In Pottenger's study, what essential nutrient was lacking in the diets of cats fed cooked meat?

Pottenger's study focused on the nutritional impacts of cooking meat and how these changes affected the health of cats. One of the critical findings from his research was that cats fed a diet of cooked meat developed various health issues, primarily due to a deficiency in taurine.

Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats that plays a crucial role in various physiological functions, including vision, reproduction, and heart function. Cats have a specific dietary requirement for taurine, which they obtain primarily from animal-based protein sources. When meat is cooked, particularly through methods that lead to high temperatures, the levels of taurine can be significantly reduced or even rendered unavailable for absorption, leading to health problems in cats, such as issues with heart and eye health.

In Pottenger's study, cats that were fed a raw meat diet retained adequate levels of taurine, while those on a cooked meat diet showed severe taurine deficiency. This stark contrast highlighted the importance of taurine in the feline diet and underscored the broader implications for nutrition in animal studies. Understanding this nutrient's role helps emphasize the need for species-specific dietary considerations in both veterinary and nutritional practices.