| 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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 | Set 6 Replacement FILTERS Hagen CatIt Drinking Fountain
$12.00 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4301
$0.99 |
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 | 3 pk Filters Foam Cartridges CatIt Small Fountain 50053
$5.99 |
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|  | 8 MONTH FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS & KITTENS flea tick
$16.86 |
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 | HARTZ JOINTCARE FOR CATS 60 TABLETS
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Toy TWO Kitty Animal W/Catnip/Pet toy,brand new
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7202
$0.99 |
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 | Deluxe Kitty Nest w/Fleece Sides Cat/Dog Bed -Assorted
$2.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 1-9 LBS - EPA APPROVED
$2.25 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6203
$0.99 |
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|  | *A Leg Up* fish shaped cat diner (oak) NEW
$30.00 |
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 | 3-pack Drinkwell Platinum HighCapacity Filter Cartridge
$4.99 |
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|  | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
$9.41 |
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 | CHEAP 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | Cat Toy 4 Bright Colorful Rattle Mice Catnip Brand New
$0.99 |
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 | $32 3pc Luxury Kitten Set - Siamese
$5.14 |
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|  | cat dog ferret run cage carrier for outdoors sturdy
$25.99 |
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 | Set 12 pk. Replacement FILTERS Hagen CatIt Fountain
$18.99 |
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|  | Red Barn Decorative Cat Litter Pan Box Cover Litterbox
$16.00 |
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 | Bounce Me Bird Cat Toy IN BLACK
$3.99 |
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|  | Bounce Me Bird Cat Toy IN RED
$3.99 |
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 | Atomic Bouncing Ball 2 Pack
$2.00 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B3803
$0.99 |
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 | 100"-112" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Toy 6 Bright Colorful Rattle Mice Catnip Brand New
$0.99 |
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 | NEW Catwalk Multi Magnetic 4 Way Locking Cat Door Gray
$42.89 |
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|  | Bounce Me Bird Cat Toy IN YELLOW
$3.99 |
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 | Stylette Automatic bubbler Pet Fountain/1.5 Gal Cap/NEW
$7.99 |
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|  | COMFORT ZONE Spray with Feliway 75 ml ***BRAND NEW***
$0.99 |
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 | Flint River Ranch Cat and Kitten Food 9 lbs
$26.99 |
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|  | Catmeister Cat Toy
$2.21 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
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|  | $32 3pc Luxury Kitten Set - Siamese
$5.14 |
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 | Flint River Ranch Cat and Kitten Food 40 lbs
$79.99 |
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|  | 70" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F71
$0.99 |
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 | KH Outdoor Heated Cat Kitty Camper Bed House Mat Thermo
$65.99 |
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|  | Kittyvite Daily Vitamin Paste - For Senior Cats
$2.99 |
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 | Advantage for cats over 9lbs (purple)
$43.80 |
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|  | Lot of 3 Kookamunga Door Cattie Cat Toys w/Catnip
$2.99 |
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 | Cat toy 3 Furry Mice +++1 Wobbly & roll Mice, Brand New
$0.99 |
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|  | Comfort Zone Feliway Plug In Diffuser for Cats***NIB***
$12.00 |
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 | CAT Photo Mouse Pad " SANTA KITTY "
$5.24 |
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|  | 20 B1G1 FREE Whiskas Cat Food Coupons Exp 12/6
$0.99 |
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 | 94" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-09
$109.99 |
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|  | Petmate Hybrid Black Stainless Cat Dog Water Fountain
$29.99 |
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 | 56" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F3031
$0.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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 | Boogie Mat Birds Refillable Catnip Playmat for Cats
$7.19 |
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|  | NEW 6 MONTH Advantage Flea control CATS under 9 lbs.
$37.00 |
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 | NEVER SCOOP Clean Kitty Cat Litter Box/Pan! NEW! Sample
$0.99 |
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|  | DEAL!!! 8 MONTH FRONTLINE PLUS CATS/KITTENS EPA!
$18.50 |
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Slumber Pet Thermal Kitty Dog Cat Mat Pawprint Bed
$10.95 |
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 | CAT GROOMING TRAINING Quick-Fit MUZZLE CATS BLUE*MEDIUM
$8.99 |
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|  | New BR 4x12x6H Cat Dog Cage Pen Crate Kennel Free Ship
$627.00 |
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 | 96"-109" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
$0.99 |
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 | ONE SAVVY TABBY JITTERBUG TEASER-POLE-WAND CAT TOY-PET
$4.29 |
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|  | 24 Petmate Fresh Flow Water Fountain Filters Filter
$39.98 |
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 | Comfort Zone Feliway Plug In Vial 48ml ONE REFILL Cat
$16.99 |
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|  | CAT Dog Luxury WARM THERMAL MAT BED *NIP
$14.99 |
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Catnip Cup 0.5 Ounce Fresh And Aromatic Catnip
$1.89 |
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 | Cat Sisal Scratch Me 19.5"/pet toy tree with catnip bag
$9.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5301
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | LOT OF 2-COMFORT ZONE Feliway Plug In Diffuser Refills
$22.50 |
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 | Pet CATS Cat Grooming Bag Restraint System SMALL *NIP
$19.99 |
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|  | ONE HOLIDAY MISTLETOE TEASER-POLE-WAND-CAT TOY-PET
$3.39 |
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 | Rhinestone Cat Safety Collar, Brand New Pink
$9.75 |
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|  | CAT DOG *SMALL PET* CARRIER Glamour Travel Tote HANDBAG
$27.95 |
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 | SPECIAL 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | Cat Toy 5 Bright Colorful Rattle Mice Catnip Brand New
$0.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med small dogs 0-22 lbs 12 mon
$37.00 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F12
$0.99 |
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 | EVER-WARE 3 Pc. Feed Me Kitty Cat Dish Ensemble Set NIB
$7.99 |
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|  | Cat toy3 LongFurry Mice +1 Wobbly & roll Mice Brand New
$0.99 |
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 | Pet Essentials Cat Scratcher Climber Wood Sisal 30" $55
$18.99 |
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|  | Doskocil Small Animal/Cat Carrier
$6.00 |
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 | GREAT 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | PetSafe Simply Clean Continous Self cleaning litter box
$1.04 |
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 | Six Plain colors adjust nylon cat collars-bell&
$15.20 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F14
$0.99 |
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|  | 7/10.00 NATURES BEST 22 LB DOG OR 12 LB CAT DRY12/31/08
$0.99 |
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 | Petsafe Simply Clean Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box
$96.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | 65" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F45
$0.99 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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 | NEW Advantage Flea Control for Cats over 9 lbs 6 Month
$38.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS OVER 9LBS - EPA Approved
$4.25 |
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 | Pet Cat Ceramic Feeding Dishes Food Water Bowl CUTE!
$1.99 |
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|  | Wholesale 4 laser pointer 5 head lazer NEW C Low S+H
$3.57 |
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 | CAT Frontline Plus for Cats (6 mo.) ~NOTa KIT
$16.75 |
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|  | .185: CLOSEOUT SALE - PET CASTLE Cubby Platforms Towers
$24.99 |
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 | Flint River Ranch Cat and Kitten Food 20 lbs
$45.95 |
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|  | Tapeworm Cat Kitten Tape Worm Wormer 3 Tabs 23mg
$12.98 |
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