| 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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 | Bach Rescue Remedy -Stress Reliever Spray(20mL)
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B8201
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
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 | MUST^..^L@@K Cat Tree Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
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|  | 30 Packs GOODLIFE RECIPE treats Less than $1 a pouch!
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 | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS 8 dose supply cats FLEA & TICK med ~*~
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7463
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 | Bach Rescue Remedy - Natural Stress Reliever (10 mL)
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 | BAD KITTY CATNIP (Hydroponic Chronic)...Is it 4:20?
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|  | 12 MONTH Advantage Orange for cats under 9lbs.
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7101
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 | Nutro Max Cat (3) Coupons Totalling $7.00,3lb bag andup
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|  | Cat Genie Automatic Self Flushing/Washing Litter Box
$195.50 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
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 | NEW Blue Fluffy Cat or Dog Pet Bed 20x20"- Pet Supply
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
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 | 100 ct. @ COSEQUIN Joint Health Supplement for CATS NEW
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|  | Urine Off Odor & Stain Remover FOR DOGS (GALLON)
$32.99 |
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 | Cool New Cat or Dog Pet Bed Pad Mat Pillow for Crate
$12.34 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4201
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
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|  | CAT HAMMOCK KITTY LEOPARD PRINT NEW IN BOX
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 | Cat Kitten Kitty Hide N Seek Sack Tunnel Crackle Bed
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|  | 16PC LOT FOR CATS (SCRATCH POST & TOYS)ALL NEXT TO NEW
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA & TICK med ~*~ CATS 8 dose supply
$17.95 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS 8 dose supply cats FLEA & TICK med ~*~
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS flea tick control dog 23-44 lbs 6 dose
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|  | FREE 13.2lb Bag YESTERDAY'S NEWS Cat Litter Coupon !!
$2.01 |
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 | Cat Bed Mat pad 34" - 22"
$5.99 |
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|  | Cute Ceramic Bowl (Cat Face & Fish Around Bowl)
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 | LOT 8 - PETMATE Waste Box Bags PURRFORMA Litter Boxes
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 | HALLOWEEN STRIPES ~ Breakaway SAFETY CAT Collar
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|  | .094 PET TENT CARRIER - BLUE - CAT ON CLOUD DESIGN NEW
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 | SUPER 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$21.00 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6202
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 | .094 PET TENT CARRIER - BLUE - CAT ON CLOUD DESIGN NEW
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B2501
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 | LULU PINK LUX FAUX FUR DOG BED/ CAT BED NWT
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|  | **NEW** Original CatMouse LitterBox Odor Eliminator
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$17.95 |
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|  | DESIGNER CATBOX Cat Litter Box Chest Furniture Cover WT
$89.00 |
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 | NIB! PLAYBOY BLACK CERAMIC PET FOOD BOWL - 5" DIAMETER
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A5201
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B3803
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|  | Chicken Nibblets Cat/Small Dog Natural Treats, 1lb.
$17.97 |
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 | WOW 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$21.00 |
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|  | Bach Rescue Remedy -Natural Stress Reliever(20 mL)
$13.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
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|  | Cat Treat Jar with 16 Toys and 2 Bags of Treats
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 | (20) MEOW MIX CAT TREATS PRODUCT COUPONS $.75/1
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|  | 12 MONTH Advantage Purple for cats over 9lbs.
$104.99 |
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 | LitterMaid Self Cleaning Litterbox - NEW!!!
$29.99 |
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|  | Pet Naturals Vermont Bladder Support for Cats 60 chews
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 | HUGE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
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 | NEW! 6-PACK Pill Pockets CHICKEN 9.6 oz (270 pockets)
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 | Urine off Odor & Stain Remover FOR CATS (GALLON)
$32.99 |
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|  | 12 LitterMaid Filters & 12 Waste Receptacles Containers
$19.95 |
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 | NEW! 6-PACK Pill Pockets LARGE 45.6 oz (180 pockets)
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|  | ** Kitty Cat Toy Toys Furniture Tree Bed Condo House **
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|  | Frontline Plus Cat (6 month) ~NOTa KIT
$24.99 |
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 | LOT 8 - PETMATE Waste Box Bags PURRFORMA Litter Boxes
$3.99 |
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|  | DESIGNER CATBOX Cat Litter Box Chest Furniture Cover BK
$89.00 |
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 | Porcelain Dogs Rule Dish Fenix Research Group -NEW
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|  | FELIWAY COMFORT ZONE OUTLET PLUG IN DIFFUSER
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 | FELIWAY COMFORT ZONE OUTLET PLUG IN DIFFUSER
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