| 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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 | JUMBO WICKER RATTAN CAT LITTER COVER MULTIPLE CAT HOME
$139.99 |
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|  | flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose FRONTLINE PLUS
$17.95 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo XSmall Cat Under 9Lb. 12PK
$69.95 |
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|  | WOW 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$38.00 |
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 | NEPETA CATARIA SEEDS - A CATS FAVORITE - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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|  | DRINKWELL PLATINUM PET FOUNTAIN Cat Dog Waterer Dish
$47.89 |
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 | Colorful Nylon Cat Play Tent Bed Fleece Pad Mouse Toy
$24.00 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~~
$35.00 |
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 | cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~FRONTLINE PLUS
$17.95 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
$0.99 |
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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| 55 CAT FOOD AND LITTER COUPONS
$0.99 |
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 | New CLS design! CAT Medium GREEN Soft Claws Paws
$17.98 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$17.95 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo XSmall Cat Under 9Lb. 6 PK
$39.95 |
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|  | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Medium Dog 22-54Lb 12PK
$75.95 |
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 | Buddha Pet Collar Charm Handcrafted
$0.99 |
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|  | PINK DRINKWELL Limited Edition Pet Cat Water Fountain
$34.89 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$17.95 |
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|  | Drinkwell Aqua Garden Replacement Seed Pods Set of 2
$6.79 |
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 | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
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|  | Drinkwell Pet Fountain Water Dish Cat Dog FREE SHIPPING
$41.89 |
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 | 9 inch Pink Cat Safety Collar With Bell & Faux Pearls
$3.50 |
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|  | Large Fleece Cat Window Shelf Mounts without Hardware
$32.00 |
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 | CAT CLAW CLIPS KITTY NAIL CLIPPERS RED
$1.04 |
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|  | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Medium Dog 22-54Lb 3PK
$25.95 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Cat Over 9Lb. 3 PK
$22.95 |
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|  | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Large Dog 88-110Lb 3PK
$29.95 |
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 | K&H Thermo-Kitty Cabin-Mocha Ships Free Buysafe w/Bond
$57.82 |
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|  | 6 plain colors adjust nylon cat collars wt a bell^
$15.20 |
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 | LOOK 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$21.00 |
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|  | DRINKWELL PLATINUM PET FOUNTAIN Cat Dog Waterer Dish
$59.89 |
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 | "KITTY FACE" Cat Kitten Pet Bowl Dish Food Feeder
$16.99 |
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|  | DISCOUNT 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$21.00 |
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 | 9 inch Baby Blue Cat Safety Collar Bell & Faux Pearls
$3.50 |
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|  | Bio Spot Spot On 6 Month Supply 5 + lbs for Cats NIP
$17.00 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Cat Over 9Lb. 6 PK
$39.95 |
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|  | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Medium Dog 22-54Lb 6PK
$42.95 |
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 | LOOK 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$38.00 |
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|  | 42" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-07
$39.99 |
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 | 4 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT DOGS 10-20 lbs
$17.95 |
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|  | Hartz ADVANCED CARE Rid Worm Paste for Cats / NEW
$0.99 |
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 | NWT PINK FAUX FUR LULU PET BED (RETAIL $24.99!!!)
$6.99 |
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|  | Tiki Cat - Bulk Lot of Canned Cat Food
$35.95 |
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 | BRAIDED RUG CAT Dish Kitty Mat Terricotta Sage & Cream
$10.99 |
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|  | SCOOPFREE AUTO CAT LITTER BOX CARTRIDGE. 3PK. NEW!
$39.99 |
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 | 9 inch Green Cat Safety Collar Bell & Faux Pearls
$3.50 |
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|  | Scratcher Board: pet, cat toy w/ condo, furniture, tree
$9.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS 8 dose supply cats FLEA & TICK med ~*~
$17.95 |
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|  | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Large Dog 88-110Lb 6PK
$46.95 |
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 | 2 Iams DOG Food Coupons $5 off+BONUS
$2.24 |
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|  | 17" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-11
$19.99 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo XSmall Cat Under 9Lb. 3 PK
$22.95 |
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|  | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo XSmall Dog Under 11Lb 12PK
$69.95 |
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 | NEW for Drinkwell Pet Fountain - 50oz RESERVOIR ONLY
$12.89 |
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|  | DISCOUNTED 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$38.00 |
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 | 60 Mice-mouse: cat, furry toy
$7.99 |
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|  | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | Cat Toys Holiday Value 6 Pack
$4.24 |
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|  | K&H Thermo-Kitty Cabin-Sage Ships Free - Buysafe w/Bond
$57.82 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$17.95 |
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|  | Princess Dog/Cat Collar Charm - New!
$0.99 |
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 | PETSAFE DOG CAT PET AUTOMATIC 5 DAY MEAL DIGITAL FEEDER
$49.95 |
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|  | Colorful Nylon Cat Play Tunnel Fleece lined Plus Toy
$24.00 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo XSmall Dog Under 11Lb 3 PK
$22.95 |
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|  | Cat Collar - Bones and Bows
$5.75 |
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 | BRAND NEW Drinkwell Pet Fountain + 50oz RESERVOIR NIB
$41.89 |
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|  | WICKER RATTAN BED HOME CAT LITTER COVER FREE SHIPPING
$119.99 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Large Dog 55-87Lb 3PK
$27.95 |
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|  | 8 DOSE FRONTLINE PLUS KITTEN CAT TICK FLEA GREEN 3 6 12
$17.97 |
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 | Princess Dog/Cat Collar Charm - New!
$0.99 |
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|  | fur mice -60 piece-natural colors
$8.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$17.95 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS 8 dose supplyFLEA & TICK med ~*~ CATS
$17.75 |
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 | Pretty Scratcher:pet, cat toy, for use with condo, tree
$6.99 |
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|  | New CLS design! CAT Small GREEN Soft Claws Paws
$17.98 |
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 | MR HERZHER 'S JUMBO WICKER RATTAN CAT LITTER COVER
$139.99 |
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|  | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Small Dog 11-21Lb 6PK
$41.95 |
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 | The Claw Pet Collar Charm Handcrafted Halloween
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|  | NEW Drinkwell BRAND Pet Fountain FILTERS 3PAC FREE SHIP
$7.99 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Cat Over 9Lb. 12 PK
$69.95 |
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|  | SWAROVSKI CANDY PINK KITTY CHARM SPARKLING CAT COLLAR
$22.99 |
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 | New!!! Vo-Toys Small Round Painted Cat Bell
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|  | DESPERATE HOUSECAT Pet Collar Jewelry CHARM Cat Tag New
$3.25 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Large Dog 55-87Lb 6PK
$44.95 |
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|  | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo XSmall Dog Under 11Lb 6PK
$39.95 |
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 | Cat Toys Holiday Value 6 Pack
$3.99 |
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|  | NEW Drinkwell Pet Fountain Aqua Garden Hydroponic Grass
$9.47 |
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 | DRINKWELL PLATINUM FOUNTAIN +Garden+Brush+10 Filter+Mat
$79.89 |
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|  | NEW for Drinkwell Pet Fountain - 70oz RESERVOIR ONLY
$14.87 |
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 | NEPETA CATARIA SEEDS - A CATS FAVORITE - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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|  | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Large Dog 55-87Lb 12PK
$79.95 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Large Dog 88-110Lb 12PK
$83.95 |
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|  | New CLS design! CAT Large GREEN Soft Claws Paws
$17.98 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Small Dog 11-21Lb 3PK
$24.95 |
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|  | NEW Drinkwell BRAND Pet Fountain FILTERS 12x FREE SHIP
$26.89 |
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 | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
$7.99 |
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|  | SHEA BUTTER SHAMPOO BAR
$2.99 |
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 | *Free Shipping* ProMeris Duo Small Dog 11-21Lb 12PK
$73.95 |
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