| 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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 | Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box Pearl Odor-Free Design
$23.70 |
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|  | Carpeted Cat Scratching Post 5 Year Warranty
$13.90 |
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 | Petromalt Hairball Formula 4.4Oz For Cats
$5.10 |
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|  | Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box Iris Odor-Free Design
$22.00 |
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 | Litter Locker Plus Reduces Odor From Cat Litter
$23.90 |
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|  | Kittyvite Vitamin Moist Treat - For Senior Cats
$3.00 |
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 | Kitty Cuz Cat Toy
$1.80 |
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|  | Booda Catnip Terry Hedgehog Soft Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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 | Cfa Sparkle Ball Set 2Pc Cat Toy
$1.80 |
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|  | Swatical Cat Toy
$2.80 |
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 | Pink Bowl Cat 12Oz W/ 2 Liners
$2.80 |
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|  | Litter Mat Flexible For Cats Assorted Colors
$4.00 |
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 | 2Oz Replacement Nipples 5Pk For Nursing Pets
$2.20 |
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|  | Cat Dental Treats Plus 50Ct Reduct Plaque/Tartar
$6.60 |
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 | Booda Catnip Terry Bunny Soft Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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|  | Feather Boa Cat Toy with Wand
$1.70 |
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 | Case of 24 Evolve Natural Seafood Cat Food 5.5oz Cans
$22.40 |
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|  | Pet Rageous Silly Pets Silly Kitty Oval Bowl - 6.25
$7.40 |
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 | Kitty Curry Brush
$3.10 |
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|  | Shed N Blade For Cats Removes Dead/Unwanted Hair
$4.20 |
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 | Control Flea And Tick Repellent For Cats
$4.10 |
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|  | Slicker Wire Brush For Cats
$5.10 |
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 | Booda Catnip Terrie Cow - Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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|  | Toothpaste PLUS Finger Brush For Cats .4oz
$2.00 |
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 | Pet Odor Eliminator 16 Ounce Concentrate Makes 3 Quarts
$7.50 |
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|  | Toothpaste For Cats 2.5Oz
$2.80 |
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 | Cat Zoom Groom Brush For Cats
$4.00 |
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|  | Burlap Cat Balls 3 Pack
$1.70 |
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 | Track-Less Litter Mat Blue For Cats 13.75InX17In
$4.10 |
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|  | Booda Catnip Terry Mouse Soft Cat Toy
$2.00 |
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 | Booda Catnip Terry Hippo Soft Cat Toy
$2.00 |
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|  | Evolve Natural Chicken Food For Cats - 24 Cans - 5.5oz
$23.20 |
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 | Petromalt Hairball Formula 2Oz For Cats
$3.00 |
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|  | Cup Catnip 2 Ounces Fresh And Aromatic Catnip
$3.00 |
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 | Fresh Flow Replacement Filter
$4.10 |
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|  | Kitty Cactus W/Pom Pom 16In Assorted
$9.80 |
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 | Petromalt Hairball Formula 3.2Oz For Cats
$4.20 |
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|  | Jingle Balls - Sturdy Ball Cat Toys - Lot of 6 Cat Toys
$3.99 |
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 | Burlap Mouse w/ Catnip - 3 Pack
$1.80 |
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|  | Litter Liner High Back Large
$4.20 |
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 | Battery Operated Fling-ama-String Interactive Cat Toy
$23.90 |
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|  | Liner 12 oz. Cat Bowl 12Pk
$2.80 |
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 | Fishy Fun Multicolor Cat Toy
$3.00 |
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|  | 12" X 12" PHOTO ENGRAVED PET MEMORIAL
$69.99 |
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 | Booda Catnip Terry Elephant Soft Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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|  | Sponge Soccer Balls 4 Pack
$1.80 |
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 | Kitty Cactus Cat Carpeted Scratching Post 18 2 Pack
$23.10 |
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|  | Starfish Catnip Cat Toy
$2.00 |
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 | Groomer's Blend Flea & Tick Shampoo 17Oz For Dogs/Cats
$4.10 |
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|  | Pet Hair Magnet Works Great On Clothes/Furniture
$6.80 |
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 | Nutrimalt Supplement 1.76 Oz For Cats
$3.10 |
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|  | Simple Solution Grooming Glove For Pets
$1.80 |
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 | Mat & Tangle Remover Removes Them Easily
$4.00 |
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|  | Kittyvite Daily Vitamin Paste - For Senior Cats
$2.90 |
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 | Fat Cat Floppability Dog Toy - Chicken - 15
$6.70 |
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|  | Hamilton Pps 3/8In X 14In Safety Collar Black For Cats
$3.90 |
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 | Petromalt Fish-Flavored Hairball Formula 2Oz For Cats
$3.00 |
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|  | Catnip Tails Cat Toy
$1.80 |
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 | Cat Combo Brush
$3.10 |
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|  | 16Ga 1/2 X 1 Welded Wire 30X For Cages/Fences
$13.80 |
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 | Toy Rainbow Mice 3Pk Toys For Cats
$2.00 |
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|  | Litter Scoop Stand 3.8 Inch Holds Litter Scoop
$4.00 |
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 | Love Glove Grooming Mitt Massage And Grooms Pet
$5.20 |
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|  | Lot of 3 Catchables Cat Toy 8.5 Catnip Toys
$6.80 |
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 | Flint River Ranch Cat Kitten Food 25 samples Lamb Chick
$18.50 |
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|  | Kmr Liquid 8 Oz Food For Kittens
$2.90 |
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 | Angelfish Catnip Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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|  | Kitty Condo 2 Level 22.5In Assorted
$25.80 |
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 | Cat Claw Clipper
$4.10 |
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|  | Catnip Bubbles 8 Oz Blow Bubbles For Your Cat
$1.70 |
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 | Spot On Cats 1Cc 4Pk Kills Fleas
$5.50 |
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|  | Christmas Cat Stocking 6 Pc Cat Toy
$4.30 |
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 | Enclosed Cat Litter Box Keeps Floors Cleaner
$15.70 |
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|  | Simple Solution Stain And Odor Remover 64 Ounce
$5.40 |
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 | Heated Pet Bed Large
$60.60 |
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|  | Cfa Seagull Wand Cat Toy
$4.20 |
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 | Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box Titanium Odor-Free
$22.20 |
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|  | Sifting Enclosed Cat Litter Pan Large Assorted
$22.70 |
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 | Dinner Mat Cat Assorted For Food Dishes
$4.10 |
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|  | Catnip Chew Ring Multicolor Cat Toy
$2.10 |
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 | Pet Select Flea & Tick Shampoo For Cats 17.5 Oz
$4.20 |
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|  | Catnip Scratching Post 17In
$4.10 |
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 | Tag Spotbrites Laser W/Heart ID Tag For Cats/Dogs
$4.10 |
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|  | Slicker Brush For Dog/Cat Grooming
$4.10 |
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 | Booda Terry Monkey - Catnip Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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|  | Extra-Wide Catnip Scratching Post
$7.00 |
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 | Aoe Spray 8Oz Odor Eliminator For Pets
$5.20 |
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|  | Kmr Powder 12 Oz Food For Kittens
$15.00 |
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 | Litter Liner High Back 2Xl
$4.20 |
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|  | Battery Operated Fling-ama-String Interactive Cat Toy
$23.90 |
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 | Heated Pet Pad Medium
$54.20 |
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|  | Catnip Two Toss - 2 Multicolor Toys For Cats
$3.00 |
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 | Cat Body Brush Shampoo Applicator
$4.20 |
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|  | Fungisan Germ Ringworm Formula For Cats
$2.80 |
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 | Shelter Cat Tee Shirt size S M L Cotton~ Navy or Black
$10.00 |
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|  | Fat Cat Floppability Mad Cow Dog Toy - 15
$6.80 |
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 | Shake Rattle Roll Multicolor Cat Toy
$3.00 |
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|  | Comfort Zone w/ Feliway - Cat Calmative Plug In
$27.00 |
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 | Ammo-Litter Additive 1 Quart Keeps Litter Fresh Longer
$3.10 |
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|  | Heavyweight & Non Skid Cat Food/Water Dish
$2.10 |
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