All felines are capable of obtaining nutrients from the prey they hunt. However, in the case of domestic cats, if they are not fed correctly, they can suffer from nutritional deficiencies, such as essential amino acids Especially, a deficiency of taurine and arginine can have serious consequences on the he alth of our pets. Deficiencies in essential amino acids typically occur when cats are not fed a high-protein animal diet, for example because they are fed dog food or are fed a vegetarian diet at the wish of their caretakers. This is a serious mistake, since cats are strict carnivores, which means that they cannot feed on anything other than meat and animal protein, since it is in it that they will find all the amino acids they require, especially the essential ones, which they can't get any other way than a high-protein diet.
What are the essential amino acids in a cat?
Because cats are strict carnivores, it is very important to choose feed formulated with a high amount of animal protein that guarantees the obtaining of all the essential amino acids, since it is in the meat where they are usually obtained. Also, if they don't consume the amount of protein they need from their diet, not being able to modify their metabolism on a low-protein diet, they begin to exclusively consume which is stored in your body, affecting your he alth.
The amino acids are the basis for the formation of proteins, that is, proteins are made up of chains of amino acids. In cats we find 20 different amino acids, of which only 11 are essential, or what is the same: they must be obtained from the diet, since they cannot be produced by your body. If your cat doesn't get these essential amino acids, her physiological function will begin to deteriorate, essential protein synthesis will be impeded, and your feline's he alth will be compromised in multiple ways. In the case of kittens, their growth will be affected.
The essential amino acids in cats are:
- Taurine.
- Arginine.
- Methionine (and cysteine).
- Lysine.
- Phenylalanine (and tyrosine).
- Leucine.
- Isoleucine.
- Valina.
- Histidine.
- Tryptophan.
- Threonine.
Next, we will talk about each one separately, their functions, what can cause their deficiencies and what types of foods they can be found in.
Taurine
Taurine fulfills the following functions in the body of cats:
- Bile production.
- Conjugation of bile acids.
- Acts as an antioxidant.
- Regulation of calcium outside and inside cells.
- Prevents liver diseases.
- Involved in the he althy functioning of the heart and eyesight.
- Works as a neurotransmitter.
- They play an important role in proper muscle and nerve function.
- Intervenes in proper reproductive function.
- It acts as a maintainer of the proper functioning of cell membranes.
Symptoms of taurine deficiency in cats
Taurine deficiency will not cause immediate death, but your feline's body will gradually weaken, alterations will appear in functions discussed above and, after five months of deficiency, can be responsible for serious long-term he alth problems, such as:
- Heart problems: specifically a dilated cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the heart's ventricles), which is usually accompanied by pleural effusion (outflow of fluid in the membrane lining the lungs),
- Retinal problems: a condition known as central retinal degeneration (the retina converts images detected by the eyeball into electrical signals, sending them to the brain through the optic nerve and thus vision is produced), so their degeneration can cause blindness in our cat.
While the evolution of cardiomyopathy to congestive heart failure and its complications can be practically reversed with taurine supplementation, damage to the retinaof our cat will not be cured , we will simply prevent its progression.
Where is taurine obtained?
Our little felines can obtain taurine especially in organs such as the heart, lung, liver and kidney, as well asthe muscles or the nervous system In addition, it is more abundant in poultry and fish than in lamb or veal. It is estimated that a cat should ingest between 200 and 300 mg of taurine a day and if there are deficiencies it should be supplemented with 250 mg twice a day. For more information, we encourage you to consult this other article on Foods rich in taurine for cats.
Arginine
Arginine is important for the synthesis of urea from ammonia and participates in its elimination. If there is no arginine, it can cause ammonia poisoning in our cat, which can be fatal within hours.
Symptoms of arginine deficiency in cats
If our cat does not consume enough arginine, the following can happen:
- Weightloss.
- Vomiting.
- Excessive salivation.
- Muscle tremor.
- Neurological signs.
- Waterfalls.
- Death.
Where do you get arginine?
In general, cats can get arginine from muscles, organs, and gelatin.
Methionine and cysteine
Methionine and cysteine are sulfur amino acids important for the synthesis of keratin, which is the main protein of the skin, nails and hair. Methionine is more essential than cysteine, since cysteine can be synthesized from methionine. However, if it is obtained in sufficient quantity from the diet, it frees up methionine to be fully used for its function.
Symptoms of methionine and cysteine deficiency in cats
In general, its deficiency can cause:
- Alopecia or hair loss.
- Slow hair growth.
- Brittle, dull and dull appearance of the coat.
- Poor nail keratinization and dry skin.
Where do you get methionine and cysteine?
In the proteins of fish and eggs, as well as casein from dairy products. Wheat and corn can also be important sources.
Lysine
Lysine is often the amino acid most at risk of becoming deficient if cat food is not formulated correctly, and is also sensitive to high temperatures. It intervenes in the formation of proteins and helps your cat's natural immunity.
Symptoms of lysine deficiency in cats
Among the symptoms of lysine deficiency in cats, the following stand out:
- Weightloss.
- Altered calcium absorption.
- Compromises muscle formation and growth hormone release.
Where do you get lysine?
Lysine is usually obtained from animal sources, especially musculature. Soy proteins are also a good source of this essential amino acid.
Phenylalanine and tyrosine
Phenylalanine is essential for production of thyroid hormones, coat color (yellow to red and black pigments) and iris pigmentation.
Tyrosine is involved in the formation of adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine, necessary for proper brain function and reproductive activity.
Symptoms of phenylalanine and tyrosine deficiency in cats
A deficiency of these essential amino acids in cats can cause the following:
- Neurological system dysfunction.
- Uncoordinated march.
- Hyperactivity.
Where do you get phenylalanine and tyrosine?
Phenylalanine can be found in most protein sources from poultry, pork, beef, and fish. Rice contains good amounts of tyrosine.
Leucine, isoleucine and valine
They are branched-chain amino acids that are involved in protein synthesis and in delaying its degradation in the muscles. In addition, isoleucine is essential in the formation of hemoglobin and is involved in blood coagulation.
Symptoms of leucine, isoleucine and valine deficiency in cats
If your cat shows a deficiency in these essential amino acids, the following may occur:
- Altered DNA and muscle synthesis.
- Impairment of blood sugar regulation.
- Weightloss.
- Lethargy.
- Rough fur.
- Scabbing around the eyes and mouth.
- Peeling of the epidermis of the pads.
- Uncoordinated march.
Where do you get leucine, isoleucine and valine?
These three essential amino acids are commonly obtained from beef, lamb, poultry, and eggs.
Histidine
Histidine, in addition to protein formation, is involved in the synthesis of compounds such as histamine, which is a substance that is involved in allergic processes.
Symptoms of histidine deficiency in cats
If your cat has histidine deficiency, these symptoms will appear.
- Weightloss.
- Anorexy.
- Waterfalls.
Where is histidine obtained?
In the flesh and blood of animals and fish.
Threonine
Threonine acts as a precursor to pyruvate, which is involved in energy production in your cat's cells. In addition, together with aspartic acid and methionine, it intervenes in the metabolism of fats.
Symptoms of threonine deficiency in cats
A threonine deficiency can cause:
- Weightloss.
- Anorexy.
- Nervous system problems.
Where is threonine obtained?
Can be found in poultry, lamb, pork, beef, and fish.
Tryptophan
Tryptophan is a precursor of niacin and melatonin, and acts in the regulation of anxiety, sleep and stress as it is also a precursor of serotonin.
Symptoms of tryptophan deficiency in cats
If your cat has a tryptophan deficiency, the following symptoms will appear:
- Anorexy.
- Weightloss.
Where do you get tryptophan?
The main sources of tryptophan for cats are poultry, fish, eggs, and grains.
Tips
- Feed your cat with a complete feed formulated for this species.
- If you have dogs at home, do not feed them with dog food, we have already seen that it can be a problem, especially since dog food does not have as much taurine and tends to have less protein.
- Don't force him to follow a vegetarian or high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet.
- You can sometimes give him meat directly, but avoid raw meat because it can transmit diseases.
- You can supplement their diet with cat milk, which usually contains essential amino acids such as taurine.
