| 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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 | ADVANTAGE FOR CATS OVER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY 4 6 8 12
$34.95 |
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|  | Feliway Comfort Zone Diffuser and 48 ml Refills (4)
$9.99 |
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 | Cat Toy Fur Mice 6 pack / w Catnip pet toy Brand new
$0.01 |
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|  | Teaser Fleece Wand With Acrylic Rod Cat Toy
$2.21 |
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 | Fleece CRINKLE CRACKLE HIDEY HOLE BAG Bed Toy Cats Pup
$15.00 |
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|  | Purple Dog/Cat Puppy Collar with Crystal & Bell Small
$5.00 |
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 | PERSONALIZED 3 Spoiled Rotten CATS SIGN Pet Decor
$9.95 |
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|  | 12 PK Replacement Water Filters Fresh Flow Pet Fountain
$19.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS OVER 9 lbs 5 MONTH SUPPLY 6
$17.97 |
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|  | FELINE PINE Self Cleaning Cat Kitten Litter Box NEW
$9.95 |
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 | Mylar Balls 4 Pack
$2.10 |
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|  | Kitty Walk GAZEBO
$199.99 |
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 | PERSONALIZED 4 Spoiled Rotten CATS SIGN Pet Cat Decor
$10.95 |
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|  | Cat House
$10.00 |
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 | CAT LOVER GIFT BASKET Greenies,sitter dvd,heart basket+
$27.95 |
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|  | CATS FRONTLINE PLUS 8 dose FLEA & TICK med ~*~ sale
$23.84 |
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 | Midwest BayIsle Hide-A-Way Litter-Box Cover NEW NIB
$43.97 |
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|  | NEW LITTERSWEEP ULTRA AUTOMATIC CAT KITTEN LITTER BOX !
$69.00 |
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 | Cat Scratch Wave/Pet toy Furniture condo tree Brand new
$9.99 |
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|  | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA CONTROL KIT ~ALL SIZE DOGS~ S M L
$23.84 |
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 | CAT Photo Mouse Pad " SANTA KITTY "
$5.24 |
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|  | LitterMaid 12 Waste Receptacles Containers NEW IN BOX
$9.95 |
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 | 6 DIMEND HOME GROWN CATNIP bags-portrait kitty cat toys
$5.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT all sizes CATS kittens 1-UP
$16.99 |
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 | OOooo CATNIP!! Hand-made Catnip Pillow Toys. AWESOME!!
$5.99 |
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|  | Outward Hound Pet-a-Roo Front Carrier - Medium
$28.95 |
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 | Holiday Zanies Cat Toys Value 6 Pack
$2.99 |
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|  | HANDMADE CATNIP MAT
$5.00 |
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 | HANDMADE CATNIP MAT
$5.00 |
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|  | Flashing Cat Ball
$2.21 |
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 | CATS Cat Grooming Bathing Bag Restraint System * MEDIUM
$19.99 |
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| 10 COUPONS $1 NATURALS + VITAMINS PURINA CAT FREE SHIP
$0.99 |
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 | CAT BUT AIR FRESHENER NOTHING SMELLS LIKE A CAT BUT NEW
$5.50 |
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|  | New Farnam Bio Spot Cat Flea Tick Control 1 Year Supply
$9.99 |
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 | Lattice Plastic Balls With Bells 4 Pack
$1.79 |
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|  | Petmate Large Hooded Litter Box PINK 2 Day SHip NEW!
$14.62 |
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 | Green Dog/Cat/Puppy Collar with Diamonds & Bell Small
$5.00 |
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|  | Bright Yellow Dog/Cat Pet Collar with Bow & Bell Small
$6.75 |
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 | QUALITY CAT HAMMOCK STURDY METAL CONSTRUCTION TOY
$12.00 |
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|  | Petmate Hooded Litter Pan + scooper
$9.99 |
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 | Advantage For Cats Over 9 LBS. 12 Tubes
$85.99 |
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|  | Olive Dog/Cat/Puppy Collar with Pearl & Bell Small
$5.50 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$23.75 |
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|  | ~NWT~Creature Comforts Cozy Pet Bed & *FREE* Gift Too
$9.99 |
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 | Performa Automatic Kitty Litter Box
$78.99 |
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|  | ORGANIC OAT CAT GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | Purple Dog/Cat Puppy Collar with Pearl & Bell Small
$5.50 |
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|  | 13 cans (IVD) Veterinary Exclusive Royal Canin Catfood
$0.99 |
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 | CAT GRASS SEEDS - A MIX CATS LOVE - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | FREE BAG PURINA CAT CHOW UP TO $4.99 3.1.09
$0.99 |
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 | 36" SINGLE POLE Da Bird wand cat toy 4 Attachments
$14.99 |
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|  | Black "Nikko" Dog Cat Pet Paw Print Purse Handbag NWT
$16.95 |
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 | SMARTSCOOP AUTOMATIC CAT LITTER BOX SELF CLEANING NIB
$109.95 |
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| Kitty Walk Town and Country Collection Kitty Play Set
$269.95 |
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 | Rhinestone Cat Dog Collar Necklace 7-10" Blk/Wht Bell
$7.50 |
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|  | PetSafe Cat Veranda with Lockable Entry Flap NEW
$99.99 |
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 | Staywell 31 Battery Powered Cat Flap New
$0.99 |
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|  | NEW ~ CRUNCHY CAT TUNNEL TOY ~ NEW
$19.99 |
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 | Outward Hound Pet-a-Roo Front Carrier - Medium
$28.95 |
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|  | PINK Girl Baby Cat Kitten Puppy Dog PET Bed BASSINET
$0.99 |
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 | Atomic Bouncing Ball 2 Pack
$2.31 |
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|  | Cat Toy 2Holiday Shiny Balls W/Catnip/Pet toy,brand new
$0.89 |
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 | Red Dog/Cat/Puppy Collar with Pearl & Bell Small
$5.50 |
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|  | PET CARRIER.BRAND NEW .HOLDS UP TO 20LBS.GREAT DEAL.!!!
$19.99 |
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 | Orange Cat Kitten Christmas Stocking Ornament Gift
$1.99 |
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|  | CAT BUTT STICKERS COLLECTION 1O DIFFERENT BREEDS NEW
$6.00 |
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 | Pet Plaques (Customized To Your Breed Or Pet)
$5.99 |
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|  | Cat Scratcher Play Tower w/ Tunnel and Perch
$25.00 |
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 | ORGANIC OAT CAT GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Advantage For Cats Over 9 LBS. 4 Tubes
$34.99 |
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 | Classic Kittywalk System Kittywalk Lawn Version "GIFT"
$69.99 |
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|  | MEDIUM PINK CAT Feline 9-13lb Soft Claws Nail Caps cats
$17.98 |
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 | 3 pk filter for Catit cat water fountain systems
$9.45 |
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|  | HANDMADE CATNIP MAT
$5.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CATS UNDER 9 lbs 20 MONTH SUPPLY 1 4 6 8
$34.95 |
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|  | NEPETA CATARIA SEEDS - A CATS FAVORITE - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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 | Red Patent Dog/Cat leather Collar with color dot Bell S
$6.75 |
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|  | Kitty Walk Deck and Patio NEW
$99.99 |
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 | Mini Teaser Cat Wand
$2.31 |
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|  | NEW! Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow 50-ounce Pet Fountain
$12.99 |
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 | Burlap Mouse w/ Catnip - 3 Pack
$2.52 |
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|  | CAT GRASS SEEDS - A MIX CATS LOVE - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | LOT OF 4 PET SHIRTS, SIZE LARGE, DOG'S OR CAT'S *NIP*
$10.99 |
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|  | Kitty Cat Picture Frame! 3.5"x 5" **EUC**
$1.00 |
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 | Cat Toy 6 Bright Colorful Rattle Mice Catnip Brand New
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Scratching Post 17.5 "/pet toy furniture condo tree
$9.99 |
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 | Cat Toy 1 Shiny Rattle Mice w Feather Tail/Catnip New
$0.79 |
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|  | Pet Plaques (Customized To Your Breed Or Pet)
$5.99 |
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 | LITTER KWITTER Cat Toilet Training System NEW
$56.99 |
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|  | 1 New Petrodex Dental Care Kit Cat Christmas Gift tooth
$0.99 |
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 | Boogie Mat-Refillable Catnip Nap Mat for Cats & Kittens
$8.95 |
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|  | NEPETA CATARIA SEEDS - A CATS FAVORITE - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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 | Ssscat Animal Control
$4.99 |
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|  | NEW Soft Dog Pet House Furniture Navy Blue Fabric
$48.00 |
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 | SCOOPWELL Litter Box Scoop And Cat Box Cleaner
$6.75 |
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|  | ORTO CAT Self Serve CAT Pet Feeder Food Bowl NEW in Box
$2.99 |
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 | 1/4" Sisal Rope 50 ft Cat Condo Tree Scratching Post
$2.00 |
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|  | 3 PIECE CAT FEEDING DISHES FEEDERS SCOOPER PET SUPPLIES
$2.50 |
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 | 6 PK Replacement Water Filters Fresh Flow Pet Fountain
$10.99 |
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|  | Cat Bowl Set
$12.99 |
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