| 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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Brand New Ergo Automatic Digital Pet Feeder - Small
$118.99 |
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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 #A7401
$0.99 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F18
$9.99 |
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|  | .180 Large Pet Tower - Cubby hole Scratch Post Hemp NEW
$24.99 |
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 | EUKANUBA CAT FOOD COUPONS $5 OFF AND FRISKIE CAT FOOD
$0.99 |
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|  | Hand Made, Hand Painted, Ceramic Cat Dish, NEW
$4.99 |
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 | Drinkwell Pet Fountain 70 oz Accessory Kit With Brushes
$30.95 |
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|  | The Clever Cat Cat Trick Kit - Set of 4 training items
$0.99 |
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Brand New Ergo Automatic Digital Pet Feeder - Large
$138.99 |
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|  | **NEW** Original CatMouse LitterBox Odor Eliminator
$39.95 |
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 | CATS FRONTLINE PLUS 8 dose FLEA & TICK med ~*~ sale
$22.95 |
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|  | ANIMAL RESCUE NEW X-MAS ROPE 2 BALLS CAT TOY NR CHARITY
$1.00 |
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 | KEEP THE CATS OFF THE COMPUTER KEYBOARD (Hard Cover Lg)
$19.95 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
$9.41 |
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|  | ~~OMEGA PAW SELF CLEANING LITTER BOX BROWN TAUPE~~
$9.99 |
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 | Fresh Step Litter Coupons - set of 5
$4.99 |
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|  | 100"-112" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
$0.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CATS 6 MOUNTHS KILLS FLEAS, EGGS, TICKS
$0.99 |
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|  | Chrome bone pink python pet carrier
$25.00 |
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 | Set 12 pk. Replacement FILTERS Hagen CatIt Fountain
$18.99 |
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|  | 3 pcs pawprint adjust nylon cat collars wt bell$
$7.58 |
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 | 12 PACK PETMATE FRESH FLOW WATER FOUNTAIN FILTERS
$19.99 |
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|  | ANIMAL RESCUE NEW X-MAS ROPE BALL/MICE TOY NR CHARITY
$1.00 |
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 | 4 PETMATE CAT DOG FRESH FLOW PET FOUNTAIN WATER FILTERS
$6.95 |
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| Brand New Ergo Filtered Pet Waterer - Small
$71.99 |
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 | Brand New CHRISTMAS STOCKING FOR YOUR CAT LOVE XMAS
$3.99 |
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|  | Fresh Step Litter Coupons - set of 10
$9.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4201
$0.99 |
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 | NEW PetSafe AUTOMATIC CAT DOG PET FEEDER - 2 MEALS
$23.95 |
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|  | Fresh Step Litter Coupons - set of 10
$9.99 |
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 | 2 Matching CAT BEDS BROWN TURQUOISE LIME GREEN DOG
$35.00 |
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|  | Comfort Zone Plug In + REFILL& Spray w/ Feliway LOT (5)
$33.09 |
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 | Fresh Step Litter Coupons - set of 5
$4.99 |
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|  | Fresh Step Litter Coupons - set of 10
$9.99 |
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 | ANIMAL RESCUE NEW X-MAS 2 SANTAS CAT TOY NR CHARITY
$2.99 |
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|  | Fresh Step Litter Coupons - set of 10
$9.99 |
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 | 80" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2030
$24.99 |
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|  | KITTY CAT Stocking Christmas Holiday Blue Soft NEW Tags
$1.34 |
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 | Small Mini Small Pet Santa Claus Hat for Cat Kitten NEW
$9.95 |
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| CAT FOOD AND TREATS FOR CATS COUPONS
$0.99 |
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 | 30 tiny CATNIP BAGS! CAT FABRIC TOYS! FRESH HOME GROWN
$24.99 |
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|  | PAW PRINTS KITTY QUILT BLACK N WHITE 27"X33"
$15.95 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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|  | Fresh Step Litter Coupons - set of 10
$9.99 |
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 | GenieReset Automatic Litterbox Solution Reset & Refill
$49.99 |
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| Ergo 8 Day Auto Talking Digital Pet Feeder+FREE Toy!
$78.99 |
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 | *** Killer Bud *** Catnip Kitty Drugs - The Catnip King
$4.99 |
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|  | Chrome Bone Red Stylish pet carrier
$24.99 |
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 | ANIMAL RESCUE NEW X-MAS 20 MICE CAT TOY NR CHARITY
$4.99 |
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|  | ANIMAL RESCUE NEW X-MAS 12 MICE CAT TOY NR CHARITY
$4.99 |
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 | PURINA CAT FOOD AND TREATS COUPONS
$0.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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 | Set 6 Replacement FILTERS Hagen CatIt Drinking Fountain
$12.00 |
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|  | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F04
$0.99 |
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 | FREE Advantage for Cats 10 doses! COUPONS
$10.00 |
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| Brand New Ergo Automatic Digital Pet Feeder - Medium
$128.99 |
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 | REGAL Royal Blue Silver Crown Cat/Dog Designer Collars!
$9.99 |
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|  | Littermaid Automatic Cat Litter Box ~ EUC ~ NR
$19.99 |
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 | Laser Pointer 36 Different Heads Great Buy! FUN!!
$0.01 |
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|  | NEW Disney Aristocats purple Cat Collar Special Edition
$2.99 |
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 | Fresh Step Litter Coupons - set of 10
$9.99 |
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|  | ANIMAL RESCUE NEW X-MAS 9 PENQUINS CAT TOY NR CHARITY
$6.99 |
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 | 28 fancy feast cat food coupons save $1.00 on 24
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7101
$0.99 |
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 | Fresh Step Litter Coupons - set of 10
$9.99 |
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|  | BARGAIN 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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 | 30" SISAL SISAL CAT SCRATCHING POST COFFEE
$42.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med small dogs 0-22 lbs 12 mon
$37.00 |
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 | fur mice cat toy LONG HAIR- pack of 50
$9.99 |
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|  | .094 PET TENT CARRIER - BLUE - CAT ON CLOUD DESIGN NEW
$0.99 |
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 | SALE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC01
$9.99 |
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 | ANIMAL RESCUE NEW X-MAS 2 pk fuzzy MICE TOY NR CHARITY
$3.99 |
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|  | NEW LitterMaid Self-Cleaning Litter Box
$28.99 |
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 | Cat Toy TWO Kitty Animal W/Catnip/Pet toy,brand new
$0.99 |
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|  | ** 36 Stylette LitterSweep / Litter Roundup Bags NEW **
$9.99 |
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 | Six colors adjust nylon cat collars wt a bell!
$15.20 |
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|  | Spoiled Cat Christmas Stocking
$4.50 |
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 | NEW PetSafe AUTOMATIC DOG CAT PET FEEDER - 2 MEALS
$22.95 |
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| $.75/1 Pounce Cat Treats-20 Coupons 1/31/09
$0.99 |
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 | 38" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F38
$0.99 |
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|  | ORTO CAT Self Serve CAT Pet Feeder Food Bowl NEW in Box
$2.99 |
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 | NEW LitterMaid Elite Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box
$27.00 |
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|  | Brand New CHRISTMAS STOCKING FOR YOUR CAT LOVE XMAS
$3.99 |
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 | .021 PET TUNNEL w. PLATFORMS + HANGING TOY - CAT FERRET
$11.00 |
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|  | ScoopFree Scoop Free Automatic Cat Litter Box+Hood-New
$139.95 |
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 | ANIMAL RESCUE NEW X-MAS 40 BALLS CAT TOY NR CHARITY
$4.99 |
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|  | Cat Toy 5 Bright Colorful Rattle Mice Catnip Brand New
$0.99 |
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 | CHEAP 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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| Brand New Ergo Filtered Pet Waterer - Large
$98.99 |
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Brand New Ergo Filtered Pet Waterer - Medium
$88.99 |
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|  | ANIMAL RESCUE NEW X-MAS 6 PILLOWS CAT TOY NR CHARITY
$4.99 |
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 | Princess Cat Christmas Stocking
$4.50 |
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|  | *NEW* Soothing/Healing Oxyfresh Pet Gel for cats & dogs
$0.99 |
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 | TERRIFIC FRESH PET AREA DEODORIZER/AIR PURIFIER - NIB
$9.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B3001
$0.99 |
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