The Role of Tryptophan for Cats
- molly6383
- Nov 24, 2018
- 1 min read
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that creates niacin, which is key in creating the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is found mostly in the digestive system and is a chemical that regulates your cat’s mood, sleep-wake cycles, level of arousal, and sensitivity to pain/stimuli. You can make the connection of how important a healthy amount of serotonin is for your cat’s behavior; with a deficit of serotonin you may see hyperactivity, aggression, hypersensitivity or restless sleep in your cat.
Tryptophan comes from meat sources. Many commercial pet foods include corn and other simple carbohydrates as a primary protein – and the problem with these is they lack tryptophan. Feeding a quality mostly-meat based food is key to your cat feeling well.
Read the ingredient labels and avoid:
Meat product
Meat by-product
Wheat
Corn
(Note: Brown rice is ok)
It's fascinating to learn about the role tryptophan plays in helping cats manage stress and anxiety. I never realized how much of an impact this amino acid could have on their overall well-being. Speaking of care and maintenance, just as we focus on the health of our pets, maintaining the cleanliness of outdoor spaces is essential. For example, using an asphalt cleaner can help keep surfaces neat and safe, much like how we maintain our pets’ environment to ensure their comfort. Keeping things clean and healthy benefits everyone, whether it’s our pets or outdoor spaces.