Taurine in dog and cat food

Is it OK for dogs and cats?

Dogs

Yes. Dogs normally make their own taurine, and added taurine can help prevent low levels on some diets. A 2026 EU rule caps it at 2,000 mg per kg of complete dog food because a safety margin for dogs could not be established.

Cats

Cats must get taurine from food. They cannot make enough, and a shortage can cause heart muscle failure (dilated cardiomyopathy) and retinal degeneration. Guidelines set minimum levels for complete cat food, and the EU sets no maximum for cats.

How settled this is: Limited by regulators

What taurine is

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a sulphur-containing compound. Chemically it is an amino sulphonic acid, not one of the usual amino acids. It was first isolated from ox bile, which gave it its name. Dogs and cats use it to bind bile acids. Taurine authorised as an EU feed additive is made by chemical synthesis and must be at least 98% pure.

Why it is in pet food

Cats need taurine in their diet because they can make only a little, not enough to replace what they lose through bile. Plant protein sources contain no taurine, so cat foods rely on animal ingredients, added synthetic taurine, or both. Heat processing makes taurine easier for gut bacteria to break down, so canned cat food needs about 2 to 2.5 times more taurine than dry food. In dog food, adding taurine or more of its building blocks (methionine and cysteine) can prevent taurine levels falling on certain diets.

What it does in the food

In the EU taurine is authorised as a nutritional additive. FEDIAF's 2025 guidelines recommend at least 0.10% of dry matter in dry food and 0.20% in canned food for adult cats, with slightly more for cats with low energy needs. For growing kittens the figures are 0.10% (dry) and 0.25% (canned). FEDIAF sets no dietary taurine minimum for dogs. It does say dog foods should keep blood taurine adequate (above 40 µmol/L in plasma). In cats, plasma levels above 50-60 µmol/L are considered adequate.

Safety and limits

Cats: Taurine deficiency can cause dilated cardiomyopathy, central retinal degeneration and reproductive failure. In 1987, researchers found low blood taurine and heart muscle failure in 21 cats eating commercial cat foods. Taurine supplements raised blood levels, and heart function returned to normal. On the upper side, EFSA judged 0.05-0.25% taurine in complete feed safe for cats, with a safety margin of 4 to 20. The EU sets no maximum for cats. Dogs: Healthy dogs make enough taurine from sulphur amino acids in their food. Low levels can occur on very low-protein diets, diets low in sulphur amino acids, and some lamb-and-rice foods. Low plasma taurine may predispose dogs to dilated cardiomyopathy, and some breeds, such as Newfoundlands, are more sensitive. FDA's 2019 update said Golden Retrievers may be genetically predisposed to taurine deficiency. EFSA found up to 0.2% taurine tolerated in complete feed for dogs, but could not set a safety margin. So EU Regulation 2026/1859 caps it at 2,000 mg per kg of complete dog feed (at 12% moisture). Pet food made and labelled under the old rules before 19 August 2028 may be sold until stocks run out. For people handling the pure additive, the EU notes it is a skin and eye irritant and a skin and respiratory sensitiser, and requires protective measures. FDA's work on diet and DCM: FDA's latest Q&A has report counts up to 1 November 2022, and the page is marked current as of 19 August 2024. It says FDA does not know the specific connection between certain diets and non-hereditary DCM, and that FDA will update the public if or when substantive scientific information comes to light. In December 2022 FDA said it does not intend to release further public updates until there is meaningful new scientific information.

What depends on the amount and the recipe

Species: taurine is essential in cat food, and dogs normally make their own. Food format: canned cat food needs more than dry food. The recipe: low protein, low or poorly available methionine and cysteine, and some lamb-and-rice foods (possibly because of rice bran) can lower taurine status in dogs. Breed: Newfoundlands make taurine more slowly, and Golden Retrievers may be predisposed to deficiency.

Not the same as

• DL-methionine — A sulphur amino acid that dogs use to make taurine. Cats cannot make enough taurine from it, so it does not replace taurine for cats.
• L-carnitine — A different nutrient, not a form of taurine. It is a separate ingredient.

Sources

1. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals (Merck Veterinary Manual, professional version; full review Nov 2023, updated Sept 2024) — Merck & Co. / Merck Veterinary Manual, 2024. Unlike dogs, cats need taurine in the diet. Taurine deficiency causes dilated cardiomyopathy and central retinal degeneration in cats. Plant-based proteins contain no taurine, and diets can be supplemented with synthetic taurine.
2. FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs (September 2025), incl. Annex 7.3 Taurine — FEDIAF European Pet Food, 2025. Taurine's chemistry and ox-bile origin, and its use for bile-acid conjugation. Cats' synthesis is insufficient, and deficiency causes retinal degeneration, DCM and reproductive failure. Heat processing increases bacterial degradation, so canned food needs 2-2.5 times more taurine. Cat minimum levels (dry and canned) and adequate plasma levels are given. Healthy dogs synthesise sufficient taurine from dietary sulphur amino acids, but low status can occur on some diets. Low taurine may predispose dogs to DCM, breeds such as Newfoundlands are more sensitive, and adding taurine or its precursors can prevent a decrease.
3. Pion PD, Kittleson MD, Rogers QR, Morris JG. Myocardial failure in cats associated with low plasma taurine: a reversible cardiomyopathy. Science 237(4816):764-768 — American Association for the Advancement of Science (peer-reviewed; abstract read via PubMed record PMID 3616607), 1987. Taurine is present in the heart muscle of all mammals. Low plasma taurine with heart muscle failure was found in 21 cats fed commercial cat foods. Taurine supplementation raised plasma taurine and was associated with normal heart function returning.
4. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1859 renewing the authorisation of a preparation of taurine as a feed additive for Canidae, Felidae, Mustelidae, carnivorous finfish and other aquatic carnivorous species — EUR-Lex, Official Journal of the European Union, 2026. Taurine is a nutritional additive made by chemical synthesis at 98% minimum purity. There is no maximum for Felidae, and a maximum of 2,000 mg/kg of complete feed (12% moisture) for Canidae because a margin of safety could not be provided. EFSA found 0.05-0.25% safe for cats (margin 4-20) and up to 0.2% tolerated in other species. Taurine is a skin and eye irritant and a skin and respiratory sensitiser for users, and protective measures are required. Pet food produced and labelled before 19 August 2028 under the previous rules has a transition period.
5. Questions & Answers: FDA's Work on Potential Causes of Non-Hereditary DCM in Dogs (content current as of 08/19/2024) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, 2024. Report counts up to 1 November 2022 were compiled in December 2022. FDA does not know the specific connection between these diets and non-hereditary DCM, and it will provide updates if or when substantive scientific information comes to light.
6. FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (includes the June 27, 2019 update; page current as of 12/23/2022) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2022. Taurine is generally not considered essential for dogs because they can make it from cysteine and methionine. Golden Retrievers may be genetically predisposed to taurine deficiency, which can lead to DCM (June 2019 update). On 23 December 2022 FDA said it does not intend to release further public updates until there is meaningful new scientific information to share.

Checked against these sources on 2026-10-15. Definitions are in our own words. This is a reading aid, not veterinary advice: a vet who knows your animal comes first.