| 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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 | MiracleBeam Laser Pet Toy PETSMART RED Cat Dog Birds
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|  | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-12
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 | 74" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2038
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|  | CHEAP 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
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 | Frontline Plus Cats 12 *FREE USA SHIPPING* 3 6 TOO!
$60.35 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F12
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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|  | Three 48 mL Vials of Feliway Pheromone
$31.04 |
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 | Cat condo scratching Sisal post furniture
$0.49 |
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|  | GREAT 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$16.50 |
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 | .097 PET TENT CARRIER - RED - CAT ON CLOUD DESIGN NEW
$0.01 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 8 MONTHLY DOSES
$18.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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|  | LITTERMAID LM700 AUTOMATIC CAT LITTER BOX SELF-CLEANING
$94.44 |
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 | ADAMS PLUS BREAKAWAY FLEA & TICK COLLAR CATS & KITTENS
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|  | Feliway Diffuser Plug
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 | CAT GENIE litter box genie dome & sidewalls only - NEW
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|  | Cat Place Mat
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 | Frontline Plus *CAT* 12 MONTHS! EPA! NIB! BARGAIN!
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|  | NEW OUTDOOR PET CAT DOG TUNNEL CAGE NIP 48 X 17.5 X 14
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 | SPOILED CAT 2 FURRY Organic catnip body pillows
$12.00 |
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|  | AROMA THERAPY CROCHETED CATNIP CAT TOY BALLS ^..^ NEW
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 | 6 tiny DIMEND HOMEGROWN CATNIP bags/pillows cat toys
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|  | New Castlemere Cobalt Pottery Cat Food Water Dish Bowl
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 | 16 MONTH KIT FRONTLINE PLUS CATS EPA APPROVED! DEAL!!!
$38.50 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$18.95 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B2903
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|  | 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS KIT EPA USA
$18.00 |
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 | 10 pk Petmate Litter Locker Refill Use up to 2 months
$64.99 |
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|  | PET BLANKET CAT SMALL DOG HAND TIED FLEECE/BLUE PLAID
$5.99 |
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 | Fishy Fun Cat Kitten Crinkle Play Tunnel Bungee Toy
$34.95 |
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|  | GREENIES CAT KITTEN FELINE TREATS-25 PACKETS NEW SEALED
$6.00 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA KIT FOR CATS 8 DOSES
$18.99 |
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|  | Definitive Guide Ragdolls cats breed book htf
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 | Cat Tie Out Leash-Black-**NIP**
$1.29 |
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|  | NEVER SCOOP Clean Kitty Cat Litter Box/Pan! NEW! Sample
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 | WOW!!! 8 MONTH KIT FRONTLINE PLUS CATS/KITTENS EPA!!
$19.75 |
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|  | LitterMaid Waste Receptacles 10 model LMR200
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 | Feliway Diffuser Plug and One Vial of Feliway Pheromone
$13.50 |
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|  | 74" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2038
$159.00 |
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 | (10) sets Glamour Kitty Litter coupons expire 12/31/08
$0.89 |
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| Advantage For Cats Over 9 lbs.6 Pk. EPA Approved
$42.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$18.95 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
$36.75 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$18.95 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5301
$0.99 |
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 | Pet mate Attract O Mat Cat Tunnel Kitty Bed
$8.50 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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 | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2041-Beige
$0.99 |
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|  | Feliway Diffuser Plug
$9.49 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6202
$0.99 |
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|  | Feliway Diffuser Plug and One Vial of Feliway Pheromone
$17.50 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
$0.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE flea & tick treatment CATS over 9 lbs NEW 6pk
$33.00 |
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 | OAK RAISED CAT FOOD BOWL PET DISH OR SMALL DOG
$14.99 |
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| Advantage For Cats Over 9 lbs.6 Pk. EPA Approved
$42.00 |
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 | World's Best Cat Litter 00171 Stainless Steel Scoop
$1.00 |
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|  | 74" Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F60
$9.99 |
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 | Catberry Treat Ums for Cats and Kittens PL63
$1.00 |
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|  | FUN HONEYSUCKLE FLEECE OCTOPUS CAT TOYS, NEW IN PACKAGE
$3.50 |
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 | COSMIC CATNIP 1/2-oz BAG/Sisal RATTLE CAT TOY-2NEWDeals
$0.60 |
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|  | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC04
$9.99 |
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 | Three 48 mL Vials of Feliway Pheromone
$16.50 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Scratcher post furniture
$0.99 |
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 | ZODIAC FLEA & TICK COLLAR FOR CATS, BREAKAWAY, NIB
$6.99 |
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|  | Three 48 mL Vials of Feliway Pheromone
$29.00 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
$0.99 |
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|  | Frontline Plus Cats 6 "FREE USA SHIPPING* 3 12 TOO!
$32.95 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$18.95 |
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|  | CAT FOOD BOWL PET DISH RAISED 4 INCHES** FREE PET NAMES
$14.99 |
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Free Breeze Tidy Cats Litter System Coupon up to $39.99
$16.29 |
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|  | 49" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F41
$0.99 |
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 | Staywell Magnetically Operated Cat Flap 932
$19.99 |
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|  | LuLu Pink~Pink Toile & Leopard Print Cat/ Dog Bed~NWT!
$9.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA KIT FOR SMALL DOGS 10-20 LBS 4 DOSES
$17.99 |
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|  | 48" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F43
$0.99 |
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 | NEW! WICKER RATTAN CAT HIDEAWAY PET LITTER BOX COVER
$49.99 |
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|  | ~ยค~ Drinkwell- The Original Pet Fountain DOG CAT NIB
$19.99 |
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 | Three 48 mL Vials of Feliway Pheromone
$25.25 |
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|  | Spoiled Pet Chaise Bed - Cat or Dog
$11.00 |
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 | SPOILED CAT 2 FURRY Organic catnip body pillows
$12.00 |
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|  | PetzLife Gel Spray Clean Dog Teeth Free Ship Toothbrush
$39.95 |
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 | 20 Sheba Premium Cuts B2G1 Free Cat Food Coupon
$2.55 |
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|  | ~71"~ Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Furniture Pet Toy
$0.99 |
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 | PAMPERED KITTY CAT PLAY HOUSE TOY SCRATCHER CATS NEW
$19.99 |
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|  | The Scoopwell Litter scoop
$3.75 |
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 | 64" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F11
$0.99 |
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|  | CAT WINDOW PERCH BY LAZY PET ~DELUXE MODEL~CATS TO 25#~
$27.95 |
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 | Feliway Diffuser Plug and One Vial of Feliway Pheromone
$16.50 |
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|  | PET BLANKET CAT SMALL DOG HAND TIED FLEECE/PINK PLAID
$5.99 |
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 | .133 PET SCRATCH POLE - SIMPLE TALL DESIGN - HEMP ROPE
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F14
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 | Feliway Pheromone Spray
$16.16 |
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|  | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2040-Blue
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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|  | .021 PET TUNNEL w. PLATFORMS + HANGING TOY - CAT FERRET
$0.99 |
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 | CATNIP BODY PILLOW Original from Portland OR!! 3 Tuf
$18.00 |
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