| 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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 | Litter Kwitter Cat Toilet Training FREE TOY/FREE SHIP
$59.95 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B4001
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 | Cat Litter Robot...best Cat litter box available! Works
$152.50 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | 96"-109" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
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|  | Hamster/ Mouse House
$16.00 |
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 | Genie Automatic Cat Box Sanisolution Reset Refill Kit
$105.50 |
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|  | 2 Black and White Cow Catnip Toys 5" Tall x 1" Wide
$5.95 |
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 | New Deluxe 42" Cat Tree Condo Furniture, BP-5022
$48.98 |
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|  | 64" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F11
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B2903
$0.99 |
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|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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 | DESIGNER CATBOX Cat Litter Box Chest Furniture Cover WT
$67.99 |
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|  | 49" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F41
$0.99 |
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36 Fancy Feast UPCs for 2008 Cat Ornament & Order Form
$0.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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|  | 24" ALL DURABLE SISAL WEAVE Cat Scratching Post posts
$29.99 |
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 | Six Plain colors adjust nylon cat collars-bell&
$15.20 |
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|  | Cat Kitten Pink Camo Camouflage Safety Breakaway Collar
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 | LEOPARD & ZEGRA PRINT CAT TUNNEL TOY SCRATCHING POST
$34.99 |
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|  | WIPE YOUR PAWS door plaque sign XMAS GIFT 4 CAT LOVERS
$1.25 |
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 | SHERPA Brand Cat Dog Carrier Backpack Used Once
$19.98 |
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|  | Cat Kitten Christmas Holiday Value Catnip Toy 6 Pack
$2.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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|  | 70" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F72-B
$0.99 |
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 | 2 Catnip Lobster Claw Cat Toys 5"x3" Nana Joan Design
$5.95 |
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|  | DEAL 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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 | Soft Claws CHRISTMAS (Red + Green) Cat Nail Covers NEW-
$4.99 |
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|  | PINK DOG TOTE
$5.00 |
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 | 65" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F45
$0.99 |
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|  | 2 Catnip Lobster Toys Designed by Nana Joan
$9.95 |
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 | SPECIAL 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | SOFT HEATED PAW PRINT CAT WINDOW SEAT PET BED CATS NEW
$34.99 |
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 | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC04
$0.99 |
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|  | 2 Catnip Lobster Claw Cat Toys 5"x3" BUY 2 GET 1 FREE
$5.95 |
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 | 51" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F51
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7202
$0.99 |
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 | *CATNIP * KITTY ~ TOSS AND CARRY POUCH * PERRRFECT SIZE
$0.79 |
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|  | Pet Dog & Cat Nail Clipper - Stainless - FREE SHIPPING
$7.17 |
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 | .097 PET TENT CARRIER - RED - CAT ON CLOUD DESIGN NEW
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|  | GREENIES Cat Treat Sample 1 oz Chicken
$2.99 |
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 | LOT 13 X MAT PET BEHAVIOR INDOOR TRAINING MAT DOGS CATS
$35.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT all sizes dogs cats stock UP
$17.95 |
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 | New Pink w Bears Tote Travel Pet Carrier for Dog or Cat
$9.20 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B7801
$0.99 |
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 | 48" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F43
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5301
$0.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6203
$0.99 |
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|  | BARGAIN 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | *CATNIP * KITTY ~ TOSS AND CARRY POUCH * PERRRFECT SIZE
$0.79 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
$0.99 |
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|  | 2 Catnip Lobster Claw Cat Toys 5"x3" Nana Joan Design
$5.95 |
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 | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-8C
$99.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT all sizes dogs cats stock UP
$17.95 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | 2 Catnip Lobster Claw Cat Toys 5"x3" Nana Joan Design
$5.95 |
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | .194 - Deluxe Multi Level Cat Scratching Playset Tower
$24.99 |
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 | Catmeister Cat Toy
$2.21 |
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|  | 2 Catnip Lobster Claw Cat Toys 5"x3" Nana Joan Design
$5.95 |
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 | Holiday Zanies Cat Toys Value 6 Pack
$2.99 |
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|  | 25 pc lot of Food, Toys & Supplies for Cats
$5.00 |
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 | 'I Love my Scottish Fold!" car ribbon magnet QUALITY
$4.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | Cat Kitten Blue Glitter Glitz Safety Breakaway Collar
$5.99 |
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 | "HUGE"Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture FC6
$149.00 |
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|  | COMFORT ZONE DIFFUSER WITH FELIWAY + REFILL + SPRAY NEW
$49.00 |
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 | Cat Kitten Hot Pink Nylon Safety Breakaway Bell Collar
$3.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F15
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Kitten Pink Glitter Glitz Safety Breakaway Collar
$5.99 |
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|  | .185: CLOSEOUT SALE - PET CASTLE Cubby Platforms Towers
$24.99 |
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 | camo bed bone pattern bed new sealed hard to find
$3.00 |
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|  | *CARPET Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture
$0.99 |
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 | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-8C
$99.99 |
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|  | 2 Catnip Lobster Claw Cat Toys 5"x3" Nana Joan Design
$5.95 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4301
$0.99 |
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|  | DESIGNER CATBOX Cat Litter Box Chest Furniture Cover BK
$63.95 |
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 | ROYAL SPLENDOR DOG OR CAT PET BED BEDS DOG/CAT NEW
$39.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
$0.99 |
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 | 94" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-09
$109.99 |
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|  | RING SLING PUPPY POUCH PET CARRIER CATS & DOGS $10.99
$10.99 |
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 | Vari Kennel by Doskocil Dog or Cat Carrier (Medium)
$35.00 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
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 | Lot of 50 nylon mixed with Sparkle mice
$23.00 |
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|  | Calico Kitty Condo
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$23.75 |
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|  | .006: NEW 4 Level Cat CONDO w/ 6 Scratch POSTS: 2 BEDS
$24.99 |
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 | Cat Fun Cage W/ Toy Inside
$1.99 |
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|  | 2 Butterfly Catnip Toys About 3" Wide By Nana Joan
$5.95 |
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 | Cat Kitten Bright Red Nylon Safety Breakaway Collar
$3.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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 | Cute 24" BLACK Leather Dog Collar with Brass Bones
$4.99 |
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|  | Long Life 90 Day Cat Flea Collar $ 1.99 SALE
$1.99 |
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 | Cat Tot Trendy Comfort Spider
$10.00 |
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|  | Small Pet Door 2 way by PetSafe
$10.00 |
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 | ROYAL SPLENDOR DOG OR CAT PET BED BEDS DOG/CAT NEW
$39.99 |
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|  | Cat Kitten Violet Purple Nylon Safety Breakaway Collar
$3.99 |
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