Taurine became a mandatory ingredient in commercial cat foods in the 1980s.īefore taurine was recognized to be so essential in cats, early commercial cat foods did not contain sufficient levels of taurine. Taurine is required for bile acid conjugation in dogs and cats, a process required for digestion, so deficiency of taurine can also lead to digestive health concerns.įor breeding queens, taurine deficiency can lead to poor litter health with small litter size, lower birth weights, and kittens that are not strong or healthy. This degeneration of the retina of the eye is irreversible and leads to blindness. Taurine deficiency has also been linked to feline central retinal degeneration (FCRD), as the amino acid is required for proper retinal health. This is a disease where the heart chambers dilate, leading to overall heart enlargement, but the heart muscle itself actually becomes thinner and flaccid, leading to poor contraction. Taurine deficiency can cause a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Taurine deficiency can cause serious diseases, including dilated cardiomyopathy and feline central retinal degeneration.Īlthough only a couple of health effects are seen from taurine deficiency, these health problems can be severe and even fatal.

Taurine side effects