acids (specifically converting methionine to cysteine to taurine) but the enzyme required to make it out of cysteine is in short supply and needed in other physiologic pathways. Therefore, without an adequate dietary supply of taurine, cats eventually become taurine deficient.

To ensure your cat gets the required amount of taurine in their diet, you can check out of Cindy’s Recipe range of canned food that will satisfy your cat’s dietary required need for taurine.