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]