Ingredient A-Z

Taurine

amino acidalso called: 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid

What it is

An amino acid that cats cannot synthesise in sufficient quantity, so it must come from the diet. It is added to essentially all complete cat foods in the United States.

Why it gets discussed

Its presence is expected rather than remarkable. Brands sometimes highlight it; its absence would be the notable event. Cats synthesize so little of it that dietary intake is treated as a baseline requirement, not a marketing feature.

Where it sits on the label

Usually appears late in the ingredient list, after the major proteins, because it is added in very small amounts.

Foods in our database that list taurine

This page is composition reference material, not advice about feeding your cat. Discuss ingredient-level nutrition questions with your veterinarian.