| 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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 | PRETTY KITTY Cat PET Record KEEPING Journal ~ FREE SHIP
$9.95 |
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|  | 65" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-14
$89.99 |
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 | Cat Toy Pet Shop Store Supplies - 50 Peacock Feathers
$24.99 |
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|  | 8 Months Frontline Plus for Cats FREE SHIPPING 3 6
$19.90 |
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 | ORCA WHALE SHAPED CAT SCRATCHING PAD POST WITH CATNIP!
$24.95 |
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|  | Cat Collar -Bright Kitties on Black
$5.75 |
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 | PURRfect DVD, Brand new cat video, FREE SHIPPING
$8.51 |
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|  | Turbo Scratcher Replacement Pads Cat Toy Scratch NEW
$5.94 |
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 | New Red and White Cat's Collar Fits ALL CATS
$0.99 |
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|  | 74" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2040
$0.99 |
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 | DISCOUNT 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | NEW CEDAR CAT HOUSE NICE - HEATED - SALE $ 149.00 OFF
$149.95 |
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 | Litter Box Carbon Filter - New in Package (Stylette)
$0.99 |
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|  | 6 Colors adjust Nylon cat collars wt bell!
$15.20 |
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 | NEW! SIMPLE SOLUTION Puppy Training Pads
$9.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6202
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 1-9 LBS - EPA APPROVED
$1.04 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
$0.99 |
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|  | NATURAL CHOICE COUPONS FREE 4 LB BAG
$1.50 |
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 | SALE 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F10
$0.99 |
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 | PINK ANIMAL **PRINCESS BED** WITH BOW AND RHINESTONE
$7.95 |
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|  | NEW Christmas Holiday Burgundy Santa Claus Cat Toy
$2.50 |
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 | MOuse/Mice Scratcher:pet cat toy
$7.00 |
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|  | PRINCESS CAT KITTEN KITTY PINK GOLD CROWN DISH BOWL NEW
$7.50 |
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 | ADVANTAGE DOG/CAT KIT 4,5 AND 10 MONTH SUPPLLY EPA USA
$16.85 |
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|  | $1/1 WHOLESOME GOODNESS DRY CAT FOOD(20)COUPONS 1/03/09
$1.00 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6501
$0.99 |
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|  | NEW LITTERMAID LME9250 ELITE MEGA Automatic Litterbox
$20.50 |
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 | Cozy Dog and Cat Bed
$24.95 |
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|  | BRINKER POTS CAT DISH---1994
$5.00 |
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 | Omega Paw Deluxe Window Perch Seat For Kitty Cats
$16.95 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | 64" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F11
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7802
$0.99 |
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 | HAPPY SKULLS Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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|  | 42 HEAD LAZER POINTER ~ LASER BEAM BRAND NEW
$3.95 |
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 | NEW CEDAR CAT HOUSE NICE - HEATED - SALE $ 149.00 OFF
$149.95 |
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|  | Nice Kitty Cat Christmas Stocking NEW & LARGE Velvety
$9.99 |
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 | 67" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-15
$94.99 |
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|  | NEW Comfort Small Dog & Cat Sofa Bed -Leopard Color
$9.95 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med small dogs 0-22 lbs SALE~~
$23.99 |
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 | BRINKER POTS CAT DISH WITH CAT PAWS DECORATION
$5.00 |
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|  | SMALL DOG K9 ADVANTIX FLEA CONTROL KIT 0-10 LBS 10 dose
$23.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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|  | shaking & rattling fur mouse short hair-50 piece lot
$9.99 |
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 | SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post
$47.95 |
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|  | Petsafe Indoor Wireless Deluxe Cat Fence Boundary
$138.99 |
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 | FISH ON BLUE Print Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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|  | SmartScoop Automatic Litter Box Catching Mat Large
$15.89 |
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 | small dogs FRONTLINE PLUS flea control 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$23.75 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS DOG/CAT KIT 3 6 8 MONTH SUPPLY EPA USA!!
$16.85 |
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 | CATNIP SEEDS - LITTLE TRUDY - PERENNIAL - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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|  | BRAND NEW Drinkwell Pet Fountain + 70oz RESERVOIR
$44.89 |
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 | CAT LOT 17 TOYS Remote CTRL Mouse, GREENIES, Scratcher
$19.38 |
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|  | VO TOYS/VIP KITTY FUN HOUSE CHEESE -BED -NEW
$26.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7401
$0.99 |
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|  | Shed Ender Shedender 4 Pet Dog Cat Brush As Seen on TV
$3.99 |
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 | Petmate Hybrid Black Stainless Cat Dog Water Fountain
$29.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6203
$0.99 |
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 | NEW CEDAR CAT HOUSE NICE - HEATED - SALE $ 149.00 OFF
$149.95 |
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|  | SmartScoop Self Scooping Automatic Litterbox Litter Box
$99.89 |
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 | Comfort Zone Plug-In with Feliway
$21.40 |
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|  | Drinkwell Platinum Fountain + Brush + 4 Filters NEW
$69.99 |
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 | BIG SALE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | Soft Claws Nail Caps for Cats
$7.50 |
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 | COMPANION ROAD OVAL FLEECE PET CAT DOG DEN BED 17X15X6
$9.99 |
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|  | Slumber Pet THERMAL CAT MAT Bed Reflects Heat 22x18
$11.99 |
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 | NEW CAT MATE C50 AUTOMATIC VACATION PET FEEDER PETSAFE
$24.99 |
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|  | 6 plain colors adjust nylon cat collars wt a bell^
$15.20 |
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 | Large 20x24 Dog Cat Paw Print Deep Pet Bed:Pet Supplies
$12.44 |
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|  | BLACK WHITE PERSIAN CAT KITTEN KITTY FELINE ART WATCH
$24.00 |
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 | CATNIP SEEDS - LITTLE TRUDY - PERENNIAL - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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| Feliway Cat Phermone diffuser NO RESERVE
$1.85 |
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 | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2040-Blue
$0.99 |
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|  | SCratcher Board: pet, cat toy w/ condo, furniture, tree
$9.99 |
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 | FLAMES ON BLACK Print Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | SmartCat Peek-N-Play Toy Box - Cat Toy
$16.95 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS 8 DOSE FLEA/TICK KIT FOR CATS (6,12)
$17.95 |
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 | 70" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F72-B
$0.99 |
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| Warm & Cozy 4-Way Machine Washable Pet Bed (Cats/Dogs)
$19.95 |
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 | Cat Toy Lot w/teasers, CATNIP, Feline GREENIES, Laser
$21.55 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$23.75 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | lot of cat accessories
$18.99 |
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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 #B7701
$0.99 |
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 | LEOPARD SOFA SHAPED CAT SCRATCHING PAD POST AND CATNIP!
$21.95 |
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|  | 49" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F41
$0.99 |
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 | CAT LOT 20 TOYS, REMOTE Ctrl MOUSE, GREENIES, Scratcher
$19.07 |
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|  | PetSafe Cat Fence Receiver
$99.95 |
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 | BRAND NEW LITTERMAID LM900 AUTOMATIC LITTERBOX
$9.99 |
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|  | PArt only:Soft Bed 4 Cat Condo,Tree,House,Pet Furniture
$10.00 |
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 | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2041-Blue
$0.99 |
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|  | Continuously Freshening Feline Drinking Fountain 72732
$19.99 |
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