| 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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 | Alessi Tigrito Double Cat Bowl by Miriam Mirri
$27.02 |
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|  | Cotton Catnip Pillow Filled W/The Finest Catnip
$1.68 |
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 | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F40
$0.99 |
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|  | CAT KITTEN FOOD WATER BOWL PET CHAMPION FISH MEOW FACE
$4.99 |
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 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F10
$0.99 |
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|  | Soft Claws 40 Nail Cap Medium Cat NEW CHRISTMAS COLORS
$16.05 |
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 | BARGAIN 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | Animal Leopard Print Large Cat Small Dog Pet Bed
$9.99 |
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 | THING IN A BAG WIGGLING JIGGLING CAT TOY NIB
$10.49 |
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|  | Petmate Hybrid Black Stainless Cat Dog Water Fountain
$29.99 |
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 | THING IN A BAG - INTERACTIVE CAT TOY NIB
$10.29 |
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|  | Advantage for Cats & Kittens 0-9lbs 4pk US EPA Approved
$30.00 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6802
$0.99 |
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 | 60 Zanies Catnip Rattle Rainbow Mice Cat Toys Kitten
$16.99 |
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|  | 17 tiny CATNIP BAGS! CAT FABRIC TOYS! FRESH HOME GROWN!
$13.99 |
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 | 80" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2030
$0.99 |
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|  | New Deluxe 42" Cat Tree Condo Furniture, BP-5022
$48.98 |
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 | ORGANIC GRAIN GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | 42" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-07
$39.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | Double Wide Cardboard Scratch Post For Cats
$2.99 |
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 | WHIMSICAL "REIGNING CATS & DOGS" SMALL PET DISH/BOWL
$9.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4301
$0.99 |
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 | LOT of 2 Feliway Comfort Zone Diffuser Outlet Refill
$31.99 |
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|  | Cat Scratching Post or Block
$1.30 |
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 | FANCY FEAST ELEGANT MEDLEYS! FRISKIES TREATS FREE SHIP!
$28.99 |
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|  | CAT GRASS SEEDS - A MIX CATS LOVE - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | DOG MATE Electromagnetic Dog Flap/Door Large Size Wht
$73.33 |
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|  | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | Eight Dose Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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|  | Purina Whisker Lickins Cat Food Treats Coupon Lot
$0.99 |
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 | 8 MONTH FRONTLINE PLUS GREEN KIT FLEA CAT KITTEN 3 6 12
$19.88 |
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|  | 100"-112" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
$0.99 |
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 | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F05
$0.99 |
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|  | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | Multivet SSSCAT Cat deterrent spray training aid SEALED
$24.95 |
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|  | CATNIP SEEDS - LITTLE TRUDY - PERENNIAL - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B4001
$0.99 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for Cats & Kittens 3pck US-EPA Approved
$30.00 |
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 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F18
$0.99 |
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|  | Simple Solution Stain And Odor Remover 64 Ounce
$2.99 |
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 | PURRSTRONG- Glow in the dark Safety collar
$5.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | 8 MONTH FRONTLINE PLUS KIT FLEA CAT KITTEN GREEN 3 6 12
$19.93 |
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|  | Burlap Mouse w/ Catnip - 3 Pack
$2.31 |
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 | Lot of 2 Laser Lazer Pointer Cat Dog Toy w/ 5 heads
$8.99 |
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|  | CHEAP 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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 | STAYWELL INFRA RED CAT COLLAR KEY PACK NEW NR L@@K
$5.00 |
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|  | Cat Toy - Santa Hat
$7.50 |
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 | Simple Solution Grooming Glove For Pets
$2.42 |
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|  | CATNIP SEEDS - LITTLE TRUDY - PERENNIAL - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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$45+ Meow Mix, Wholesome Goodness, Temptations, Whisker
$2.29 |
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|  | Drinkwell Platinum Fountain + Brush + 4 Filters NEW
$69.99 |
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 | 49" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F41
$0.99 |
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|  | Frontline Plus For Dogs 23-44 lbs. 6 Applications! NIB
$29.98 |
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 | TERRIFIC FRESH PET AREA DEODORIZER/AIR PURIFIER - NIB
$9.99 |
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|  | 70" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F71
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Condo Jungle Gym Majestic Pet 55" Furniture Scratch
$99.99 |
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|  | Burlap Mouse w/ Catnip - 3 Pack
$2.31 |
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 | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Soft Claws 40 Clear Nail Cap Medium Cat Stop Scratching
$11.50 |
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 | Advantage for Cats 9lbs and under & Over 8 weeks old
$18.50 |
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|  | THING IN A BAG WIGGLING JIGGLING CAT TOY NIB
$10.49 |
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 | CAT GRASS SEEDS - A MIX CATS LOVE - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | MidWest Cages Cat Play Pen Model 130 - FREE BED!!
$97.95 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
$0.99 |
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|  | 30" SISAL SISAL CAT SCRATCHING POST COFFEE
$42.99 |
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 | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | KEEP THE CATS OFF!! Desktop Keyboard Hard Cover Sm-Med
$19.95 |
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 | Teaser Fleece Wand With Acrylic Rod Cat Toy
$2.21 |
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|  | ORGANIC GRAIN GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | NEW PET SOFA SAVER KEEP DOG CAT AWAY FROM YOUR SOFA
$5.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | Atomic Bouncing Ball 2 Pack
$2.00 |
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|  | KEEP THE CATS OFF!! Laptop Keyboard Hard Cover-Sm-Med
$19.95 |
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 | SALE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | Lattice Plastic Balls With Bells 4 Pack
$1.79 |
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 | Furminator Professional DeShedding Tool
$12.99 |
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|  | 72" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-13
$129.99 |
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 | Frontline Plus for cats
$26.00 |
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|  | NEW SEALED JAR ZANIES MEOW MAGIC CATNIP Large Canister
$4.85 |
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 | 30" SISAL CAT SCRATCHING POST WITH PERCH CARAMEL
$42.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F601-B
$0.99 |
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 | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
$9.41 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B7701
$0.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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|  | CAT Frontline Plus for Cats (6 mon.) ~NOTa KIT
$16.75 |
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 | FURMINATOR DESHEDDING TOOL LONG&SHORT HAIRED CATS
$23.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
$0.99 |
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 | Lot of 4 Laser Lazer Pointer Cat Dog Toy w/ 5 heads
$12.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS KITTENS KILLS FLEAS TICKS SAVE$
$34.99 |
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 | CAT GRASS SEEDS - A MIX CATS LOVE - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | All Purpose Raised Cat Bowl 5" Wide 4" High Honey Brown
$24.00 |
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 | 3 Hills Science Diet Coupon $5 off coupons + bonus
$0.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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 | Staywell 500 Series InfraRed Collar for Cat Door Blue
$3.05 |
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|  | fur mice cat toy LONG HAIR- pack of 50
$9.99 |
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 | Eight Dose Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens^KIT^EPA
$16.50 |
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|  | CAT GRASS SEEDS - A MIX CATS LOVE - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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