A study wherein cats were fed solely ground rabbit is NOT a good
indication of a "natural diet", the rabbit fed to the cats in one group
was cooked, the other was frozen . A diet of solely one item is NOT a
diet at all - its subsistance living! Here are some links, quotes and
synopsis of Taurine's importance in the diet of mammals, and as it can
relate to our ferrets:

At http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17828434 it is noted:
"Taurine transport undergoes an adaptive response to changes in taurine
availability. Unlike most amino acids, taurine is not metabolized or
incorporated into protein but remains free in the intracellular water.
Most amino acids are reabsorbed at rates of 98-99%, but reabsorption of
taurine may range from 40% to 99.5%."

Effect of Processing on Fate of Dietary Taurine in Cats:
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/reprint/120/9/995.pdf
compares cooked and frozen diets fed to cats. Huxtable notes:
http://www.serve.com/BatonRouge/taurine_chmr.htm (this page goes into
great detail and breakdowns of Taurine from various sources.) They show
Taurine contents in foods: and that Insects are noted as being high in
Taurine . Also that Dark meat of chicken is High in Taurine. In
"Comparative Animal Biolchemistry", By Klaus Urich, pg 423. It is
noted that many insect larvae are high in Taurin

And: at:
http://www.beyondveg.com/billings-t/comp-anat/comp-anat-7f.shtml

Taurine: selected functions and interactions

Taurine is a very important amino acid involved in a large number of
metabolic processes. Huxtable provides a lengthy list of the biological
functions provided by taurine [1992, Table 1, p. 102]. Taurine is
important in the visual pathways, the brain and nervous system, cardiac
function, and it is a conjugator of bile acids. Another important
function of taurine is as a detoxifier. Gaull [1986, p. 123] notes:
Retinol [vitamin A] in excess amounts, i.e., unbound to retinol-binding
protein, can act as a poison. When the long-term lymphoid cell lines
are exposed to 10 mc M retinol, their viability decreases strikingly
over a 90-minute period [18]. Addition of zinc improves the viability
slightly. Further addition of taurine protects the cells even more.
If a combination of zinc and taurine is added, there is a striking
protective effect... 

Note that the above suggests that taurine and zinc, both found in
animal foods, provide protection from excess vitamin A--a vitamin found
in full form only in animal foods. This is an interesting synergism,
to say the least. Yet another zinc/taurine interaction is mentioned by
Huxtable [1992, p. 129]: Zinc is another metal ion with which taurine
interacts. Zinc deficiency leads to increased excretion of taurine
(277). Inasmuch as zinc is a mineral in relatively low supply (in terms
of quantities and/or bioavailability) in raw/vegan diets, the above
raises interesting questions of the possibility of yet another
zinc/taurine synergism. Raw dark meat of chicken is high in Zinc AND
Taurine! 

Since Taurine is not stored by the body but used from what is in fluid
suspension so to speak, it becomes apparent that ferrets need regular
quality amounts of Taurine. Cooking degrades Taurine, as does Freezing.
Taurine is NOT available in significant amounts from plant sources, BUT
IS available in high amounts from dark meats and insects. In order to
gain the most benefit from Taurine the body must also have sufficient
quantities of Zinc -- this too is in high amounts in raw chicken and
other muscle meats. So a natural diet offering chicken or turkey hearts
as well as dark meat and insects should offer the ferret sufficient
Taurine to keep their eyes, heart and brain functioning properly!

My ferrets get one to two chicken or pieces of turkey hearts per day,
in addition to their variety of raw meaty bones, or whole prey and one
to three times a week they get some insects! Offering ferrets whole
prey in the form of "Super worms, Crickets and other edible insects
which can be offered live, or prekilled. My ferrets like them live.
While it IS definite that Taurine is important, the exact levels have
not been ascertained for ferrets. Apparently though since Taurine is
NOT stored for later use, you cannot OVER "dose" the animal with too
much Taurine.

go here for a nutrient evaluation of 1 Raw chicken heart: (Taurine
level is not shown, but it has an Amino acid score of 146 which is
high. Note too the zinc levels!):
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/poultry-products/664/2

Cheers,
Kim

please visit : for ferret help and info:
http://holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi
http://ferretopia.proboards51.com/index.cgi
yahoo groups Natural Ferrets

for fun: www.vanityferret.com (password required: "FerretsRfun")

[Posted in FML 6231]