If youre looking for a high-quality cat food that wont break the bank, another great option is this BFF OMG Rainbow-a-Gogo Variety Pack. Also an avid dog lover and adoring owner of three cats, Kates love for animals has led her to a successful career as a freelance writer specializing in pet care and nutrition. However, if you are making cat food from scratch, it can be quite challenging to make sure that all the essential nutrient levels are being met unless you are a vet or a vet nutritionist. Fetching Foods is a top quality, nutritionally rich food for dogs and cats. First 5 ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes. However, unlike our dogs, cats require more meat in their diets. Its a good idea to check that the food youre interested in lists quality protein sources, such as real deboned chicken. This amino acid is found naturally in proteins of natural origin - that is, not in synthesized proteins. If youre looking for a slightly more convenient alternative, consider dehydrated food. More specifically, taurine is only found in animal-based proteins such as meat, poultry, and fish. Its only found in muscle tissue (but your kitty will still likely appreciate the chance to scarf down the taurine-free parts). A single beef heart could feed your cat for several meals. A lot of them purchased this raw food for their very sensitive cats. If you see that it includes taurine as an ingredient, it is artificial because it has been added. Plants and cereals are low in taurine, hence why cats can't be vegetarian. Goat milk not only adds richness and hydration to this grain-free wet food, but it also provides vitamins, antioxidants, triglycerides, and essential fatty acids to help maintain your cats health. The heart and liver are swimming in it, so ask your butcher for some of their less-requested cuts. Once your cats condition has stabilized, taurine supplementation is the next step. This strengthens the cats immune system and improves various organ functions. Yes: Commercial feed for cats contains good amounts of taurine. The mother cat must have adequate taurine levels to help ensure the healthy development of the kittens. This food is formulated with an advanced nutrient system. Taurine is an important amino acid in cats and it takes care of a variety of important bodily functions including digestion, vision, heart function, and fetal development. Bottom-shelf cat food is cheap because it uses low-quality ingredients and fillers. 2. This low-carb canned food is very high in protein at 12%. Taurine, the best ally for your cat's health. In this article, we will discuss the importance of taurine in cats and review the 10 best cat food with taurine. Taurine is an amino acid, the building block of proteins. This is formulated specifically for indoor cats who often have issues with both weight and hairballs. At Excited Cats, we regularly consult with licensed veterinarians and other industry experts. It is a simple recipe that is fortified with the vitamins and minerals that cats require for complete and balanced nutrition. The Honest Kitchen Chicken Dry Cat Food Check Price on Chewy Check Price on Amazon Unlike other mammals, cats do need this amino acid to be present in their organism. Cat Nail Biting: What to Do If Your Cat Chews & Pulls His Claws, Why Is My Kitten So Hyper? The best cat foods are the ones that are free from artificial enhancers such as colors, flavors, or preservatives. Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is important for the health of your cat's cardiovascular system, nervous system and eyes. Here are the results of our taste testing: Food Test 1: Applaws Chicken Breast in Broth Canned Cat Food. This recipe also contains digestible grain-free carbohydrates like sweet potatoes with plenty of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The National Research Council (NRC) for cats provides minimum and recommended amounts for taurine per 1000 kcal: Adult Cats 0.08g minimum requirement 0.1g recommended allowance Kittens 0.08g minimum requirement 0.1g recommended allowance Optimize Taurine Intake Levels Feeding whole prey is optimal for raw fed cats. We are trained pet nutritionists, chefs, and herbalists. - Weaning and Diet, Dietary Fiber for Dogs - Importance, Recommended Foods and Supplements. Natural Taurine supplements suitable for . The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommend that dry kibble should contain a minimum of 0.10% taurine, and wet cat food should contain a minimum of 0.20%. Overall, the cat owners credit this raw formula with giving their pets soft, shiny coats, renewed energy, and healthier tummies. Write down the foods you feed your cat. Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend Dry Cat Food, 5. Its also packed full of antioxidants and fatty acids. Its worth checking the percentages of taurine and other vitamins and minerals. It's distributed into their retinal tissues, heart muscle, and gastrointestinal system. Halo Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe 3. Generally, a raw diet provides enough taurine without supplements, especially if you feed around 20% of your cat's diet with taurine-rich cuts: hearts, lungs, tongue, dark meat from poultry. The cat's body will metabolize Taurine quickly so it is imperative that they get it in their food daily. However, Liver and leg contain high quantities. First 5 ingredients: Tuna, Water Sufficient For Processing, Chicken Meat, Sunflower Seed Oil, Calcium Carbonate. Remember that organ meat (heart, liver etc) is rich in taurine, so if the recipe is high in these meats it won't have needed extra adding in. It is also high in iodine which helps stimulate thyroid activity, support metabolism, and weight loss. 1. In order to provide you the most appropriate and trust-worthy recommendations, we base our endorsements solely on the quality of the products as they relate to the topic of the article they appear in. The absence of this amino acid is mainly related to blindness and different cardiovascular and respiratory pathologies. If you want a quality diet for your cat but dont want to spend a fortune, this American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Food is an excellent compromise. According to Dr. Richard Patton, taurine may be classified as a vitamin and amino acid. Does commercial cat food contain taurine? What is the Best Diet for a German Shepherd Puppy? Taurine is an important component to all IAMS cat foods, such as IAMS ProActive Health Adult Original with Chicken. The high-protein, meat-packed recipe means a little goes a long way in terms of keeping little kitties tummies full and satisfied. Taurine is also very concentrated in the dark portions of meat, including chicken, turkey, and pork. Thats why its so important to make sure to check the taurine levels in your cats food. Each recipe starts with tuna broth followed by fresh tuna. Many holistic pet nutrition experts believe that good gut health is the way to good overall health in cats. Some natural taurine-rich foods for cats include small rodents, birds, fish especially shellfish and meat. Taurine is an amino acid and was first discovered in the bile of male cattle. A high-protein wet food at 9.1%, this hydrating meal is very low in carbs. It also improves cats stool quality. In third place, we selected the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Cat Food. This nutrient-dense wet cat food is packed with the red meat flavors of beef and the fish flavors of hoki. This food is rich in vitamins and garden greeneries. As a result, it should only be fed as a taurine supplement, and it should never form the bulk of your cats diet. Fetal Development. What foods contain taurine? This may lead to congestive heart failure. Taurine levels do vary, however, and foods made with a higher concentration of animal protein are likely to have higher taurine levels than a product made with plant-based proteins. This is why their diets must be taurine-rich. Deficiencies in Taurine are not easily recognizable. Taurine is the number one active ingredient in this supplement. Can you give a cat too much taurine? They appreciate the excellent quality of the ingredients in this kibble. This kibble is cold-pressed, which preserves the potency of the ingredients to make sure your cat gets the best nutrition possible. According to feedback from buyers, this Merrick grain-free cat food has helped a lot of cats with various digestive issues. Taurine is exclusively found in animal-based proteins. TLC Pet Food includes certified ethoxyquin-free salmon and salmon oil as a rich source of protein. This dry food is very high in protein at 40%, making it ideal for active cats. Want to see more cat food reviews? One good thing about feeding your cat these organs is the fact that theyre often large, so you can get value for your money. For adult kitties, it should state Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult cats. If you want to give your cat a little extra moisture in their diet, however, a runny egg can be a good choice. As well as being grain-free, this doesnt contain any wheat, soy, or corn. Here at Petsumer, we care about pets just as much as you do and its our goal to help you become the best pet parent you can be. The body needs it for metabolism, digestion and to ensure the fertility of female cats. Cats with kidney or urinary issues may require a wet food to make sure theyre adequately hydrated. This savory grain-free meal for cats has amino acid-rich protein sources like deboned turkey, egg, deboned salmon, and deboned duck. This highly rated lickable vitamin supplement is quite popular among cats and cat owners. Tuna and cod are also excellent, but just about any commercially sold fish will do. In addition to her work as a ghostwriter and author, Kate is also a blogger for a number of organic and natural food companies as well as a columnist for several pet magazines. Youll also find sunflower seed oil listed which is a source of omega-6 fatty acids, helping to balance out those omega-3s. It contains a minimum of 0.15% taurine, as well as omega-6 fatty acids to help your cats skin and coat look their absolute best. If your cats daily meals include a commercial cat food that is nutritionally complete and balanced, then your kitty does not need taurine supplements unless otherwise recommended by your vet. 5 More Top-Rated Cat Foods for Congestive Heart Failure. Feed your cat a variety of foods to keep him from getting bored and to ensure that he receives the nutrition he needs in his raw diet. They take the decreased volume of stool in the litter trays as a good indication that more of the nutrients are absorbed by the body, instead of being turned into waste. Cats need up to 500 mg per day. It has no chicken, peas, potatoes, grains, soy, or legumes. It can take months of deficient levels for signs to show. We picked this as the best dry cat food with taurine because most of its protein content is derived from high-quality animal sources instead of plant protein. ACANA First Feast High-Protein Kitten 5. Chicken liver is the main protein source in this grain-free wet cat food. Meat and poultry also contain lots of taurine. Tiki Cat Raw Duck, Turkey Bone Broth & Pumpkin, LICKS Pill-Free MULTI-VITAMIN Cat Supplement. If you refer to AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles, you'll be able to answer the question of what percentage of taurine should be in cat food. Weve already mentioned that cats need to obtain 100% of their taurine from their food. Because it is highly concentrated in its dehydrated form, this food delivers 39% protein, 28% fat, and 2.5% fiber. Your email address will not be published. To ensure that the cat food you are feeding to your pet is nutritionally complete and balanced, look for the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statement on the bag or can of the cat food. Animal proteins are the most taurine rich foods. While humans and other omnivores are able to manufacture taurine from other amino acids, cats bodies are unable to do the same to produce enough taurine. At each meal, your cat should have between 200 and 300 mg of taurine. We do our best to help you better understand your cats, but the information on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. If you take a closer look at the ingredients lists, you also see a taurine supplement listed. January 28, 2021. Cat foods high in grains and other carbohydrates might also be low in taurine. Fortunately for us, cats are pretty good at keeping themselves clean. Signs of deficiency. 6,219. However, shellfish such as shrimp and clams provide even more taurine than other animal proteins, making them excellent foods to feed your cat. It is generally safe to assume, however, that if a cat food meets the requirements set by AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles, the taurine content will be sufficient to avoid a deficiency. They should only be fed as a treat or supplement. Note: The following taurine content is measured in mg for every 100g of food. This food is more expensive than some of our other recommendations, but its worth it. Unfortunately, cats cannot synthesize sufficient amounts of taurine from other amino acids for their body to properly function. As you might expect from a budget kibble, the ingredient list does include meat by-products. Youll also find that this recipe contains dried fruits and vegetables which provide natural sources of key vitamins and minerals, though there are also vitamin supplements and chelated minerals included.