Topics:
Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher
Essential Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Unique to Cats
The essential amino acid and essential fatty acid unique to the cat are respectively:
- Lysine and Linoleic acid
- Glycine and Linolenic acid
- Taurine and Arachidonic acid — Correct Answer
- Methionine and Linoleic acid
Explanation:
Correct Answer: Taurine and Arachidonic acid
Cats have unique nutritional requirements not shared by most other mammals:
- Taurine — Essential Amino Acid in Cat: Cats lack the enzyme cysteine sulphinic acid decarboxylase, so they cannot synthesise taurine from cysteine. Deficiency causes: (1) Feline Central Retinal Degeneration (FCRD) — blindness, (2) Dilated cardiomyopathy. Must be supplied in the diet (found in animal tissues).
- Arachidonic acid — Essential Fatty Acid in Cat: Cats lack sufficient delta-6-desaturase and delta-5-desaturase enzymes to convert linoleic acid to arachidonic acid. Dogs and humans can perform this conversion; cats cannot. Must be supplied from animal fat sources.
Species-Specific Essential Nutrients
- Cat: Taurine (AA), Arachidonic acid (EFA)
- Pig and Poultry: Linoleic acid (EFA)
- Pig: Lysine (limiting AA)
- Poultry: Glycine (limiting AA)
- Sheep: Methionine (limiting AA)
📚 About this Topic — Animal Nutrition
This multiple choice question is from Animal Nutrition, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Nutrition to strengthen your preparation.
