| 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.
|
|
(10) $4 OFF IAMS Healthy Naturals cat food coupons $40
$3.25 |
|
|
~71"~ Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Furniture Pet Toy
$0.99 |
|
|
Drinkwell Brand Pet Fountain Filters-6 Month Supply
$3.99 |
|
|
TOYS FOR THE CAT - New in sealed pkg!!
$4.50 |
|
|
5 MONTH SUPPLY OF ADVANTAGE FOR CATS OVER 9 LBS 4 6 1
$17.99 |
|
|
FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$6.47 |
|
|
Brand New Ergo Automatic Digital Pet Feeder - Large
$138.99 |
|
|
Petmate Purrforma Easy Tie Bags - One Year Supply
$22.50 |
|
|
Brand New Ergo Filtered Pet Waterer - Small
$71.99 |
|
|
8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$17.50 |
|
|
ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
|
|
Panic Mouse Interactive Cat Toy Kitty Electronic + Mice
$10.50 |
|
|
Drinkwell 70 oz Reservoir Plus
$16.95 |
|
|
LOT OF 2 CAT BANKS-SO CUTE-MUST SEE
$0.99 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain 70 oz Accessory Kit With Brushes
$30.95 |
|
|
Littermaid Elite MEGA LME9000 + Kitty Kabana - New
$134.95 |
|
|
Scoop Free Automatic Cat Litter Box - Brand New
$99.95 |
|
|
62" Cat Tree Condo Furniture Scraching Post w Hammock
$0.99 |
|
|
L@@K 57" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
$0.99 |
|
|
Cat Lovers t-Shirt- " I don't do Mornings"
$0.99 |
|
|
8 New Cat Toys and 1 New Blue Collar Great Toys ! !
$0.99 |
|
|
Guardian Angel® Pet Pals™ Cat Tag
$3.99 |
|
|
24 Littermaid LMF200 Carbon Fltrs+24 LMR200 Containers
$34.95 |
|
|
Brand New Ergo Filtered Pet Waterer - Medium
$88.99 |
|
|
(20) $3 OFF ANY Swiffer Starter Kit - Save $60 COUPONS
$3.25 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain+70oz Reservoir+FREE Fat Cat Toy!
$46.95 |
|
|
BRAND NEW Littermaid Elite MEGA LME9000
$115.95 |
|
|
Multivet SSSCAT Cat Training Aid Complete Kit+ Refill
$31.95 |
|
|
ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
|
|
11 SAVE $2 MEOW MIX WHOLESOME GOODNESS Cat Food 2010
$2.09 |
|
|
8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$17.50 |
|
|
43" CAT TREE CONDO HOUSE SCRATCHER PET FURNITURE
$0.99 |
|
|
Whiskas cat food coupons + more SAVE $40+
$2.00 |
|
|
BRAND NEW Littermaid Elite MEGA LME9000
$115.95 |
|
|
~71"~ Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Furniture Pet Toy
$0.99 |
|
|
6 Kitty Kaviar Best Cat Treat 4 Fish LOVEing Cats SALE
$16.00 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain+ Brush Kit + One Year Filters
$45.95 |
|
|
Littermaid Elite MEGA LME9000 + Kitty Kabana - New
$134.95 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain+70 oz Res+1 Yr Filters
$52.50 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain - Brand New
$31.95 |
|
|
ADVANTAGE FLEA KIT FOR SMALL DOGS 10-20 LBS 4 DOSES
$17.99 |
|
|
40" CAT TREE CONDO HOUSE SCRATCHER PET FURNITURE
$0.99 |
|
|
Frontline Plus Cats 6 "FREE USA SHIPPING* 3 12 TOO!
$32.95 |
|
|
Advantage For Cats Over 9 Lbs. 6 Pack
$42.00 |
|
|
Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture 3027-B
$0.99 |
|
|
Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain Filters-6 Month Supply
$5.50 |
|
|
51" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F51
$0.99 |
|
|
Fancy feast 24 can case FREE coupon
$5.50 |
|
|
10 MONTH SUPPLY OF ADVANTAGE FOR CATS 0 - 9 LBS 4 6 1
$17.99 |
|
|
.133: LARGE Cat Scratching Pole! Simple Fun Toy
$0.99 |
|
|
ScoopFree Automatic Cat Litter Box - Brand New
$99.95 |
|
|
Drinkwell Brand Pet Fountain THREE Brush Cleaning Kit
$6.95 |
|
|
Brand New Ergo Filtered Pet Waterer - Large
$98.99 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain+50 oz Res+3Brush Kit+1Yr Filters
$54.95 |
|
|
Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F18
$0.99 |
|
|
Brand New Ergo Automatic Digital Pet Feeder - Small
$118.99 |
|
|
Fancy feast 24 can case FREE coupon
$6.05 |
|
|
Petmate Purrforma Replacement Filters - 6 pack
$3.99 |
|
|
12" RED Leather Dog Collar with Brass Bones and Hearts
$4.99 |
|
|
ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
|
|
2 x 3-pk Drinkwell Platinum HighCapacity Filter Cartrid
$9.99 |
|
|
Scoop Free Automatic Cat Litter Box + Hood - Brand New
$108.50 |
|
|
ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
|
|
Brand New Ergo Automatic Digital Pet Feeder - Medium
$128.99 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain + Aqua Garden - Brand New
$38.95 |
|
|
Nutro Natural Choice Cat food free bag
$6.09 |
|
|
8-Level 53" Cat Tree Scratcher pet Furniture New Design
$0.99 |
|
|
(10) $2 OFF IAMS 4 lb dry CAT food coupon lot SAVE $20
$5.50 |
|
|
Cat Photo Album- Hand crafted!
$2.25 |
|
|
Puttin on The Glitz CAT COLLAR W/Bell BREAKAWAY PiNK NW
$6.99 |
|
|
Scoop Free Automatic Cat Litter Box + Hood - Brand New
$108.50 |
|
|
ScoopFree Automatic Cat Litter Box + Hood - Brand New
$108.50 |
|
|
SAVE on TWO Brand NEW Littermaid Elite MEGA LME9000
$229.95 |
|
|
Litter Robot - New
$225.50 |
|
|
Fancy feast 24 can case FREE coupon
$5.75 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain 50 oz Accessory Kit With Brushes
$25.95 |
|
|
(10) Get 1 FREE IAMS Can CAT Food when you buy 2 COUPON
$0.99 |
|
|
Ergo 8 Day Auto Talking Digital Pet Feeder+FREE Toy!
$78.99 |
|
|
3 CatDancer # 1 Action Cat Toys Fun FREE Shipping
$8.99 |
|
|
Scoop Free Automatic Cat Litter Box - Brand New
$99.95 |
|
|
BUNGAREE Jumping FUN Toy for you Cat - NEW SEALED Box!
$7.99 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain+ ONE Year of Filters
$39.50 |
|
|
12 Littermaid LMF200 Carbon Filters-Brand New
$8.95 |
|
|
78" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2029
$0.99 |
|
|
FOOT LONG FURRY FUN KITTY SNAKE CAT TOY ORGANIC CATNIP
$9.95 |
|
|
Littermaid Kitty Kabana (Tent) - Brand New
$21.50 |
|
|
Cat Caged Critter refillable catnip toy, VERY CUTE, NEW
$2.99 |
|
|
Scoop N Hide Litter Scoop - -Brand New
$1.95 |
|
|
16" BLUE Leather DOG Collar for a BEAGLE fits 11"-14"
$4.99 |
|
|
~LE BISTRO~NEW SMALL WHITE 3LB PET FEEDER-QUICK SHIP
$4.99 |
|
|
20 MONTH SUPPLY OF ADVANTAGE FOR CATS 0 - 9 LBS 4 6 EPA
$35.95 |
|
|
FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$18.95 |
|
|
ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$18.95 |
|
|
FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$18.95 |
|
|
Greyhound, Saluki, Whippet Leather Dog Leash, darkgreen
$4.99 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain+50oz Reservoir-Fresh!
$41.95 |
|
|
Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F2050
$0.99 |
|
|
10 MONTH SUPPLY OF ADVANTAGE FOR CATS OVER 9 LBS 6 EPA
$35.95 |
|
|
EPA - 8 Months of FRONTLINE PLUS for CATS - fAST Shpg
$22.50 |
|
|
Drinkwell Pet Fountain+70 oz Res+Brush Kit+1 Yr Filters
$59.95 |
|
|
|
|