| 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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 | Frontline Top Spot Cats & kittens Sealed 6 dose cat pk
$21.51 |
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|  | LOT OF 3! KITTY CAT PLAY TOYS WITH CATNIP! PURR...FECT!
$4.95 |
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$30 Various Cat Food Friskies Whiskas liter more coupon
$0.99 |
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|  | Advantage flea control CAT OVER 9lbs 6 MONTH SUPPLY!
$20.50 |
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 | Advantage flea control CAT 0-9lbs 6 MONTH SUPPLY!
$17.38 |
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|  | FELINE GREENIES- cat treats -5 BAGS **GREAT DEAL!
$13.89 |
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 | Meow Mix Cat Food Coupons Free Shipping
$1.50 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS & KITTENS 0-10 LBS 10 DOSES
$17.99 |
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 | (22) Cat Food Coupons Value of over $42.00
$0.01 |
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|  | Litter Maid Self Cleaning Litter Box
$53.50 |
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 | Frontline Plus for cats 3 applications
$5.00 |
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|  | 2 $5.00 off Science Diet Coupons exp. 9/22/18, 12/31/08
$3.00 |
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 | PetSafe CAT WINDOOR CAT ENTRY DOOR
$72.54 |
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|  | FELINE GREENIES- cat treats -5 BAGS **GREAT DEAL!
$13.89 |
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 | New Cat Black Witch Hat Costume Halloween Small Dog 4in
$4.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
$36.75 |
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 | CAT GENIE automatic self flushing washing CAT Box
$264.00 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
$36.75 |
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 | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC01
$9.99 |
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|  | Dog Cat Kitten Puppy Pet Canopy Crib Bed Bassinet Blue
$14.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$18.95 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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 | "High Grown" Catnip, 100% Natural - Cats Love It!
$1.99 |
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| 20 PURINA MOIST & MEATY DOG FOOD COUPONS $2/1
$1.10 |
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 | 80" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2030
$0.99 |
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|  | cat litter box furniture cabinet cover bathroom
$119.99 |
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 | Cayman 1 Pet Carrier Travel NEW Dog Cat NEW 2DAYSHIP
$13.93 |
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|  | 51" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F51
$0.99 |
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 | Purina Healthyful Life & Feline Cat food
$0.99 |
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|  | ZODIAC FLEA & TICK COLLAR FOR CATS, BREAKAWAY, NIB
$6.99 |
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 | 64" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F11
$0.99 |
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|  | Lot of Cat Toys 6 Packs Kitty Cat Mouse Catnip Toys
$1.99 |
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 | 56" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F3031
$0.99 |
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|  | 48" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F09
$0.99 |
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 | Luxury Soft Pet Cat Dog Bed With Toy - NEW
$9.99 |
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|  | 6 tiny DIMEND HOMEGROWN CATNIP bags/pillows cat toys
$5.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 16 MONTHLY DOSES
$34.99 |
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|  | TWO FREE BAGS Purina One Cat FOOD COUPONS $15.98 VALUE
$5.50 |
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 | CAT LOT 20 TOYS, REMOTE Ctrl MOUSE, GREENIES, Scratcher
$19.07 |
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|  | ~71"~ Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Furniture Pet Toy
$0.99 |
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 | 62" Cat Tree Condo Furniture Scraching Post w Hammock
$0.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA KIT FOR SMALL DOGS 10-20 LBS 4 DOSES
$17.99 |
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 | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F05
$0.99 |
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|  | *_* 68" Frolic Cat Tree Furniture House Scraching Post
$0.99 |
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 | Fishy Fun Cat Kitten Crinkle Play Tunnel Bungee Toy
$34.95 |
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|  | New Pet Cat Kitty Activity Toys & Scratching Post
$32.95 |
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 | (10) sets MEOW MIX Cat Food coupons expire 10/18/08
$1.25 |
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|  | ~82"@11 LEVEL~ Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Furniture
$0.99 |
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 | Advantage flea control CAT 0-9lbs 4 MONTH SUPPLY!
$13.01 |
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|  | TWO BAGS Purina One Cat FOOD COUPON FREE value $15.98
$6.50 |
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 | 49" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F41
$0.99 |
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|  | NEW! JUMPING SPIDER - PET TOY CATS DOGS KIDS & ADULTS!
$3.99 |
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 | L@@K 57" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
$0.99 |
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|  | LITTER KWITTER Quitter Cat Kitty Toilet Potty Training
$59.95 |
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 | Cat Mate 5 Meal Deluxe Feeder As Seen On TV
$40.00 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
$36.75 |
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 | 3 LOT HARTZ 3 IN 1 REFLECTING FLEA COLLAR FOR CATS NIB
$5.74 |
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|  | Staywell infra-red cat flap door New never opened
$24.50 |
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 | 30 NIB Assorted Laser Light Keychains w/5 Tips, Pet Toy
$7.99 |
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|  | Ceramic Cat Food Bowl - Tan & Blue
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS & KITTENS 0-10 LBS 10 DOSES
$17.99 |
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|  | Lazy Pet Deluxe Window Perch, Navy Blue
$9.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$18.95 |
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|  | ORIGINAL FURminator CAT DOG SMALL deShedding PURPLE
$16.05 |
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 | ~71"~ Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Furniture Pet Toy
$0.99 |
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|  | CAT SCRATCHER , UNIQUE STYLE
$9.99 |
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 | New Blue Stainless Steel Cat Nail Clippers-Free S/H
$6.99 |
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|  | SPARKLING SWAROVSKI DADDYS PRINCESS CHARM CAT COLLAR
$23.99 |
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 | 2 FREE BAGS Purina One Cat FOOD COUPON value $15.98
$6.00 |
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|  | Fling Ama String Cat Toy
$19.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS 16 MONTH FLEA/TICK KIT (#6)/12
$33.99 |
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|  | cat collars-wholesale lot of forty eight -(4 dozen-48)
$29.99 |
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 | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2040-Blue
$0.99 |
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|  | Dog Cat Kitten Puppy Pet Canopy Bed Crib Bassinet Pink
$14.99 |
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 | PORTABLE CAT FERRET CAGE PLAY PEN CRATE NEW 37 X23X55
$114.00 |
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|  | 74" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2040
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Fanciers' Association CAT SWEATER New In Package
$4.99 |
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|  | 2 BAGS Purina One Cat FOOD COUPONS FREE $15.98 VALUE
$6.39 |
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 | 1000+ All Natural Minnesota Cat Oat Grass Seeds
$1.25 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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 | FELINE GREENIES- cat treats -5 BAGS **GREAT DEAL!
$13.89 |
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|  | Twister Cat Toys - Set of 6 - Entertains CAT for HOURS
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Balls!! Lots of fun for your kitties!!!!!!!
$0.25 |
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|  | * PAMPERING LEOPARD CHAISE LOUNGE - Dog Cat Pet
$24.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA KIT FOR SMALL DOGS 10-20 LBS 4 DOSES
$17.99 |
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|  | NEVER SCOOP Clean Kitty Cat Litter Box/Pan! NEW! Sample
$0.99 |
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 | LITTER KWITTER Quitter Cat Kitty Toilet Potty Training
$59.95 |
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|  | ~H@T~ 77" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
$0.99 |
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 | 8-Level 53" Cat Tree Scratcher pet Furniture New Design
$0.99 |
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|  | 48" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F43
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 10 LBS AND UP 5 DOSES
$17.99 |
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|  | Advantage flea control CAT OVER 9lbs 4 MONTH SUPPLY!
$11.50 |
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 | BLUE WEIGHTED CAT TOY W BELL IN BALL,FEATHER TOP
$0.99 |
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|  | Life's Abundance Premium Cat Food 6.6lbs
$15.95 |
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 | Litter Locker Refill
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Place Mat
$0.01 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$0.95 |
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|  | L@@K^..^NEW 66" Cat Tree Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post
$0.99 |
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|  | cat litter box furniture cabinet cover bathroom
$89.99 |
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