| 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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 | Tibetan Silver Fish Cat Collar Charm - Handcrafted
$0.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE flea control cats 9 lbs & under 6 pack EPA+
$20.50 |
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 | SEASHELLS PiNK CAT COLLAR BREAKAWAY W/BELL Safety 8-12"
$6.99 |
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|  | 1 CASE / 10 PACKS POUNCE CAT TREATS CHICKEN FREE SHIP
$25.00 |
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 | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture FC01
$19.99 |
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|  | Zanies Fishy Fun Roll & Play Cat Toys BLUE
$1.99 |
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 | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA CONTROL KIT for DOG 11-20 LBS 8 doses
$36.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE flea control cats over 9 lbs 6 pack EPA APRV
$23.50 |
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 | 72 pouches of Whiskas PURRFECTLY FISH
$15.00 |
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|  | Weazel Ball Motorized Appears Alive Cat Dog Toy Weasel
$5.49 |
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 | 42" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-07
$39.99 |
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|  | *CUTE and SASSY* Small Pet CatDog Plush Leopard Carrier
$14.99 |
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 | CATS/FRONTLINE PLUS 16 MONTH FLEA/TICK KIT (#6)/12
$33.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 12 mon
$36.75 |
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 | 1 CASE / 10 PACKS POUNCE CAT TREATS SALMON FREE SHIPPIN
$25.00 |
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|  | The Tick Key - Tick Removal Tool For Pets & People- NEW
$5.49 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 8 MONTHLY DOSES
$18.99 |
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|  | Zanies Silly Squid Cat Toys 5 pack
$0.99 |
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 | 11,000 ++ CATNIP (Nepeta Cataria) perennial seeds &gift
$4.95 |
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|  | Hip CAT COLLAR Butterfly Black Gold Adjustable 7-11"
$5.95 |
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 | PETMATE DELUXE FRESH FLOW WATER DISH WOW WOW LOOK
$10.03 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$18.95 |
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 | Yellow Bungee Head Dog Toy Support Dog Rescues
$0.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 16 MONTHLY DOSES
$34.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med dogs 23-44 lbs 3 mon
$19.99 |
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|  | LitterMaid 12 Carbon Filters
$1.99 |
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 | Cool Camo Cap ~ Medium ~ NEW!
$5.49 |
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|  | lot of cat toys-cube,double cube with romp area, & tube
$5.00 |
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 | BOODA ACTION CAT TOY
$2.00 |
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|  | Zanies Silly Squid Cat Toys 5 pack
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Rescue T shirt CATS ARE NOT DISPOSABLE XL
$10.99 |
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|  | Pet Door
$5.00 |
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 | 48" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture T43
$9.99 |
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|  | Zanies Silly Squid Cat Toys 5 pack
$0.99 |
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 | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA KIT FOR DOGS 11-20 LBS 8 DOSES
$34.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med dogs 23-44 lbs 3 mon
$19.99 |
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 | CAT WINDOW PERCH BY LAZY PET ~DELUXE MODEL~CATS TO 25#~
$27.95 |
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|  | Littermaid Cat Litter Box Cover - Kitty Kabana
$10.50 |
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 | Creepy Copper-Tone Spider Pet Collar Charm Halloween
$0.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$18.95 |
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 | Yellow Bungee Head Dog Toy Support Dog Rescues
$2.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 12 mon
$36.75 |
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 | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F04
$9.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F21
$9.99 |
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 | Yellow Bungee Head Dog Toy Support Dog Rescues
$0.99 |
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|  | LitterMaid Elite Mega
$45.00 |
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 | DRINKWELL 3 PIECE PET FOUNTAIN CLEANING BRUSH KIT
$9.35 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F09
$9.99 |
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 | cat litter box furniture cabinet cover bathroom
$60.00 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F51
$9.99 |
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 | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F05
$9.99 |
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|  | Puttin on The Glitz CAT COLLAR W/Bell BREAKAWAY PiNK NW
$6.99 |
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 | Zanies Silly Squid Cat Toys 5 pack
$0.99 |
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|  | 8 dose supply FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med ~*~
$18.95 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$18.95 |
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|  | 80" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2030
$15.99 |
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 | Meow Wow Pet 5 piece Gift Bowl Cat Toys Set NIB Mouse +
$8.99 |
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|  | AMETHYST QUEEN SWAROVSKI HEART SPARKLING CAT COLLAR
$28.99 |
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 | Scary Skeleton Mask Dog/Cat Collar Charm Halloween
$0.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
$36.75 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL KIT FOR CATS 16 DOSES
$34.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS & KITTENS 0-10 LBS 10 DOSES
$17.99 |
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 | RHiNESTONE BREAKAWAY CAT Collar W/Bell Sapphire Blue NW
$6.99 |
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|  | Collar Charms set of 4 bells Silver Plt clasp Dog/Cat
$5.95 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$18.95 |
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|  | Smooth Pewter Fish Pet Collar Charm - Handcrafted
$0.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$18.95 |
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|  | The Claw Pet Collar Charm Handcrafted Halloween
$0.99 |
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 | CATNIP MARINATED FUR MICE! NO CAT TOY COMPARES! AMAZING
$4.95 |
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|  | Cat or Small Cage Animal Litter Spoon Stainless Steel
$0.99 |
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 | 1 CASE / 10 PACKS POUNCE CAT TREATS TUNA FREE SHIP
$25.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$18.95 |
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 | PomPom Hand Cat Toy
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Litter Box Furniture Cover Chest Bench
$149.99 |
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 | Halloween Frankenstein Pet Collar Charm - Handcrafted
$0.99 |
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|  | Pamper Your Cat Recipes CDROM
$0.99 |
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 | Blue kitty pillow usable as "kicker"
$6.50 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$18.95 |
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 | Beige kitty pillow usable as "kicker"
$6.50 |
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|  | New Cat Toy House
$3.25 |
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 | Skull & Crossbones Gold Pet Collar Charm - Handcrafted
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Treat Dish Food Pet Storage Container Pale Yellow
$8.00 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 8 MONTHLY DOSES
$18.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
$36.75 |
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|  | 62" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F28
$9.99 |
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 | Happy Vampire Pet Halloween Collar Charm - Handcrafted
$0.99 |
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|  | Elegant Fleur de Lis Dog/Cat Collar Charm - Handcrafted
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 doses DOGS 10-20 lbs
$18.95 |
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|  | Original CatMouse LitterBox Odor Eliminator-Closeout
$19.95 |
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 | PETCO coupon Save $10 Entire purchase cat dog bird fish
$0.99 |
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|  | ARMARKAT 7701 IVORY PET FURNITURE TOWER CAT TREE CONDO
$78.00 |
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 | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2029
$19.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL KIT FOR CATS 16 DOSES
$34.99 |
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 | Brown kitty pillow usable as "kicker"
$6.50 |
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|  | QUEEN RUBY RARE SWAROVSKI DIAMOND PENDANT CAT COLLAR
$27.99 |
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 | PACIFIC GREEN OPAL SWAROVSKI DIAMONDS CAT COLLLAR
$23.99 |
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|  | Puttin on The Glitz CAT COLLAR W/Bell BREAKAWAY SiLVER
$6.99 |
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