| 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.
|
|
 | $5.00/1 *ANY SIZE* EUKANUBA DRY CAT FOOD -4 COUPONS
$0.99 |
|
|  | NEW LitterMaid Self-Cleaning Automatic Litter Box LM700
$65.00 |
|
|
 | Rhinestone Cat Collar Necklace 7-10" WITH MOUSE Blk/Clr
$6.50 |
|
|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
|
|
 | FREE 20 lb. bag cat/kitten attract litter coupon-$15.00
$1.99 |
|
|  | .133 PET SCRATCH POLE - SIMPLE TALL DESIGN - HEMP ROPE
$0.99 |
|
|
 | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F04
$0.99 |
|
| WHISKER LICKINS AND FANCY FEAST CAT FOOD/TREAT COUPONS
$0.99 |
|
|
 | Omega Self-Cleaning Cat Kitten Kitty Liter Litter Box
$27.95 |
|
|  | 4 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT DOGS 10-20 lbs
$17.95 |
|
|
 | Feliway Spary 75ml
$15.80 |
|
|  | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2040-Blue
$0.99 |
|
|
 | Porcelain Dogs Rule Dish Fenix Research Group -NEW
$2.50 |
|
|  | Cat Fountain filtered water bowl / dish! NEW IN BOX NR
$23.99 |
|
|
PURINA,SCIENCE DIET, WHOLESOME GOODNESS CATFOOD COUPONS
$0.99 |
|
|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
|
|
 | Soft Claws!! Cat nail caps *kitten size* FREE SHIPPING!
$9.99 |
|
|  | Cat Bowl
$5.00 |
|
|
 | FREE 40lb. bag Dr. Elsey's cat litter coupon-$15.00
$1.99 |
|
|  | 67" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-15
$94.99 |
|
|
 | Deluxe QuickFinder Clipper from MiracleCorp
$54.99 |
|
|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
|
|
 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$23.75 |
|
|  | Outward Hound Legs-Out Front Carrier - Small, Pink
$23.95 |
|
|
 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
|
|  | Powder Room Decorative Cat Pan Litter Box Cover
$24.99 |
|
|
 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F10
$0.99 |
|
|  | BEST 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
|
|
 | OMEGA PAW Mouse Shaped Scratch Pad w/VEE Glow Toy NIP
$8.25 |
|
|  | CAT AND TOY DOG HARNESS LOT OF 10
$25.00 |
|
|
 | SMART CAT LOVELY LUCY & YEOWWW! PURR!-MUDA TRIANGLE NIP
$6.99 |
|
|  | FREE 20 lb. bag cat/kitten attract litter coupon-$15.00
$1.99 |
|
|
 | SMART Cat Toy PEEK & PLAY TOY BOX with extra Toy NIP
$16.99 |
|
|  | LITTER KWITTER Quitter Cat Kitty Toilet Potty Training
$59.95 |
|
|
 | Cat Toy PUMP'nRUN ~ KITTY HOOTS CATNIP TOYS NIB
$9.75 |
|
|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
|
|
 | Outward Hound Legs-Out Front Carrier - Medium, Navy
$25.95 |
|
|  | GREAT 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
|
|
 | FREE 8 lb. bag Dr. Elseys cat litter coupon-senior-$15
$1.99 |
|
|  | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2041-Blue
$0.99 |
|
|
 | FREE 20 lb. bag cat/kitten attract litter coupon-$15.00
$1.99 |
|
|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F24
$0.99 |
|
|
 | FREE 20 lb. bag cat/kitten attract litter coupon-$15.00
$1.99 |
|
|  | FREE 8 lb. bag Dr. Elseys cat litter coupon-senior-$15
$1.99 |
|
|
 | WATCH 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
|
|  | Fresh Step Scoopable Cat Litter Coupons
$1.99 |
|
|
 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
|
|  | Replacement Flap,XL Ultimate PetSafe Dog Door,X-VA-11
$46.95 |
|
|
 | CAT OR DOG BED - LULU PINK BY SIMPLY SHE - NWT
$6.99 |
|
|  | ALL SIZES dogs cats stock UP ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT
$17.95 |
|
|
 | BIG DAISIES ~ Breakaway SaFeTy CAT Collar
$3.99 |
|
|  | Charity Donation - Humane Education -Great Holiday Gift
$5.00 |
|
|
 | Buy 2 Get 1 FREE Iams Coupons
$1.99 |
|
|  | 62" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F28
$0.99 |
|
|
 | Littermaid Ultimate Elite Mega Litter Box LME9000MB
$115.50 |
|
|  | Zanies Holiday Stocking Assortment Cat Toys 10 TOYS
$5.99 |
|
|
 | FREE 20 lb. bag cat/kitten attract litter coupon-$15.00
$1.99 |
|
|  | 3 Petmate Fresh Flow Replacement Filters NEW fast ship
$11.99 |
|
|
 | SMART CAT LOVELY LUCY & YEOWWW! YELLOW FISH NIP
$8.75 |
|
|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F07
$0.99 |
|
|
 | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med small dogs 0-22 lbs SALE~~
$23.00 |
|
|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F13
$0.99 |
|
|
 | FREE 8 lb. bag Dr. Elseys cat litter coupon-senior-$15
$1.99 |
|
|  | COLORED STRIPES & DOTS ~ Breakaway SAFETY CAT Collar
$3.99 |
|
|
 | 6 Pack Frontline Plus for cats Long dated 6 pack
$55.00 |
|
|  | PRETTY BLUE SQUARES ~ Breakaway SaFeTy CAT Collar
$3.99 |
|
|
 | PINK DAISIES / BROWN ~ Breakaway SAFETY CAT Collar
$3.99 |
|
|  | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
$9.41 |
|
|
 | PETSAFE MICRO ID RESCUE COLLAR FOR CATS NEW!!!!
$29.99 |
|
|  | CATS FRONTLINE PLUS 8 dose FLEA & TICK med ~*~
$23.84 |
|
|
 | Lot of 2 lazer laser pointer 5 head NEW C LOW S+H
$0.99 |
|
|  | Outward Hound Legs-Out Front Carrier - Small, Navy
$23.95 |
|
|
 | FREE 40lb. bag Dr. Elsey's cat litter coupon-$15.00
$1.99 |
|
|  | LITTER KWITTER Quitter Cat Kitty Toilet Potty Training
$59.95 |
|
|
 | small dogs 6 dose FRONTLINE PLUS flea control 0-22 lbs
$23.84 |
|
|  | OMEGA PAW Mouse Shaped Scratch Pad refill NIP
$3.99 |
|
|
 | FREE 8 lb. bag Dr. Elseys cat litter coupon-senior-$15
$1.99 |
|
|  | 5 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT cats 10 lbs up
$17.95 |
|
|
 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
|
|  | VEE WHISPY, KITTY HOOTS DOOFUS DOGS, LIQUID CATNIP NIP
$9.50 |
|
|
 | FARNAM COMFORT ZONE REFILL WITH FELIWAY FOR CATS 48ML
$14.99 |
|
| WHISKER LICKINS,GOODLIFE RECIPE,FRISKIES COUPONS
$0.99 |
|
|
 | LitterMaid Advanced Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box
$50.00 |
|
|  | Cat Toy PUMP'nRUN ~ KITTY HOOTS CATNIP TOYS NIB
$9.75 |
|
|
 | CUTE RETRO CIRCLES ~ Breakaway SAFETY CAT Collar
$3.99 |
|
|  | Cat Toy PUMP'nRUN ~ KITTY HOOTS CATNIP TOYS NIB
$9.75 |
|
|
 | CAT DIVA refer to bathroom as litterbox FUNNY WOOD SIGN
$0.95 |
|
|  | Dolce Vita Heated Cat / Dog Bed (Medium Size)
$40.00 |
|
|
 | ALL SIZES dogs cats stock UP ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT
$17.95 |
|
|  | SMART CAT Fishing Frenzy Three Interchangable Lures NEW
$9.99 |
|
|
 | Fleece pet bed - Small, warm, comfortable, great value
$19.99 |
|
|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
|
|
 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F14
$0.99 |
|
|  | 16 month FRONTLINE PLUS KIT flea tick 4 cat green 6 8
$31.32 |
|
|
 | FREE 8 lb. bag Dr. Elseys cat litter coupon-senior-$15
$1.99 |
|
|  | BLUE ORANGE FLAMES ~ Breakaway CAT Collar
$3.99 |
|
|
 | OMEGA PAW Mouse Shaped Scratch Pad w/VEE Glow Toy NIP
$8.25 |
|
|  | 5 CATNIP BAGS! HOME GROWN! HOME SEWN CAT FABRIC TOYS!
$4.99 |
|
|
 | .136 PET SCRATCH TOWER w. PLATFORMS + HEMP ROPE POLES
$9.99 |
|
|  | NEW Blue Fluffy Cat or Dog Pet Bed 20x20"- Pet Supply
$11.50 |
|
|