Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid (not a true amino) found freely in most of the mammals’ tissues with many functions including ensuring a healthy heart, helping in GI tract and eyesight function as well as helping in ensuring a proper body immunity among other roles.
Whereas most animals including dogs can synthesis enough amounts using other nutrients in their diets, felines cannot make an adequate amount. This, therefore, calls for you to ensure this animal gets adequate amounts.
We have already looked at taurine for cats, including sources, functions and deficiency symptoms where we also looked at how much cats require and any side effects or toxicity resulting from excessive amounts.
It is time to focus on the best supplements of this nutrient in the market, where to buy them as well as some advice on people who rely on homemade including raw diets.
Taurine supplements for cats – powder and tablets
These supplements can be in powder, tablet or liquid forms. However, since, pure one comes as a white powder which might be unappealing to cats, most of them have flavorings or have been formulated into enticing treats and chews.
If you are looking for some of the best brands for your feline friends, here are some of them.
1. PetAg Taurine Tablets Chews
Each tablet is 250mg. Dosages – a half a tablet daily. However, during gestation and lactation, they will need one tablet per day.
Consider it if you see any of the taurine deficiency symptoms like reproductive dysfunction, feline central retinal degeneration, or dilated cardiomyopathy.
2. Thomas Labs Felo Taurine powder
This is a water-soluble taurine powder for cats given during or after meals. The recommended amount is 1/2 teaspoon daily which is equivalent to 500mg of this amino sulfonic acid.
It will ensure normal eye, gastrointestinal and heart function as well as excellent cardiovascular health and electrolyte balance.
3. Vétoquinol Felovite II with Taurine review
This tuna flavored paste supplement has a lot of nutrients, including taurine, crude protein, fats, fiber, and omega 6 fatty acids. It also has calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, iodine, vitamins A, D, E, K, B1, B2, B6 and B12, niacin, choline, folic acid, biotin, inositol.
Finally, this paste is suitable for both cats and kittens with the recommended dosage being a teaspoon for a cat (6g) and half the amount for a kitten.
4. AniForte®Taurine for Cats
It is common in the UK and comes in powder form. The recommended dosage is 1teaspoon equivalent to 500mg per day.
5. VitaPaws Sprinkle Capsules
These pets should have 1-2 capsules with 250mg l-taurine daily. Besides helping in eye function, it will boost proper potassium and calcium utilization.
6. Herbsmith Taurine Boost – Cardiac and Heart Support
This all-natural formulation also features, L-carnitine, omega-3fatty acids, coenzyme Q10. Your felines should have ½ a teaspoon twice a day. It is good for the immune, brain, eye, and heart health.
Most of these supplements are available over the counter without a prescription. However, it is a good idea to discuss with your vet in case you intend to use it to manage any of the feline taurine deficiency symptoms.
Taurine for cats dosage
How much taurine supplement to give your fluffy friends will be as instructed by your veterinarian or as per the manufacturer’s use direction as well as the intended purpose.
For instance, for cats with dilated cardiomyopathy, dosages of 250mg give twice a day are considered enough. Improvements may be noted after two weeks of supplementation and you should continue for the next up to six months [1]
Best cat food with taurine
If you are looking for the best commercial cat foods with an adequate amount of taurine, go for reputed manufacturers and look at the ingredient’s label to see if it has been supplemented.
Most of these foods have the required amounts especially those made from high-quality animal protein. Avoid those that are high in carbohydrates since they are not even the idea foods for these pets as they are strict carnivores.
Try brands such as:
- Purina Fancy Feast Grain-Free Pate Wet – Variety Pack; Poultry & Beef Collection
- Applaws Grain-Free, Additive Free – 5 Flavor Variety Bundle
- 9Lives -Dry
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Rabbit Adult Grain-Free Dry
- Purina Friskies Canned Wet Food
- Halo Natural Dry Cat Food, Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe
- American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free dry
Besides these foods, there are some cat vitamins with taurine such as Nekton-Cat-VM and Felini Beaphar Multi-Vitamin Paste which also have all the essential vitamins for these pets.
Use of taurine for cats raw food
Deficiencies may result in felines that are fed on with homemade foods including those that have low quality or heat-damaged proteins, rice bran, vegan diets or those that are given dog foods.
If your feline friend depends on homemade diets, let your vet help you in coming up with the right amount to add to those foods.
Where to buy taurine for cats
If you are looking for it, you can buy it in your local pet stores. Also, there are many brands available on various online stores such as PetSmart, Amazon, Chewy, etc.
Finally, consider ordering it directly from the various manufacturers. Most of them have online portals for selling this amino sulfonic acid.