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Taurine is an important component to all IAMS™ cat foods, such as IAMS ProActive Health™ Adult Original with Chicken.
Taurine is an essential amino acid that is critical for normal heart muscle function, vision, and reproduction in kittens. It is also needed to form the bile salts that aid in digestion. Unlike other amino acids, taurine is found as a free amino acid in body tissues such as the heart and eyes and is not incorporated into proteins
Most mammals manufacture taurine from other amino acids. However, cats cannot manufacture enough and, therefore, must acquire enough additional taurine through diet to meet their needs. In pet food, taurine is naturally found in animal-based protein ingredients and can also be added separately.
Taurine helps in maintaining normal vision, heart muscle function, digestion, normal pregnancy and fetal development, and a healthy immune system. Taurine for cats can only be found in animal-derived proteins.
Taurine can be made by dogs from two other amino acids: cysteine and methionine. As a result, it isn't regarded necessary in their diet. But since taurine is an important ingredient, you can add it to your pet’s diet due to its numerous health benefits.
Taurine criteria for commercial dog food have yet to be established. If you are worried that your dog may have inadequate taurine or if you need guidance on how much taurine to include in your dog's diet, it is best to consult your veterinarian.
It is vital to include taurine in your cat’s food because cats cannot synthesize it. If your cat's food has too little taurine, it will become taurine deficient, which can lead to a range of major health concerns. For example, taurine could cause your cat’s retinas to degenerate and make your pet go blind. Further, this lack of taurine can stifle growth and make it difficult for you cat to reproduce.
Therefore, the minimum taurine requirement for adult cats in commercial pet food is 25mg/100 kcal for dry food and 50mg/100 kcal for canned foods, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials Publication, 2018. However, because taurine requirements vary from one cat to the next, it's always a good idea to check with your vet if you're concerned that your pet isn't getting enough.
IAMS dry cat foods also include taurine as an ingredient to supplement the primary source of this amino acid, which is animal-based protein from sources such as chicken, egg, lamb, and fish. However, these sources can vary in their taurine content, and adding more taurine is a sound approach to ensure optimal taurine levels.Ü
Health benefits of Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid found in muscles, the heart, the brain, and the retina, among other tissues and organs. Unlike most amino acids, taurine does not form cell proteins but has a variety of other functions. Here are some taurine benefits for cats:
Taurine deficiency can cause serious health problems for your cat over time because it is required for many regular metabolic functions. Some of the issues include:
IAMS cat foods are formulated with high-quality, animal-based proteins as their primary ingredient. In addition, they are supplemented with extra taurine to ensure balanced levels of essential amino acids.
IAMS Proactive Health Healthy Adult with Chicken and Salmon are one of the best foods to feed your cat. This nutrient-dense cat food is available in chicken and salmon flavors. These food ingredients act as the first ingredient to promote a healthy body for play. It also contains natural fiber and prebiotics, which help your cat's digestion. What’s more is that it helps your cat develop strong muscles with rich amounts of protein and provides a complete and balanced diet with no fillers.
Taurine has no significant side effects and is well-tolerated by cats when added correctly. The only side effect reported is minor vomiting which is lessened by providing a supplement with food.
In the late 1980s, taurine was discovered to be an essential component of a cat's diet. Since then, all cat foods have been enriched with plenty of taurine to suit their individual demands.
A high number of cats given unfortified commercial foods suffer from taurine insufficiency. Because cats can't absorb all of the taurine in processed foods and/or can't synthesis the difference between absorption and demand, taurine is considered an essential amino acid for cats.
Potty training your cat at an early age can help inculcate essential hygiene habits. Starting kitten litter training as soon as your newborn pet hits the four-week mark ensures that it is well aware of the surroundings. Moreover, it ascertains that your kitty does not dirty the home. For all new cat parents wondering how to litter train a kitten, here are a few tips to get you started. Read on to learn more about the right age to start training your kitten, how to pick the right size of a litter box and more.
Adult cats naturally seek out sandy places to defecate but kittens need some guidance. Fortunately, using litter boxes comes naturally to kittens. If you are a first-time cat parent, here’s a fact that will put you at ease: unlike puppies, potty training a kitten can be fairly easy. Moreover, it is one of the first exercises you will do as a caregiver.
Things learnt at an early age, generally, sticks with you for time immemorial. And that holds true in cats as well. Hence, you can start potty training kittens once they turn 4 weeks old. If you are adopting a kitten that’s older than 4 weeks or an adult cat, start potty training it immediately.
Potty training is an important part of adopting a cat, especially if you do not want to clean the house zillion times a day. However, it is not like you buy a litter box and your kitty will get the hint. You need to teach your pet to do its business in the box. And as a first-time cat parent, you might be clueless on how to potty train a cat. Fret not, we have got you covered. Here are a few tips to help you get started with the kitten litter training:
The first step to litter training kittens is choosing a litter box. Since you are picking out a litter box for your kitten, it can be small and compact in size. Make sure there is enough room for your kitty to go in that box. It should be easy to enter and not too compact for your kitten’s size.
Moreover, your cat might feel uncomfortable to defecate in certain types of boxes. Some cats might like keeping their business private, while some could prefer being aware of their surroundings. Hence, finding the right litter for your kitten may involve some testing.
Choosing the right spot for the litter box is imperative. Place it somewhere that is not too loud, but also ensure that the box is within human interaction. For example, if you place the litter box in your basement, your kitten may not feel comfortable and eliminate somewhere in the house. You can also place the litter box in the bathroom. If you have multiple floors in your house, place at least one easily accessible litter box on every floor. Moreover, make sure you do not place the litter box next to your cat’s food and water bowls.
Once you have placed all your litter boxes at desired locations, it is time to start training your kitten. Assuming that you have placed multiple litters in your house, take your kitty to each box and let it sniff them. Next, place your kitten in the litter box. It may start pawing the litter or even use it right away. If it doesn’t, run your fingers through the litter to demonstrate pawing actions.
Here’s a tip on how to train a kitten to use a litter box: reward it. Shower your purrfect pal with its favorite treat whenever it uses the litter box successfully. For this to work, you need to give your cat a treat right after it uses the litter box so that it starts associating the usage of the litter box with good behavior.
Keeping the litter box clean is crucial to ensure that your kitten does not develop an aversion to the box. You can scoop out your cat’s waste after each use. Keep adding some litter every time you are scooping out waste to make sure that the litter depth is maintained and your kitten can easily dig. Once your cat is a little older and used to the box, you can start cleaning it once a day.
