| 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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 | NEW RING SLING PUPPY POUCH PET CARRIER PINK DOTS $10.99
$10.99 |
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|  | Smart Scoop Litter Box Spray Gift Set-NIB (8891)
$2.00 |
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 | CAT PET DOG URINE ODOR ELIMINATOR REMOVER
$5.99 |
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|  | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC01
$9.99 |
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 | .094 PET TENT CARRIER - BLUE - CAT ON CLOUD DESIGN NEW
$0.99 |
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|  | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F04
$0.99 |
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 | Petmate Hybrid Black Stainless Cat Dog Water Fountain
$29.99 |
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|  | PetSafe Cat Windoor - Removable Pet Door
$74.95 |
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 | Pawprint Adjust Nylon cat collars wt bell (3)!
$7.58 |
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|  | NIB "MEOW" HANDLE CAT FOOD SCOOP BY MUD PIE SILVER
$14.99 |
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 | Flashing Cat Ball
$2.21 |
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|  | Forest Green Cat Scratching Post
$4.99 |
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 | LitterMaidTM Waste Receptacles 12count BUY 1 GET 1 FREE
$14.99 |
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|  | POP UP CAT DOG CARRIER NWOT!!
$9.99 |
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Advantage -Cats over 9lb 6 pk
$38.00 |
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|  | HANDMADE CATNIP KICKER TOY
$2.00 |
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 | HANDMADE CATNIP KICKER TOY
$2.00 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7101
$0.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7401
$0.99 |
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|  | 8 Energizer ULTIMATE LITHIUM 8X AA Batteries *NEW*
$0.99 |
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 | Hand Sewn Cat Quilt-Tan Cats with Purple (1109)
$20.00 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for Cats & Kittens 6 Month supply
$35.00 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4201
$0.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT all sizes dogs cats stock UP
$17.95 |
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 | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
$9.41 |
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|  | SET of 2 CAT DISHES "GOOD CAT" "CAT SILOUETTE" NEW
$0.99 |
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 | Cats Love The LitterHouse Litter Box!
$69.99 |
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| Advantage -Cats over 9lb 6 pk
$38.00 |
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Advantage -Cats under 9 lbs -6pk
$35.00 |
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|  | 6 pcs adjust nylon cat collars wt bell@
$15.20 |
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 | BARGAIN 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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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 #A4301
$0.99 |
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|  | TERRIFIC FRESH PET AREA DEODORIZER/AIR PURIFIER - NIB
$9.99 |
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 | PETMATE DELUXE FRESH FLOW WATERING SYSTEM New in Box
$8.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F18
$9.99 |
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 | HANDMADE CATNIP KICKER TOY
$2.00 |
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|  | Petmate Hybrid Pink Stainless Cat Dog Water Fountain
$32.49 |
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 | camo bed bone pattern bed new sealed hard to find
$3.00 |
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|  | Atomic Bouncing Ball 2 Pack
$2.84 |
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 | NIB HARTZ ULTRA GUARD REFLECTING FLEA TICK COLLAR CATS
$4.99 |
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|  | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2041-Beige
$0.99 |
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 | Petmate Pet Taxi Traditional NEW~Cat Dog Airline Carry
$24.99 |
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| Norstar Meridian M7100 Office Phones
$0.99 |
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 | ***SET OF (3) USED FELIWAY COMFORT ZONE DIFFUSERS***
$14.99 |
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|  | 24" SISAL CAT SCRATCHING POST SIENNA
$19.99 |
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 | NWT PHOTO PET PILLOW
$5.00 |
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|  | Kitty Playtime Mat
$0.99 |
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 | Handsewn Cat Nip Feather Cat Toys (1049)
$3.00 |
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|  | HANDMADE CATNIP KICKER TOY
$2.00 |
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 | Four Paws Scratch Rattle & Roll Cat Scratcher
$8.99 |
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| 20 $1.00/4 Friskies Selects Indoor Can Cat food Coupons
$0.55 |
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 | Petmate Small Pet Carrier/Taxi Pink-NWT (8897)
$7.19 |
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|  | Plush Cat Dog Ferret Bed Cave House Fuzzy FREE SHIPPING
$39.95 |
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 | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
$9.41 |
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|  | Laser Pointer 36 Different Heads Great Buy! FUN!!
$0.01 |
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Picken's BENGAL KITTY Tapestry Footstool
$47.99 |
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 | Frontline Plus for Cats & kittens Sealed 6 dose cat pk
$20.55 |
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|  | 62" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F28
$0.99 |
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 | Colorful Springs Thin 10 Pack
$1.79 |
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|  | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | L@@K**ADVANTAGE flea control for cats 9lbs and up
$21.49 |
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 | 96"-109" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
$0.99 |
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|  | K&H Thermo Heated Kitty Cat Bed 16" x 16" x 6"
$44.99 |
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 | Advantage 18 for Cats 6month supply Flea topical
$30.00 |
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|  | *** Killer Bud *** Catnip Kitty Drugs - The Catnip King
$4.99 |
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 | Rhinestone Cat Safety Collar, Brand New
$9.75 |
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|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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 | CUSTOM FINISHED WOOD CAT LITTER BOX CABINET / PLAYHOUSE
$72.99 |
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|  | fur mice cat toy LONG HAIR- pack of 50
$9.99 |
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 | .196 NEW BLUE Pet Scratch Tower - Hang toy cubby + MORE
$24.99 |
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|  | Simple Solution Grooming Glove For Pets
$2.42 |
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 | PETSTAGES COZY CALMING MAT TOY KITTY OR CAT - BRAND NEW
$0.99 |
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| 20 BOGO FREE Purina Friskies Cat Treat Coupons $3.23/1!
$0.50 |
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 | HANDMADE CATNIP MAT
$5.00 |
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|  | Catnip Cup 0.5 Ounce Fresh And Aromatic Catnip
$2.52 |
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 | Petmate Litter Locker Plus-NIB (8898)
$13.50 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B3001
$0.99 |
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 | SALE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | 100"-112" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
$0.99 |
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 | 80" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2030
$24.99 |
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|  | SOFT CLAWS NAIL CAPS FOR CATS~MED~NEW IN BOX ~CLEAR~$25
$9.95 |
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 | Burlap Mouse w/ Catnip - 3 Pack
$2.52 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
$0.99 |
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 | Kittyvite Daily Vitamin Paste - For Senior Cats
$2.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$23.75 |
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 | L@@K**ADVANTAGE flea control for dogs 55lbs and up.
$51.00 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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 | New BR 4x12x6H Cat Dog Cage Pen Crate Kennel Free Ship
$627.00 |
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| Nextar 1.5" LCD Screen Display
$0.99 |
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 | 38" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F38
$0.99 |
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|  | PURRR FECT KITTY CAT PAWPRINTS & FISHBONES Footstool
$49.99 |
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 | Gray Cat Photo Holder Gift Set-NWT (8893)
$0.99 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | NIB JEWELED CAT FACE CHARM BY MUD PIE CAT W/BLUE CROWN
$9.99 |
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 | CHEAP 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | Lot of 3 Kookamunga Door Cattie Cat Toys w/Catnip
$2.99 |
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