| 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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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 0-9 LBS 20 MONTHS
$33.99 |
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|  | Urine Off Odor & Stain Remover FOR DOGS (500 ml)
$13.99 |
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 | 42 HEAD LAZER POINTER ~ LASER BEAM BRAND NEW
$3.95 |
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|  | 65" Cat Tree House Toy Condo Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$105.00 |
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 | Vera Bradley Pet Carriers,Totes For Your Dog Or Cat NWT
$50.00 |
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|  | FUSHIA GLAMOUR PUSS SWAROVSKI SPARKLING CAT COLLAR
$18.99 |
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 | 65" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F45
$0.99 |
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|  | 49" Cat Tree House Toy Condo Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$98.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 CATS 10 LBS & UP 10 DOSES
$33.99 |
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|  | Pretty Scratcher:pet, cat toy, for use with condo, tree
$6.99 |
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 | VIDEO CATNIP DVD NEW 2hr MOVIE for CATS TOYS GIFTS FUN
$15.95 |
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|  | Frontline Spray (250 mL)
$26.99 |
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 | NEW LitterMaid LM900 Self-Cleaning Litter Maid Cat Box
$91.99 |
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|  | Kitty Playground for the New Arrival / Kitten! - New!
$15.00 |
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 | Contech CatStop Ultrasonic Outdoor Cat Deterrent
$40.00 |
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|  | PArt only:Soft Bed 4 Cat Condo,Tree,House,Pet Furniture
$9.99 |
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 | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
$7.99 |
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|  | "I Love my Bengal Cats!" car ribbon magnet QUALITY
$4.99 |
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 | Petsafe Cat Dog Door Lockable Magnetic New Outdoor Safe
$7.45 |
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|  | Eliminate Littermaid Waste Receptacle Replacements
$9.99 |
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 | EYE ENVY WHITE CAT TEAR STAIN REMOVER
$19.50 |
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|  | 64" Cat Tree House Toy Condo Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$92.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT FOR CATS 0-10 LBS 20 DOSES
$33.99 |
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|  | CAT Collar - Ribbon Overlay - 7-12" - Black (UE)
$14.95 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 CATS 0-10 LBS 20 DOSES
$33.99 |
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|  | ****PINK PRINCESS ANIMAL BED WITH BOW AND RHINESTONE***
$7.95 |
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 | CET Chews for Cats (30 chews) Fish Flavor
$8.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Condo Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$59.99 |
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 | Frontline Spray LARGE (500 mL)
$45.99 |
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|  | NEW! SEALED! FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS 3 MONTH SUPPLY
$31.95 |
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 | 62" Cat Tree House Condo Toy Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$99.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT FOR CATS 0-10 LBS 20 MONTHS
$33.99 |
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 | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F40
$75.00 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA/TICK KIT FOR CATS 8 MONTHS (6,12)
$17.49 |
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 | 38" Cat Tree House Condo Toy Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$84.00 |
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|  | 74" Cat Tree Bed House Condo Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$149.00 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | Auotmatic Pet Feeder - 8 Day Plus Auto Pet Feeder
$49.99 |
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 | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
$7.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6501
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL 4 CAT "KIT" to 9 lb = 10 MONTHS
$18.97 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F10
$0.99 |
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 | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC03
$159.00 |
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|  | Slumber Pet THERMAL CAT MAT Bed Reflects Heat 22x18
$11.99 |
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 | LOOK 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | Ideal Pet Passage Screen Door for Dog/Cat Small Breeds
$7.99 |
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 | Soft Paws / Claws Nail caps 4 cat LARGE NIB FREE gift!!
$12.95 |
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|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-8C
$99.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 CATS 0-9 LBS 20 MONTHS
$33.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL 4 CAT KIT 10 - 18 lb = 10 MONTHS
$32.97 |
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 | WOW 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | Kitty Cat Litter Roll Away Self Cleaning Box Large NEW
$35.99 |
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 | Catit Cat Pet Drinking Fountain by Hagen
$21.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 0-10 LBS 20 DOSES
$33.99 |
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 | 70" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F71
$149.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 10 LBS AND UP 10 MONTHS
$33.99 |
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 | CAT Collar - Ribbon Overlay 7-12" White/Pink/Blue (UE)
$14.95 |
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|  | EURO Small Dog Agility Tunnel, Pet Toy,dia 16", 6.5 ft
$25.00 |
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 | 6 plain colors adjust nylon cat collars wt a bell^
$15.20 |
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|  | 80" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2030
$0.99 |
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 | BIG SALE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | PETWEAR CAT SAFETY COLLAR 10" NECK SIZE - NWT
$4.99 |
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 | 10/$1.00/2 coupons on any Purina Whisker Lickin's
$0.99 |
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|  | CAT Safety Harness leash collar CAR SEAT BELT.....BLUE
$12.99 |
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 | TIGER MEDICATED PLASTER - Cool 20 pcs. - Big 10x14 cm.
$36.50 |
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|  | STICK and ball: pet, dog cat toy, for use with condo
$9.90 |
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 | 10 ZANIES RAINBOW FUR MICE 2"-CAT TOYS FOR PET
$0.35 |
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|  | DISCOUNTED 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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 | CAT Tunnel,40",Pet Toy,Noisy, Soft, for use with condo
$15.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT CATS 10 LBS & UP 10 MONTHS
$33.99 |
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 | Holiday Cat collar in Peguins design
$0.99 |
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|  | Any Iams canned food Buy 2 get 1 free 10 dog cat coupon
$0.99 |
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 | FOLDING CAT HOUSE
$7.25 |
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|  | Our Pet SmartScoop PLUS Automatic Cat Kitty Litter Box
$104.95 |
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 | 6 MONTH K9 ADVANTIX Green (for dogs up to 10lbs.)
$59.99 |
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|  | MOuse/Mice Scratcher:pet cat toy
$7.00 |
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 | 48" Cat Tree House Toy Condo Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$92.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL 4 CAT KIT 10 - 18 lb = 5 MONTHS
$18.97 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 10 LBS AND UP 10 DOSES
$33.99 |
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|  | Watermelon Pet Bed - Brand New - Very Cute
$19.99 |
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 | 80" Cat Tree House Condo Bed Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$159.00 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F14
$0.99 |
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 | Matatabi plain powder - Japanese catnip
$5.80 |
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|  | 2 PK of Alley Cat Gardens - Kitty Grass & Catnip
$12.49 |
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 | 45" Cat Tree Toy House Condo Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$82.00 |
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|  | DISCOUNT 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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 | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-8C
$99.99 |
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|  | Eliminate Littermaid Waste Receptacle Replacements
$9.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
$0.99 |
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|  | 70" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F71
$0.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
$0.99 |
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|  | LOOK 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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 | TIGER MEDICATED PLASTER - Cool 20 pcs. - Small 7x10 cm.
$26.50 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Post Furniture FREE SHIPPING
$149.00 |
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 | SCOOPFREE AUTO CAT LITTER BOX CARTRIDGE. 3PK. NEW!
$39.99 |
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|  | PAW, I LOVE MY CATS Magnet, Feral Cat Rescue Ribbon
$5.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 CATS 10 LBS & UP 10 MONTHS
$33.99 |
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|  | Cat Key Rack/ Leash Hanger 5 Metal Hooks NEW Sm #07
$7.99 |
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 | Lot of 2 lazer laser pointer 5 head NEW C LOW S+H
$0.99 |
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|  | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F05
$0.99 |
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