| 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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 | 100"-112" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
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 | Cat Flea&Tick FRONTLINE PLUS 16dose/48mon SAVE$100s USA
$44.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | Fling Ama String Cat Toy
$19.99 |
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|  | flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose FRONTLINE PLUS
$17.95 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F12
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B3001
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|  | CATS Cat Grooming Bathing Bag Restraint System * MEDIUM
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$9.99 |
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 | FURminator DeShedding Tool CATS 1.7
$22.99 |
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|  | PetSafe 2-Meal Automatic Petfeeder
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 | Drinkwell Pet Fountain W/ Aqua Garden Cat Garden DW-704
$33.57 |
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|  | cat cats pussycats toy Rod & Reel Fleecy Catnip Mouse
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 | CAT RESTRAINT/CARRYING BAG FOR GROOMING OR TRAVELING
$10.00 |
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|  | MUST^..^L@@K Cat Tree Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
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 | WOW 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | Drinkwell Pet Fountain W/ 3-Brush Cleaning Kit DW-706
$37.61 |
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 | UNIQUE Wagging Tail - Cat Photo Frame - NEW!
$2.00 |
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|  | Bach Rescue Remedy -Stress Reliever Spray(20mL)
$14.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A5201
$0.99 |
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|  | Custom Cat Tree Condo Sisal Scratcher 2 Towers w/Beds
$164.99 |
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 | Drinkwell Pet Fountain W/ 10 Replacement Filters DW-703
$38.45 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC01
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6501
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 | LOT OF 4 PET SHIRTS, SIZE LARGE, DOG'S OR CAT'S *NIP*
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7463
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS DOG/CAT KIT 3 6 8 MONTH SUPPLY EPA USA!!
$16.85 |
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|  | 20pc CHOICE Red OR Green Cat Toy Christmas Stocking NIP
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 | 48" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F43
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|  | Cool New Cat or Dog Pet Bed Pad Mat Pillow for Crate
$12.34 |
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 | Bach Rescue Remedy - Natural Stress Reliever (10 mL)
$9.99 |
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|  | MANEKI NEKO - GOOD LUCK CAT Fat Cat in WHITE
$11.99 |
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 | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-12
$29.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
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 | **New** Heavy Duty Rustic Cast Iron Cat Hooks, set of 4
$2.95 |
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|  | 12 MONTH Advantage Orange for cats under 9lbs.
$104.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6802
$0.99 |
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|  | Hooded Cat Litter Box Petmate Covered Black Cat Litter
$17.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F14
$0.99 |
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 | LOT OF 4 PET SHIRTS, SIZE LARGE, DOG'S OR CAT'S *NIP*
$10.99 |
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|  | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2041-Blue
$0.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6203
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|  | Cat Flea&Tick FRONTLINE PLUS 16dose/48mon SAVE$100s USA
$44.99 |
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 | NEW! 6-PACK Pill Pockets SALMON 9.6 oz (270 pockets)
$26.59 |
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|  | 20) $1.00/1 Meow Mix Dry Cat Food Coupons Exp.1/10/09
$0.75 |
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 | MANEKI NEKO - GOOD LUCK CAT Fat Cat in BLACK
$11.99 |
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|  | SUPER 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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 | HUGE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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|  | Comfort Zone with Feliway Diffuser - 48 mL
$43.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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|  | Cat Flea&Tick FRONTLINE PLUS 16dose/48mon SAVE$100s USA
$44.99 |
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 | SMARTSCOOP AUTOMATIC CAT LITTER BOX SELF CLEANING NIB
$97.95 |
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|  | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2040-Blue
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose FRONTLINE PLUS
$17.95 |
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 | 65" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F45
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
$0.99 |
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 | Advantage For Cats Over 9 LBS. 12 Tubes
$85.99 |
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| Kitty Hammock - Cream Cover - Cats Love Them
$11.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
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|  | NEW! 6-PACK Pill Pockets LARGE 45.6 oz (180 pockets)
$39.95 |
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 | NEW! 6-PACK Pill Pockets CHICKEN 9.6 oz (270 pockets)
$26.59 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7202
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 | 6 CANS FANCY FEAST CAT FOOD GRILLED CHICKEN IN GRAVY
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
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 | Urine Off Odor & Stain Remover FOR DOGS (GALLON)
$32.99 |
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|  | Drinkwell Pet Fountain w/ 4 Filters & Aqua Grdn Dw-707
$40.86 |
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 | Bach Rescue Remedy -Natural Stress Reliever(20 mL)
$13.99 |
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|  | Drinkwell Pet Fountain W/ Aqua Garden & 3 pods DW-704
$37.61 |
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 | Cat Flea&Tick FRONTLINE PLUS 16dose/48mon SAVE$100s USA
$44.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B7301
$0.99 |
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 | Drinkwell Pet Fountain w/ 7 Replacement Filters DW-702
$36.15 |
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|  | FURminator deSHEDDING FOR DOGS AND CATS PURPLE NR
$1.25 |
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 | .135: Cat HOME: Double Tower Platforms w/ Cave Tunnel
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|  | Cat Sign humourous LIKE POTATO CHIPS CAN'T HAVE JUST 1
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|  | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
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|  | MEOW Cat Rescue : Spay or Neuter a Shelter Kitty!
$25.00 |
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 | Mahogany Cabinet Litter Box w/ Side Opening for Privacy
$241.98 |
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|  | Boogie Mat-Refillable Catnip Nap Mat for Cats & Kittens
$8.95 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE DOG/CAT KIT 4,5 AND 10 MONTH SUPPLLY EPA USA
$16.85 |
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 | Urine off Odor & Stain Remover FOR CATS (GALLON)
$32.99 |
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|  | 12 MONTH Advantage Purple for cats over 9lbs.
$104.99 |
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 | 8 WHOLESALE Wind Up Windup Fake Mouse Cat Dog Toy
$19.95 |
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|  | .193 - DELUXE Multi Level Cat SCRATCH Playset Tower
$49.99 |
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