| 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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 | Super Deal Kitten Cat Frontline Plus 8mth^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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|  | Eight Dose Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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 | Eight Dose Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | MINK Catnip Body Pillow
$11.97 |
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|  | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 66C
$15.99 |
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 | Eight Dose Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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|  | Cool New Cat or Dog Pet Bed Pad Mat Pillow for Crate
$12.34 |
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 | New Deluxe Beige 52" Cat Tree Condo Scratcher 5067
$48.88 |
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|  | KITTY HAMMOCK
$9.99 |
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 | Eight Dose Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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|  | Fresh Step Scoopable Cat Litter Free 14 lb Coupon Pets
$5.00 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
$0.99 |
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|  | 50 Peacock Feathers - Cat Kitten Scratcher Teaser Toy
$24.88 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7463
$0.99 |
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|  | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 76B
$24.99 |
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 | 10 SCIENCE NATURE'S BEST CAT/DOG FOOD COUPONS $10.00/1
$0.99 |
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|  | .135: Cat HOME: Double Tower Platforms w/ Cave Tunnel
$7.20 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B3001
$0.99 |
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|  | 22"x12" BLUE Kitty Cat Sherpa Tumble Tunnel BED
$40.00 |
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 | SML Wrap Kitten Cat Collar ~ Swarovski Daisy ~ by AzDS
$11.69 |
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|  | NWT Cat Kitten Fish Shaped Christmas Stocking
$3.17 |
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 | Lot of 2 Laser Lazer Pointer Cat Dog Toy w/ 5 heads
$8.99 |
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|  | 49" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F41
$0.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
$0.99 |
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|  | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 78B
$24.99 |
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 | Big Lot Xmas Cat Toys Catnip Bouncing Collars Roly Poly
$4.99 |
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|  | An Oil-Painting of Your Cat (Home - Child - Car - etc)
$75.95 |
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 | Big Lot Xmas Cat Toys Catnip Bouncing Collars Roly Poly
$4.99 |
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|  | (18) PURINA FRISKIES BRAND CAT TREATS COUPONS-B1G1 FREE
$0.99 |
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 | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC01
$9.99 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for Cats (6 months) ~NOTa KIT
$16.75 |
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 | 18 FANCY FEAST GOURMENT CANNED CAT FOOD COUPONS $1.00
$0.99 |
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|  | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
$9.41 |
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 | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-12
$29.99 |
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|  | Petmate Purrforma easy-tie waste bags, 24 bags total!!
$10.50 |
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 | NEW cat litter box ~ The LitterBlox ™
$36.01 |
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|  | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 73B
$24.99 |
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 | Miracle Coat QuickFinder Nail Clipper For medium DOGS
$9.99 |
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|  | HANDMADE CATNIP MAT
$8.00 |
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 | Light MINK Catnip Body Pillow
$11.97 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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 | Lot of 4 Laser Lazer Pointer Cat Dog Toy w/ 5 heads
$12.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
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 | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 80C
$24.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B2903
$0.99 |
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 | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 66B
$15.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F14
$0.99 |
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 | 57" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-04
$59.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
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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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 | cat hidaway bed leopard big!
$4.75 |
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|  | Super Deal Kitten Cat Frontline Plus 8mth^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6203
$0.99 |
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|  | Large MINK Catnip Body Pillow
$16.97 |
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 | 22"x12" PINK Kitty Cat Sherpa Tumble Tunnel BED
$40.00 |
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|  | 4x (2x 2 pk) Turbo Scratcher Star Chaser Refill Pad Cat
$12.70 |
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 | Wholesale 4 laser pointer 5 head lazer NEW C FREE S+H
$8.99 |
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|  | Six Colors Nylon cat collars*
$15.20 |
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 | How To INSTRUCTIONS for DIY'S Dog Rhinestone Cat Collar
$5.99 |
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|  | SCOOPFREE AUTO CAT LITTER BOX CARTRIDGE. 6PK. NEW!
$79.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7202
$0.99 |
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|  | Super Deal Kitten Cat Frontline Plus 8mth^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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 | WOW 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | New small leopard print pet cat or dog bed kitty cats
$10.98 |
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 | 1 Coupon Free 14lb. Fresh Step Scoopable Cat Litter
$4.33 |
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|  | HUGE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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 | Tape Worm Tabs 6 TABLETS / CAT / 6 TABLETS Tape Worm
$10.49 |
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|  | 36" Cat Tree Condo House Scratching Post 4 Kitty Bed NR
$19.95 |
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 | Feline Tape Worm Tabs
$10.95 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | LITTER ROBOT II 2
$212.50 |
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|  | Eight Dose Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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 | Leopard cat Tent
$11.00 |
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|  | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 52B
$7.99 |
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 | HANDMADE "FISH" CATNIP TOYS
$5.00 |
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|  | Small Dog / Cat Bed Heated (Used/New Condition)
$27.75 |
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 | New Kitty Cat Scratcher Tree Post Pet Furniture w Toy
$9.72 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 64B
$15.99 |
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 | New Farnam Bio Spot Cat Flea Tick Control 1 Year Supply
$9.99 |
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|  | Large 20x24 Dog/Cat Paw Print Deep Pet Bed:Pet Supplies
$12.44 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6501
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4201
$0.99 |
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 | Ergo Automatic Electronic Pet Feeder
$23.21 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | THE PURRFECT CAT HOLE FOR YOUR PET- FOR INTERIOR DOORS
$49.99 |
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JW PETs Cat-a-Log Cat Toy in Tube Rolling Ball
$0.99 |
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|  | Eight Dose Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F18
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Life Furniture w/toys - Style, Quality, Fun - catf8
$59.99 |
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 | Custom Cat Condo Tree Sisal Scratcher Single Post w/Bed
$159.99 |
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|  | SUPER 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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 | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 62C
$9.99 |
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|  | 14 SCIENCE DIET NATURE'S BEST CAT FOOD COUPONS $5.00/1
$0.99 |
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 | ** Kitty Cat Toy Toys Furniture Tree Bed Condo House **
$0.99 |
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|  | 2x (1x 2 pk) Turbo Scratcher Star Chaser Refill Pad Cat
$4.99 |
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 | NIP Miracle Coat QuickFinder Nail Clipper For CATS
$9.99 |
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|  | 1/2 oz PRIMO ~ CANADIAN CATNIP~
$0.99 |
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