| 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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|  | CAT TOY ASSORTMENT LOT
$20.00 |
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$109.99 |
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|  | SCOOPFREE LUCKY LITTER SELF CLEANING LITTER BOX # LB1
$24.99 |
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 | MEOW TOWN KITTY CAT PET PUPPY BASSINET CANOPY BED BLUE
$29.95 |
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|  | Holiday kitty coil balls 2 pack
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 | Holiday 4" Santa with Wreath Tiny Tails
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|  | PACKAGE OF 2 KONG NATURAL STRAW BALLS CAT KITTEN TOYS
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 | Petmate Fountain REPLACEMENT PUMP PP333LV Jebao
$14.49 |
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|  | PURINA Friskies 4 Party Mix Cat Treats ORIGINAL CRUNCH
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 | Mat Tapix Beige Cat Litter Mat
$3.40 |
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|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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 | 5 $1.00 Tidy Cats Scoop Cat Litter Coupons
$2.50 |
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|  | Stop Pests Dog Cat Animal Chaser Koi Pond Repellent NEW
$38.90 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$23.75 |
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|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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 | Cool Cat Gift Set Holiday Gift Pet Bed NICE!
$22.00 |
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|  | LOT CAT STUFF Fandex Book Claw Clipper trimmer Frame
$7.00 |
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Littermaid Litter Maid Cat Box Booster Power Plug
$3.34 |
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 | Holiday Cat Vo-Toy Stocking
$2.99 |
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|  | Littermaid Elite LME5000-w/10 FREE waste receptacles!
$19.99 |
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 | Kitty Cat Tower Furniture 6' foot tall playground NEW
$41.51 |
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|  | Cat Or Dog Fleece Crate Bed NEW Reinforced Back
$8.99 |
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 | Fleabusters 3lb Once Yearly Treatment
$10.00 |
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|  | Tiki Cat - Bulk Lot of Canned Cat Food
$24.75 |
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 | 67" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-15
$94.99 |
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|  | Bopcat Hanging Cat Toy
$4.10 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 24 m SPECIAL SALE
$51.99 |
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|  | 24" COGNAC SISAL CAT SCRATCHING POST COMBO SPECIAL
$29.99 |
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 | CAT KITTY KITTEN EIGHT WAY PLAYHOUSE TUNNEL NEW
$18.95 |
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|  | PERSONALIZED 1 Spoiled Rotten CAT SIGN Pet Decor Plaque
$8.00 |
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 | DOG PHOTO FRAME & KEY CHAIN TAG SET
$5.00 |
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|  | $3.00 Off Coupon - IAMS Cat or Kitten Food + Bonus
$1.00 |
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 | Cat Oasis Lg Cat Scratching Post 34" high includes toy
$29.95 |
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|  | Pet Supplies Grooming Hamilton CAT MUZZLE HP MUGZ *MED
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 | Holiday Tag-A-Long Mice 2pk plush
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|  | Petmate Litter Locker w/refill cartridge
$20.00 |
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 | 3 x PETMATE FRESH FLOW WATER FOUNTAIN FILTERS FILTER
$2.23 |
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|  | Felt Fish for Kitty Cat Play Toy Ornament Gift Tag MEOW
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 | CAT COLLAR ROYAL BLUE BREAKAWAY////////// FREE SHIPPING
$3.79 |
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|  | Homemade Cat Nip Blanket + FREE Catnip Pillow!!
$6.99 |
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 | Furr Ball cat dish
$4.99 |
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|  | Her Littership cat dish
$4.99 |
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 | CAT KITTEN KITTY KRACKLING HIDE-N-SEEK SACK BAG NEW
$12.95 |
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|  | Pet Dog/Cat Carrier/Front Pack Carrier/New Soooo Cute!!
$9.99 |
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 | MEOW TOWN KITTY CAT PET PUPPY BASSINET CANOPY BED PINK
$29.95 |
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|  | Bathing Cloth For Dogs 7 Count No Water Needed
$2.90 |
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 | 1/4" Sisal Rope 50 ft Cat Condo Tree Scratching Post
$2.00 |
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|  | Heated Pet Bed Indoor/Outdoor Dog/Cat Warmer Small NWT
$46.50 |
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 | Lot of 4 MEOW MIX Cat Treats - Moist & Tartar Control
$0.99 |
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|  | SCOOPFREE AUTOMATIC CAT, KITTEN LITTER BOX. NEW!
$89.99 |
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 | Deluxe Fresh Flow Drinking Water Fountain for Dog/Cat
$13.49 |
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|  | Holiday "Big Pups" Snow People for cats
$1.49 |
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 | 36 Cans of FANCY FEAST CAT FOOD! Two TREATS & SHIPPING!
$22.50 |
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|  | CAT DOG PET URINE ODOR CARPET FLOOR CLEANER ELIMINATOR!
$8.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$23.75 |
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|  | DRINKWELL PET FOUNTAIN CAT DOG WATER DISH PACKAGE
$59.95 |
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 | Tiki Cat - Bulk Lot of Canned Cat Food
$24.75 |
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|  | kill CAT fleas-Advantage® no collar FLEA CONTROL 6 dose
$16.99 |
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 | TidyCats Breeze Litterbox
$25.00 |
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|  | "Fur Ball" Cat Collar Charm
$3.99 |
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 | CIRCLE OF CUNNING CATS HAND-TUFTED RUG - BEAUTIFUL!!
$50.00 |
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|  | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
$9.41 |
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 | "Fur Ball" Cat Collar Charm
$3.99 |
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|  | Slumber Pet Puppy Bassinet/Cat Bed/Small Dog Bed, Blue
$24.99 |
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 | CAT PET DOG URINE ODOR ELIMINATOR REMOVER
$4.99 |
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|  | SMARTSCOOP AUTOMATIC CAT LITTER BOX SELF CLEANING NIB
$109.95 |
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 | Homemade Cat Nip Blanket + FREE Matching Pillow!!
$6.99 |
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|  | Small Animal Pet carrier- Green
$9.95 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS 6 Month supply for cats & kittens
$34.49 |
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|  | CAT BOWL, CERAMIC
$0.49 |
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 | Homemade Cat Nip Blanket + FREE Matching Pillow!!
$6.99 |
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|  | PETSTAGES HEALTHY PORTION CAT FEEDING COMBO DISH.
$0.99 |
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Born to be Wild cat dish
$4.99 |
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 | Princess from Hell cat dish
$4.99 |
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|  | 67" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-15
$94.99 |
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 | Fresh Flow Pet Fountain 216 oz.
$41.95 |
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|  | NEW PETSAFE SIMPLY CLEAN AUTOMATIC CAT LITTER BOX
$87.99 |
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 | Hip CAT COLLAR Christmas Candies Red ADJUSTABLE 7-11"
$5.95 |
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|  | CAT PHOTO FRAME & KEY CHAIN TAG SET
$5.00 |
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 | CATS Ceramic Canister & Pounce Cat Treats Gift Set NEW
$15.99 |
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|  | Petmate Purrforma Wastebags and Filters
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 | NEW LitterMaid Self-Cleaning Automatic Litter Box LM700
$65.00 |
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|  | NEW PETSAFE SIMPLY CLEAN AUTOMATIC CAT LITTER BOX
$75.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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|  | Leopard Print Cat Crinkly Tunnel - 51" Long - NEW!
$28.00 |
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 | Camouflage Print Cat Crinkly Tunnel - 51" Long - NEW!
$28.00 |
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|  | Small Pet Flap 6 14 x 6 1/4 opening ~ New in sealed box
$2.25 |
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 | Weekend Automatic Cat or Dog Feeder Programable
$5.99 |
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|  | LitterMaid LM700 Self-Cleaning Automatic Litter Box NEW
$80.00 |
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 | Kitty Korner Komber Self Grooming cat comb Brand new
$4.75 |
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|  | Littermaid Litter Maid Cat Box Paw Cleaning Ramp + Mat
$3.23 |
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