| 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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 | MIRACLE COAT® Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for Cats - 10 oz
$8.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL 4 CAT "KIT" to 9 lb = 10 MONTHS
$18.97 |
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 | Kitty Playground for the New Arrival / Kitten! - New!
$15.00 |
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|  | QUICKSAND PERPETUAL CAT LITTER SIFTING SYSTEM
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 | QuickFinder® Safety Nail Clipper - Cats & Small Animals
$26.99 |
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|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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 | FOLDING CAT HOUSE
$7.25 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | Scratch N Shapes Snooze- Cat Scratching Toy -Set of 3
$36.99 |
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|  | flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose FRONTLINE PLUS
$17.95 |
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 | *HUGE Cat Mystery Box! Over 30+ Items & FREE SHIP!
$24.99 |
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|  | Vera Bradley Pet Carriers,Totes For Your Dog Or Cat NWT
$50.00 |
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 | Quick Finder Safety Nail Clipper - Cats & Small Animals
$26.99 |
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|  | Pink Pampered Pet Quilted Christmas Stocking
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | GOOD GRIPS Small Rake for Dog, Cat, Pet
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 | 38" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F38
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|  | .135: Cat HOME: Double Tower Platforms w/ Cave Tunnel
$7.20 |
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 | Scratch N Shapes Chaise Lounge- Cat Scratching Toy/Bed
$24.99 |
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|  | PERSONALIZED CAT CHRISTMAS STOCKING....HAND MADE
$26.99 |
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 | Ba-Da-Beam Automatic Rotating Laser Cat Toy--GREAT FUN
$16.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F12
$0.99 |
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 | Ionic Flea Comb, Pet Comb, New
$5.99 |
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|  | Scratch N Shapes Cayman- Cat Scratching Toy -Cool Shape
$6.99 |
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 | Ssscat Repels Cat/Dog Motion Activated Training Spray
$34.99 |
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|  | MIRACLE COAT® Small Rubber Curry Brush for Cats - Red
$5.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL 4 CAT KIT 10 - 18 lb = 10 MONTHS
$32.97 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS 8 dose supply cats FLEA & TICK med ~*~
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 | 80" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2030
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|  | NEW Rectangular Pet Puppy Print Dog Bed LARGE BLUE
$54.99 |
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 | SPOIL YOUR FELINE FRIENDS W/BONUS ON CD
$1.99 |
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|  | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | PET Cuddler Puppy Print Dog Bed Fleece Top LARGE TAN
$37.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | Catnip Infused Eyeball Toys!! Organic Nip! Free Ship!
$2.25 |
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 | NEW Rectangular Pet Puppy Print Dog Soft Bed LARGE TAN
$54.99 |
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|  | PROWL Dehydrated Raw Cat Food 2LB Bag With a FREE Gift
$17.99 |
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 | Frontline Plus for Cats (6 mo.) ~NOTa KIT
$24.99 |
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|  | NEW LitterMaid LM900 Self-Cleaning Litter Maid Cat Box
$91.99 |
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 | Plush Dog Crate Mat Bed Cat Puppy Thick 18 X 12 NEW
$22.99 |
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|  | STEWART® Pet Food FLAVOR ENHANCER for Cats
$5.99 |
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 | NEW Rectangular PET Puppy Print Dog Bed Medium BLUE
$30.00 |
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|  | Holiday Cat collar in Peguins design
$0.99 |
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 | Calico Kitty Condo NIB!!!
$18.99 |
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|  | Catnip Infused Kicker Toys! X-Large! Free Ship!
$2.99 |
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 | Persian Kitty Condo NIB!!!
$18.99 |
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|  | MIRACLE COAT® Premium Spray-On Shampoo for Cats - 8 oz
$6.99 |
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 | Cat Grass Treat- Easy Oat Kit, Plus Oat Seed Supply
$6.50 |
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|  | Cat Scratch Post Sisal Kitten Toy Scratching Stand Claw
$15.99 |
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 | DISCOUNTED 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | 57" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-04
$59.99 |
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 | DEAL 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | Catnip Toy- Cat Toy Pillow -Homegrown Catnip Cat Toy!!!
$3.99 |
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 | NEW Rectangular PET Puppy Print Dog Bed Medium TAN
$30.00 |
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|  | Hip CAT COLLAR Halloween Spiders Webs ADJUSTABLE 7-11"
$5.95 |
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 | Scratch N Shapes Cheese- Cat Scratching Toy -Free Mouse
$24.99 |
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|  | SAFARI Shedding Blade for Your Cat
$2.99 |
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 | 2 Mice Catnip Toys!Rainbow & Realistic Colors!FREE SHIP
$1.00 |
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|  | Kitty Sill cat window perch
$34.99 |
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 | Wild Tail Motorized Pet Toy--The Ultimate Toy For Cats
$9.99 |
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|  | $3 off Fresh Step Cat Litter 10 Coupons
$10.00 |
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 | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | MIRACLE COAT® Spray-On Shed Reducer for Cats - 7 oz
$8.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | STEWART® FIBER FORMULA® Treats for Cats
$3.29 |
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 | 10 Coupons Save $40 on Iams Dry Cat or Kitten Food
$0.99 |
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|  | MIRACLE COAT® Spray-On Waterless Shampoo for Cats 8 oz
$6.99 |
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 | NEW Pet Pillow Dog Bed Polyester Fiber Fill BLUE TAN
$35.00 |
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|  | Scratch N' Shapes Dachshund- Cat Scratching RevengeToy
$24.99 |
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 | SPECIAL 16 MONTH FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | Lot Of 12 Avon Cat Mats NEW Cats Food Place Mat Kitty
$0.99 |
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|  | New Medium Cheetah Print Dog / Cat Pet House Pet Supply
$14.34 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL 4 CAT KIT 10 - 18 lb = 5 MONTHS
$18.97 |
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|  | 65" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-14
$99.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | Heated Thermo Kitty Sill cat window perch
$48.99 |
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 | .097 PET TENT CARRIER - RED - CAT ON CLOUD DESIGN NEW
$0.99 |
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|  | LEOPARD PRINT DOG CAT PET BED
$6.99 |
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 | 6 Pack Feliway Diffuser refill 48ml
$72.99 |
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|  | TRIM TREATS for Your Cat - Variety Pack - Three Flavors
$6.28 |
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 | MIRACLE COAT® Conditioner & Lusterizer for Cats - 8 oz
$6.99 |
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|  | LOT 6 Catnip Infused Eyeball Toys!Organic Nip!Free S/H!
$9.99 |
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 | Play-n-Squeak Fishing Pole Toy for Your Cat--GO FISHING
$17.99 |
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|  | MIRACLE COAT® Foaming Waterless Shampoo for Cats - 7 oz
$7.99 |
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 | NEW Rectangular PET Puppy Print Dog Bed SMALL BLUE
$25.00 |
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|  | Tabby Kitty Condo NIB!!
$17.99 |
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 | Omega Paw Self Clean Cat Litter Box LG+Mat+Bonus $65val
$29.59 |
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| 4.00 OFF IAMS CAT FOOD COUPONS
$0.99 |
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 | *Mystery*Auction! INSTANT $10.00 Off Coupon Pet Website
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|  | 72" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-13
$129.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE Flea & Tick Control for Cats & Kittens 3 MO
$30.99 |
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|  | CAT DISH BOWL RAISED 4 INCHES****** WITH FREE PET NAMES
$14.99 |
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 | BIG SALE 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | NEW MINI SPOTBRITES LED LIGHT HEART CAT OR DOG CLIP ON
$0.25 |
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 | PET Cuddler Puppy Print Dog Bed Fleece Top Medium TAN
$32.00 |
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|  | CatGenie GenieDome
$19.99 |
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 | Omega Paws Cat Scratch Box, the EVEREST style
$9.71 |
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