| 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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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
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 | All Purpose Raised Cat Dog Bowl 5" Wide 4" High Blue
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|  | TWO Savvy Tabby Feline Fun Shaggy Mice 5" CAT TOY PET
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 | 8 oz. Stainless Steel Kitty Dish-NEW
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| PETCO COUPON FOR 10% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE EXP 12/13
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 | Catit Stainless Steel Cat Bowl, Cat Supplies
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| 10 COUPONS $1 NATURALS + VITAMINS PURINA CAT FREE SHIP
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 | 57" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-04
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|  | Antiqued Cast Iron Cat & fish key hook, 5 hooks
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 | Slumber Pet THERMAL Kitty CAT MAT Bed Dog Thermo *NEW*
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|  | Rhinestone Cat / Dog Safety Collar - PINK
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 | ORGANIC GRAIN GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Continuously Freshening Feline Drinking Fountain 72732
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 | Free Cat food iams & Wholesome Goodness + extra coupon
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|  | 60 Rainbow Mice BY ZANIES- Cat Toy-TOYS -PET-BULK LOT
$18.00 |
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 | Rhinestone Cat / Dog Safety Collar - RED
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|  | One Free Cat Litter Coupon Yesterday's News
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 | Holiday Cat Stocking
$4.00 |
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|  | CHRISTMAS MOON & STARS SWAROVSKI CUTE CAT/ DOG COLLAR
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 | Cat Training and Ownership Manual CD, New
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|  | CAT Tunnel,40",Pet Toy,Noisy, Soft, for use with condo
$15.00 |
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 | TWO Zanies Fluffy Mice -CAT TOY-TOYS-PET
$2.52 |
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|  | Two New Handmade Christmas Catnip Filled Cat Toys
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 | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-10
$25.99 |
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|  | CAT only coupons lot =$58.15 value food, treats, litter
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 | FOUR Savvy Tabby Feline Fun Scatter Balls CAT TOY PET
$2.19 |
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|  | NEW! FLEECE WINDOW HAMMOCK CAT BED!
$27.95 |
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 | Pink Paw Print Cat Blanket 40in. X 40in.
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|  | Set of 2 Christmas Pet Ceramic Bowls Cat Dog Lover
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
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|  | Petmate XL Purrforma Plus Automatic Liter Box NEW!
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 | Petsafe Cat Dog Lockable Magnetic Locking Door 2F17
$6.99 |
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|  | DRINKWELL 50 OZ RESERVOIR
$6.00 |
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 | Cat Tunnel,40",Pet Toy,Noisy, Soft, for use with condo
$15.00 |
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|  | Lot Of 9 New Discounted Zanies Fur Mice Cat Toys
$2.00 |
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 | Interesting Colorful Pink Whistling Hedgehog Ball Toy
$6.65 |
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|  | RUBY WINTER WONDERLAND SWAROVSKI SPARKLIN CAT/DOG COLLA
$21.00 |
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 | New - Casual Kitty Fuzzy Pink Sweater - Med
$3.55 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
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 | Cats Coloring and Crafts Kit CD, New With Master Rights
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|  | K & H HEATED CAT KITTEN PET BED Thermo Kitty Hut Sage
$35.75 |
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self cleaning litter box NEW IN BOX
$139.99 |
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|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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 | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
$7.99 |
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|  | Sherpa Cat / Dog Safety Collar - PINK
$6.99 |
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 | Rustic Antiqued Cast Iron Cat Hooks, set of 6
$2.95 |
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|  | Rustic Antiqued Cast Iron Cat Hanger, with 7 tail hooks
$5.95 |
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 | Part only:Soft Bed 4 Cat Condo,Tree,House,Pet Furniture
$9.99 |
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|  | Pet Supplies Grooming RESTRAINT DOG NylonTable Harness
$11.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4201
$0.99 |
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|  | Rhinestone Cat / Dog Safety Collar - BLUE
$6.99 |
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 | AQUAMARINE WINTER WONDERLAND SWAROVSKI CAT COLLAR
$20.50 |
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|  | cat bowl
$12.87 |
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 | 10 real furry mice BY ZANIES- Cat Toys-TOY-PET
$0.01 |
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|  | (2) Scat or Scram Mat for Cats or Dogs (Great on Sofa)
$22.00 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
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|  | petmate kennel club cat carrier
$10.00 |
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 | Cat pet memorial grave head stone wood personalized
$19.50 |
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|  | Holiday Cat Stocking
$4.00 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
$7.99 |
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 | Catit Stainless Steel Cat Bowl, Cat Supplies
$3.95 |
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|  | New - Casual Kitty Fuzzy Pink Sweater - Large
$3.55 |
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 | 38" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F38
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|  | Drinkwell Platinum Cat Dog water fountain
$19.99 |
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 | New Sherpa pink tweed pet carrier Orig $85. Now $25.00
$25.00 |
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|  | CATNIP SACHET FOR CHRISTMAS - GIVE YOUR CAT A TREAT
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 | Avenue Retractable Cord Lead by Hagen, Cat Supplies
$12.95 |
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|  | Cats Holiday Stocking W/ 6 Mice and 6 Bonus Cat Toys
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 | 42" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-07
$39.99 |
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|  | 1/4" Sisal Rope 100' CAT SCRATCHING POST Bird Toys Toy
$5.49 |
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 | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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|  | Capstar Flea Killer Pills 2-25 lbs. Cat kitten dog pup
$17.95 |
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 | 30 lot RAINBOW CATNIP FURRY MICE cat toy fur toys bulk
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|  | BIG SALE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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 | Antiqued Cast Iron Cat & fish key hook, 5 hooks
$4.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA/TICK KIT FOR CATS 8 DOSES
$17.95 |
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 | CAT DOOR WITH TUNNEL NEW IN PACKAGE NO RESERVE
$9.99 |
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|  | NEW LitterMaid Self-Cleaning Automatic Litter Box LM700
$67.00 |
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 | Brand New MiniFluffy Pink Catty Cushion Cat Bed
$1.00 |
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|  | NIB Lot of 2 Pet Cat SOFT CLAWS & STYPTIC NAIL POWDER
$9.99 |
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 | Heaven Fresh XJ-250 Ionic Pet Brush - NIB
$11.99 |
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|  | Rustic Antiqued Cast Iron Cat Hooks, set of 6
$9.95 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CATS DOGS 1 10 11 20 21 55 9 18 FLEA KITTEN E
$17.97 |
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|  | Savvy Tabby White Wooden Cat Window Seat 18x14x12
$59.99 |
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 | 20 IAMS cat or kitten food coupons $3 off +bonus
$0.99 |
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|  | Automatic Pet Feeder -8 Day Plus for cat
$47.00 |
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 | Cat Washroom - Dog House-White 321429
$39.99 |
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|  | Scratcher Board: pet, cat toy w/ condo, furniture, tree
$9.99 |
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 | STICK and ball: pet, dog cat toy, for use with condo
$9.90 |
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|  | FIVE TWO TONE FUR MICE W/RATTLE CAT TOY PET TOYS
$2.79 |
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 | Nature Sounds** Healing Sounds of Cats** CD Soundscape
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|  | 10 2" FUR BALLS BY PURR-PET CAT TOY-TOYS-BULK LOT
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 | Catit tm, Le Salon, Med. Slicker Brush, Cat Supplies
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|  | ORGANIC GRAIN GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | 65" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-14
$89.99 |
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|  | Christmas Photo Cat Stocking New ..Cat Needs one!!
$2.99 |
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