Do cats really need more protein?

Abstract

Reviews of the most recent literature on amino‐acid and nitrogen requirements have shown that the minimal protein requirement (using a protein with a high NPU) of the growing kitten is about 20 per cent of the diet whether the requirement is based on the nitrogen content of the protein or upon its essential amino‐acid content. Although this is higher than that required by the growing dog, rat or man, the difference is not as great (65 per cent higher) as the differential found for adult animals of these same species. That is, the adult cat requires 12–15 per cent dietary protein for maintenance compared with about 4–5 per cent for the adult rat, man and dog.

Nutritional Factors Affecting Semen Quality in Felids

“…The cat's higher protein requirement may result from a need for more total protein, not only an increased requirement for essential amino acids. 23 In general, proteins from animal matter contain a more balanced amino acid profile and better digestibility than plant proteins. However, the perfectly balanced protein complete in all essential amino acids has not been found for cats.…”

“…Taurine deficiency is linked with dilated cardiomyopathy and retinal degeneration. 5,20,21,23 In leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis), taurine deficiency was observed in males and females fed a commercial canned cat food for 10 to 24 months, resulting in retinal degeneration ranging from focal tapetal lesions to diffuse pigment atrophy and blindness. 12 Composition of the canned diet was modified to prevent dietary deficiencies.…”

“…26 Live-born kittens demonstrate numerous neurologic abnormalities, low birth weight, and poor postnatal survival rate caused by inadequate maternal lactation. 26 The domestic cat's minimum taurine requirement was studied, 5,23 and a taurine content of 500 mg/kg dry matter of the diet was adequate for pregnancy in cats. 19 However, when fed commercial canned diets, 2000 mg taurine/kg dry matter was needed.…”

Assessment of protein and amino acid concentrations and labeling adequacy of commercial vegetarian diets formulated for dogs and cats

“…4 In addition, sulfur-containing AAs (methionine, cystine, and taurine) are found primarily in animal protein. 4 In addition, sulfur-containing AAs (methionine, cystine, and taurine) are found primarily in animal protein.…”

Metabolic basis for some of the nutritional peculiarities of the cat

“…The latter two topics are covered by other discussants at this symposium and are only included here for completeness. The reader is requested to consult the relevant papers of Rogers & Morris (1982) and Rivers (1982).…”