| Cat Supplies Article |
The cat (Felis silvestris catus), also known as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from other felines, is a small carnivorous species of nocturnal mammal that is often valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to hunt vermin. It has been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years.
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must ingest the flesh of other animals to survive. Where other carnivorous mammals like bears and dogs commonly add to their diets of meat with fruits, berries, roots, and honey when available, by contrast all cats instinctively feed almost solely on meat.
Similarly as with its teeth, a cat's digestive tract has become specialized over time to suit its diet, having shortened in length to only those segments of intestine best able to break down proteins and fats from animal flesh. The evolved trait severely limits the cat's ability to properly digest, metabolize, and absorb plant-derived or synthesized nutrients, as well as certain fatty acids. For example, cats cannot convert the pro-vitamin A abundant in plants, to make vitamin A. Also, a number of required nutrients are not sufficiently available in plant matter to begin with; one critical absence is taurine, a key amino sulfonic acid for eye health. Taurine deficiency can cause a condition called macular degeneration wherein the cat's retina slowly degenerates, eventually causing irreversible blindness.
Due to the above, most felines eat fairly little if any plantstuffs. Yet it is nevertheless quite common for a cat to occasionally supplement its carnivorous diet with small amounts of grass, leaves, shrubs, houseplants, or other plant matter anyway. One theory suggests this behaviour is to facilitate regurgitation if their digestion is upset; another is that it perhaps introduces fibre or trace minerals to the diet. In this context, caution is recommended for cat owners because some houseplants are harmful to cats. The leaves of the Easter Lily can cause permanent and life-threatening kidney damage to cats. Philodendron are also poisonous to cats. Cat Fancy has a full list of plants harmful to cats.
As an exception to the general rule, certain domesticated cats are known to like vegetables. This happenstance may inspire some vegetarian or vegan pet owners to encourage or even impose their own dietary preferences upon their cats, often using commercially-available cat foods supplemented with chemically-synthesized taurine and other added nutrients to address nutritional shortfalls. However, it remains arguable as to whether or not such a vegetarian diet can in fact meet a cat's dietary requirements.
Additionally, cats have been known to develop a fondness for prepared human foods, normally such entrees which are rich in proteins or fats. However, a diet consisting only of human food (even if high quality meat) is unlikely to contain the balanced nutrition required by the cat. Cats normally are good self-regulators of diet; however, unlimited access to food, or excessive human-food 'treats', will often lead to the cat becoming obese, particularly if it is older or more sedentary. This may lead to several health complications, such as diabetes, especially in neutered males. Such health conditions can be prevented through diet and exercise (playing), especially for cats living exclusively indoors.
Cats can be fussy eaters (which may be due in some way to the aforementioned mutation which caused their species to lose sugar-tasting ability). Unlike most mammals, cats can voluntarily starve themselves indefinitely despite being presented with palatable food, even a food which they had previously readily consumed. This can happen when the vomeronasal or Jacobson's organ becomes accustomed to a specific food, or if the cats are spoiled by their owners, in which case the cat will reject any food that does not fit the pattern it is expecting. It is also known for cats to merely become bored with their given food and decide to stop eating until they are tempted into eating again. Although it is extremely rare for a cat to deliberately starve itself to the point of injury, the sudden loss of weight can cause a fatal condition called hepatic lipidosis, a liver dysfunction which causes pathological loss of appetite and reinforces the starvation, which can lead to death within as little as 48 hours.
Some cats have a fondness for catnip, which is sensed by their olfactory systems. While they generally do not consume it, they will often roll in it, paw at it, and occasionally chew on it. The effect is usually relatively short, lasting for only a few minutes. After two hours or less, susceptible cats gain interest again. Several other species of plants (such as mint) cause this effect, to a lesser degree.
Cats can also develop pica. Pica is a condition in which animals chew or eat unusual things such as fabric, plastic or wool. In cats, this is mostly harmless as they do not digest most of it, but can be fatal or require surgical removal if a large amount of foreign material is ingested (for example, an entire sock). It tends to occur more often in Burmese, Oriental, Siamese and breeds with these in their ancestry.
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|  | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 80B
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 | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 66B
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B7801
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B3803
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | 20 WHISKAS PURRFECTLY POUCH CAT FOOD COUPONS-B1G1 FREE
$1.04 |
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|  | PetSafe CAT WINDOOR CAT ENTRY DOOR
$93.25 |
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 | RYE CAT GRASS SEEDS - FAST GROWING - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | BARGAIN 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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 | Catnap USA Made Jaguar Love Seat Pet Sofa Animal Chair
$178.00 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | Dog / Cat Bandana - Over the Collar Secure Style SMALL
$1.99 |
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 | GREAT 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | NEW RING SLING PUPPY POUCH PET CARRIER PINK DOTS $10.99
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 | Large cat litter box liners total of 5 new unopened
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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 | Buy1 Cat toy 50 Furry Mice Get 1 Pack Rattle Balls Free
$8.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7202
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | PET STARTER SET by EVER WARE, 2 BOWLS AND STAND
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 | Beanie Baby - Farm animals
$4.99 |
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|  | New Cat Toy Bug Jar
$9.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 78C
$24.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B4001
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 | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 73B
$24.99 |
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|  | 96"-109" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
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 | WIDE CAT SCRATCH BOX CARDBOARD LARGE SURFACE
$6.00 |
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|  | Beanie Baby - Moose
$1.99 |
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 | .006: NEW 4 Level Cat CONDO w/ 6 Scratch POSTS: 2 BEDS
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|  | Cat Life Furniture w/tower - Style, Quality, Fun -catf6
$69.99 |
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 | Blitz Pour-N-Stor Wall Mount Pet Food Storage Dispenser
$12.00 |
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|  | K&H Outdoor Heated Kitty Camper with Heated Pad
$55.99 |
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 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F10
$0.99 |
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|  | NAME THESE KITTENS FIREMEN DECAL BENEFITS ANIMAL RESCUE
$7.50 |
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 | FURminator deSHEDDING FOR DOGS AND CATS PURPLE NR
$0.01 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B2903
$0.99 |
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 | Simple Solution Grooming Glove For Pets
$2.42 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6203
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 | LOT NATURAL RABBIT HIDE FOOT FEET KEYCHAINS CAT TOYS
$5.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 64C
$15.99 |
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 | 36 Meow Mix Cat Foods Coupons
$0.99 |
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|  | UNIQUE CAT PET LITTER BOX LARGE, NO-MOTOR LITTER BOX
$49.00 |
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 | NEW MIKKI KALM CAT MUZZLE FOR SMALL PET CAT
$5.99 |
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|  | 65" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F45
$0.99 |
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 | DRINKWELL PLATINUM PET FOUNTAIN Cat Dog Waterer Dish
$43.89 |
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|  | 4.5" Ceramic Cat Bowl
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Toy Rattle Balls W/Catnip/Pet toy,brand new,in pack
$0.01 |
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|  | New Cat Toys Five Pieces
$2.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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 | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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|  | CATNIP SEEDS - CATS LOVE IT!!!!!!!! - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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 | New Cat Toys Five Pieces
$2.99 |
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|  | KITTEN SIZED Cat Feline Soft Claws Paws Cats CHARITY
$12.50 |
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 | Catnap USA Made Beetle Luxury Pet Bed Animal Champagne
$134.00 |
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|  | CONTECH CAT STOP OUTDOOR ULTRASONIC CAT REPELLANT
$25.00 |
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 | DEAL 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B7701
$0.99 |
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 | Lot of Toyshoppe Playables Cat Toys. NEW. Christmas!
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|  | 56" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F3031
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F14
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|  | 57" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-04
$59.99 |
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 | Catnap USA Made Jaguar Love Seat Pet Animal Chair Sofa
$130.00 |
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|  | BRAND NEW Red Cat Toy Feather Teaser With Suction Cup
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4301
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|  | CATNIP SEEDS - CATS LOVE IT!!!!!!!! - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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 | Flashing Cat Ball
$2.21 |
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|  | Cat Toy Fur Mice 6 pack / w Catnip pet toy Brand new
$0.55 |
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 | Burlap Mouse w/ Catnip - 3 Pack
$2.31 |
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|  | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2041-Blue
$0.99 |
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 | Frontline Plus for Cats 3 Dose Box-3 Month Supply
$10.49 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
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 | Ideal Chubby Cat Door Flap
$10.00 |
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|  | LARGE CAT LITTER BOX,PAN NO-STOOP LITTER BOX
$25.00 |
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 | RYE CAT GRASS SEEDS - FAST GROWING - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | SPECIAL 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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 | 8 DIMEND CATNIP BAGS! CAT FABRIC TOYS! FRESH HOME GROWN
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
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 | New Cat Toy Bird on Elastic Cord that hangs on Door
$2.99 |
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|  | CAT LITTER BOX SCOOP FOR NO-STOOP CLEANING
$25.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | New Cat Toy Bird on Elastic Cord that hangs on Door
$2.99 |
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 | Cat Love Understanding needs & nature of your cat Book
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|  | MUST^..^L@@K Cat Tree Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | New PetMate Cat Playhouse Catnip Scratch Post Toy
$34.99 |
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 | Mr. Herzhers Smart Pet Animal Ramp Junior Non Slip Feet
$59.99 |
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|  | Hartz Nurse Maid Powered Milk Replacement for Kittens
$9.99 |
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 | .038 Cat scratching Post / Tower w Toy Mouse Plush Home
$14.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5301
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 | New Cat Toys Five Pieces
$2.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
$0.99 |
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 | Petsafe 4-0113-11 Classic Door Replacement Flap Large
$32.89 |
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|  | 70" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F71
$0.99 |
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 | Littermaid Self-Cleaning Litter Box Liter +Privacy Tent
$159.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A8001
$0.99 |
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