| 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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|  | Peek-A-Prize Toy Box-------Cat Toy
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 | *** Killer Bud *** Catnip Kitty Drugs - The Catnip King
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 | CAT DOG FERRET St. Francis Medallion PROTECT MY PET tag
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 | PIG00-11006 Premium Cat Fence Extra Receiver Collar
$106.95 |
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|  | LitterMaid Mega Self Cleaning Litter Box
$100.00 |
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 | PetSafe PIG00-11007 In Ground Cat Fence System 5 CATS
$699.70 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
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 | ScoopFree Ultra Automatic Self Cleaning Litter Box
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|  | Soft Claws 40 Clear Nail Cap Medium Cat Stop Scratching
$10.00 |
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 | Kittie Blankie
$4.00 |
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|  | Votive Candleholder 6 Cats- Mint & Nice!
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 | Frontline Plus for Cats 3 new unopened boxes of 3
$35.00 |
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| 3 Meijer $1.00 off coupons Tidy Cats Scoops
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 | K&H Lectro Soft Outdoor Heated Cat Dog Bed Free Cover
$22.27 |
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|  | Six pcs adjust nylon cat collars wt a bell@
$15.20 |
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 | Petmate Replacement Filters for Water Fountains NIP
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|  | BLUE CAT LOVER MEOW BOOK MARK MARKER THONG 100%CHARITY
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 | PROMERIS FLEA TREATMENT FOR CATS UP TO 9 LBS. 6 DOSES
$18.99 |
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|  | Paw Print "I Love my PitBull!" car magnet QUALITY
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 | Wholesale Lot Catnip Cat Toys, 15 in Lot, New, Packaged
$5.95 |
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|  | SELF FILLING WATER BOWL PETS CATS DOGS SMALL PURPLE NEW
$4.99 |
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 | Weazel Ball - Great Dog or Cat Toy!
$6.95 |
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|  | Soft Claws 40 Clear Nail Caps LARGE Cat Stop Scratching
$2.50 |
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 | Whimsical Cat Motif Wall Mount Key Hook Holder -Brass-
$8.25 |
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|  | Ymircats Security Cage Holiday Topper
$14.95 |
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 | Cat Toys Teaser Wands NEW Lot of 10
$9.99 |
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|  | SCOOP FREE AUTOMATIC LITTER BOX
$49.95 |
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 | Hip CAT COLLAR Christmas Snow Flurry Green ADJUST 7-11"
$5.95 |
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|  | 90 SIFT CLEAN KITTY CAT PAN LITTER BOX SIFTING LINERS
$16.50 |
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 | Hefty Kat Pet Cat Dog Door 7 1/2 "x 9 1/2" 4-way Lock
$39.75 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA TREATMENT FOR CATS OVER 9 LBS. 6 DOSES
$25.60 |
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 | Petmate Litter Locker LitterLocker cat litter disposal
$10.00 |
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|  | Litter Scoop Assorted For Clumping Litter Giant
$1.00 |
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 | Whimsical Cat Motif Wall Mount Key Hook Holder -Brass-
$8.25 |
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|  | K&H thermo Kitty Sill Cat bed window Perch New Heated
$31.00 |
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 | Ymircats Security Cage Holiday Topper
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|  | Advantage Orange 9lb 4 pack FREE SHIPPING
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 | 22 Cat items: Toys, Sifting Litter Pan, Safety Collar,
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 | PetSafe PIG00-11007 In Ground Cat Fence System 4 CATS
$599.75 |
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|  | K&H Thermo Kitty Cat / Pet Cabin Heated Bed Mocha U
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|  | Cat Cam for cat photography! CatCam has problems AS IS
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 | Kittywalk Deck & Patio Pet Cat Enclosure System + Cover
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|  | 12 tiny CATNIP BAGS! CAT FABRIC TOYS! FRESH HOME GROWN!
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 | Pet Center Decorated Cat Bowl, Fish, Cute!!NEW w/ TAGS
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|  | LEOPARD CAT OVERDOOR PLAY TUNNEL FOR YOUR KITTY
$29.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | Richell Tiny Tot Kitty Starter Kit, Red
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|  | Meowy Christmas Cat Bandana Size Small 10"-14"
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 | PFALTZGRAFF SEDONA NEW MATCHING CAT & DOG DISH
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|  | New Cat Bed Heated Pet Bed Warmer for Cat Beds 4069
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 | Large Round Cat Beanbag Bed Fun Colorful Parrot Print!
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|  | PetSafe PIG00-11007 In Ground Cat Fence System 2 CATS
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 | Meowy Christmas Cat Bandana Size Extra Small 6"-10"
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 | Drinkwell Platinum Fountain +Garden+Brush+10 Filter+Mat
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 | All Purpose Raised Cat Bowl 5" Wide 4" High Honey Brown
$24.00 |
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|  | 32" Scratching Post, Sisal Rope, No Assy. Required
$13.49 |
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 | Motorcycle Catnip Pad REFILLABLE
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