The nutritional.needs of the cat are quite specific and differ greatly from the nutritional requirements of other species, such as the dog. The cat evolved from a strict carnivore and has not had the chance through evolution to change much from its carnivorous nature. Therefore cats require a much higher protein intake than an omnivore, such as the dog. The cat's need for dietary taurine, arginine, preformed vitamin A, and high protein makes it characteristic and different from many other species. It is only in recent years that the nutritional peculiarities of the cat are beginning to be recognized and researched.