Should Cats Drink Energy Drinks Containing Taurine?
Even if fortified with taurine, cats absolutely SHOULD NOT drink energy drinks because these beverages often contain significant amounts of caffeine. While most people know not to give dogs and cats chocolate, many do not realize that caffeine is closely related to the toxic substance found in chocolate, theobromine.
Signs of caffeine poisoning in cats usually occur with 1 to 2 hours of exposure and include:
- hyperactivity and restlessness,
- vomiting,
- tachycardia (elevated heart rate),
- hypertension (elevated blood pressure),
- abnormal heart rhythms,
- tremors,
- hyperthermia (elevated body temperature),
- seizures,
- collapse
If your cat has consumed more than just a lick of coffee, tea, or an energy drink, keep a close eye on them over the next couple hours. Make sure to take them to a veterinarian immediately if they start to show any of the above symptoms.
Should I Feed My Cat A Grain-Free Diet?
As cats are obligate carnivores and really only need to eat meat, it makes sense that grain-free diets are very popular. Often, grains are thought of as filler in dog and cat foods.
Because fish and meat are natural sources of taurine, a grain-free diet would seem to be the best choice to make sure they don’t become taurine deficient and start to suffer from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy, commonly referred to as DCM. However, a recent rise in DCM in dogs being fed exclusively grain-free diets has caused some to question that wisdom.
Scientists have found a link between dogs fed a grain free diet and DCM. Although there is not enough data yet, veterinarians are concerned that something similar could be occurring with cats.
DCM used to be the most common heart disease in cats; however, in 1987 scientists determined feline DCM was usually caused by insufficient dietary taurine. With taurine supplementation, DCM in cats was able to be reversed, and now all AAFCO approved cat foods contain enough taurine to prevent DCM.
While it makes sense to suspect taurine deficiency could be behind the recent uptick in DCM, it’s not clear if this is the actual issue. Instead, it may be some other factor associated with eating increasing popular “BEG” diets – boutique companies, exotic ingredients, or grain-free diets.
Veterinary nutritionist Lisa Freeman reports that, “more than 90% of our [canine] patients with DCM in which taurine has been measured have normal levels (and the majority are eating BEG diets). Yet some of these dogs with DCM and normal taurine levels improve when their diets are changed.”
Dr. Freeman believes there’s something else going on with BEG diets, such as a deficiency of a different nutrient than taurine or some sort of ingredient toxicity. In regards to cats, Dr. Freeman recommends that if your cat is diagnosed with DCM and is eating a BEG, vegetarian, vegan, or home-prepared diet, you should switch to one made by a well-known reputable company, containing standard ingredients such as chicken, beef, rice, corn, wheat.
So, I guess my cat does need taurine?
It’s clear that taurine is an essential nutrient in your cat’s diet in order for them to stay strong and healthy. If your cat doesn’t get enough taurine, they risk suffering blindness, heart disease, and reproductive failure in females.
The jury is out on whether grain-free diets are the best for your cat, or if some may increase the risk of DCM. If you do decide to go grain-free, make sure to pick one that meets AAFCO nutrient requirements such as Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck Diet.
If you are worried about DCM, there are plenty of good diets made with standard ingredients such as chicken, beef, rice, corn, wheat. A good choice is Purina ONE cat food, introduced in 1986 as Ralston Purina’s first super-premium pet food, millions of healthy cats can’t be wrong.
What did you think of this post? If you have any questions or would like to share a story about your cat and their healthy diet, please tell us in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.
