Alternately affectionate and haughty, cuddly and predatory, cats never let us forget their true nature. That sweet kitten may be purring in your arms one moment and pouncing on a toy the next. Every twitching tail or leap at a moving target serves as a reminder that domestic cats still retain the fundamental traits of their wildcat ancestors. According to a 2007 study, all domestic cats descended from five subspecies of wildcat in the Middle East. Researchers theorize that cats wandered into human settlements, where they were welcomed for their ability to control vermin and protect the food supply. In contrast to dogs, which were domesticated by humans, cats most likely domesticated themselves. As mankind ventured out to explore faraway lands, cats spread around the world. The domestic cat has played a prominent role in society throughout the ages: worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, used by the Vikings for pest control, slaughtered in mass numbers during the Middle Ages for their association with witchcraft, and seen as a good-luck symbol by the Japanese. It is believed that cats helped stamp out the Black Death in Europe by killing the rats that caused the plague. Like their wildcat ancestors, domestic cats are strict carnivores. They require a diet that is high in meat-based proteins and low in carbohydrates. The cat’s digestive system is built to break down protein sources and utilize the nutrients for growth, metabolic function and immune response. Cats also require the amino acid taurine, which is essential for eye, heart and digestive function. Unlike dogs, cats cannot produce taurine and must obtain it from their diets. Taurine deficiency can cause reproductive failure, developmental problems, and retinal degeneration resulting in blindness. Cats may also develop a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure. Timberwolf recognizes the unique dietary requirements of the domestic feline. Our Serengeti Herbal Felid formula is high in meat proteins and provides an excellent source of taurine to help cats thrive. Serengeti lets you feed your wildcat the way Mother Nature intended.