| 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.
|
|
 | cat food bowl pet wooden shaped stainless steel bowl
$14.99 |
|
|  | "I Love Cats" car ribbon magnet QUALITY
$4.99 |
|
|
 | Advantage SINGLE Dose vials for Cats Under 9lbs
$10.00 |
|
|  | Nature's Miracle Cat Litter 10Lb
$9.40 |
|
|
 | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
|
|  | Savvy Tabby Kitty Observatory Perch Cat Play Furniture
$104.99 |
|
|
 | CAT KITTEN KITTY TABBY HOLIDAY HIDEOUT KRINKLE SACK NEW
$12.95 |
|
|  | Feline Pine Cat Litter 7 lb Bag
$4.50 |
|
|
 | Cat Dog Animal Pet Outside Outdoor Tunnel Cage Pen
$28.99 |
|
|  | DEAL 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$38.00 |
|
|
 | Litter Liner High Back 2Xl
$4.40 |
|
|  | Feline Frolics (DVD) Movie For Your Cat! ALL REGION new
$6.50 |
|
|
 | Frontline Plus Single Dose vials for Cats! Free Toy!
$10.50 |
|
|  | Savvy Tabby Leopard Convertible Activity Cat Furniture
$174.99 |
|
|
 | Advantage SINGLE Dose vials for Cats Over 9lbs
$10.00 |
|
|  | Sifting Cat Litter Pan With Frame Large Assorted
$10.90 |
|
|
 | 4 CAT TOYS "IT'S ALIVE" WORM, FUZZY, HEDGEHOG HAMSTER
$19.99 |
|
|  | Graffiti Ping Pong Balls 4 Pack
$1.50 |
|
|
 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
|
|  | DISCOUNTED 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$21.00 |
|
|
 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
|
|  | Burlap Mouse w/ Catnip - 3 Pack
$2.00 |
|
|
 | 32" Cat Kitten Pet Hide N Seek 3/Way Bed Toys Tunnel
$19.99 |
|
|  | CAT KITTEN KITTY MEOW TOWN KING OF THE JUNGLE CAVE NWT
$32.00 |
|
|
 | Savvy Tabby Roundabout High-Rise Cat Play Furniture
$134.99 |
|
|  | Booda Dome Clean Step Filter 2 Pack
$1.90 |
|
|
 | Coupons CAT FOOD IAMS EUKANUBA PURINA CHOW WHISKAS $60
$0.54 |
|
|  | Scoop Away Plus Crystals 25LB Cat Litter
$14.10 |
|
|
 | Mini Teaser Cat Wand
$1.90 |
|
|  | Feliway Spray feline cat comfort
$14.36 |
|
|
 | #ca4 "BLING" Real Leather KITTEN or CAT Collar
$4.99 |
|
|  | Savvy Tabby Galaxy Play Station Perch Cat Furniture
$99.99 |
|
|
 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
|
|  | 8 OZ. OF CATNIP 100% ORGANIC CAT TOYS GREEN - FRESH!!!
$3.49 |
|
|
 | 42" Cat Pet Play Tunnel Bed Hide Out Neptune Napper NEW
$38.99 |
|
|  | CATGENIE CAT GENIE SELF CLEANING BRASS LITTER BOX PARTS
$8.99 |
|
|
 | Da Bird feather wand cat toy pole toys kitten ferret
$5.99 |
|
|  | Raised Wet Food Cat Dish Bowl Pottery Splashback CD6-T
$47.00 |
|
|
 | Sifting Enclosed Cat Litter Pan Large Assorted
$22.20 |
|
|  | LAUREL BURCH FELINE FRIENDS LEATHER TOTE CAT PURSE BLK
$24.99 |
|
|
 | Comfort Zone Feliway Plug In Vial TWO REFILLS New! Cat
$32.99 |
|
|  | Poly Bag Catnip 0.5 Ounce Fresh And Aromatic Catnip
$1.60 |
|
|
 | A PAIR OF CATNIP TOYS, KLIBAN TIGER CATS, GIFT IDEA
$8.50 |
|
|  | Chrome Litter Scoop With Plastic Handle
$1.90 |
|
|
 | Savvy Tabby Kitty Teepee Perch Cat Play Furniture
$134.99 |
|
|  | Litter Mat Flexible For Cats Assorted Colors
$4.00 |
|
|
 | SKIN AND COAT CAT TREATS cats treat food pet supplies
$2.19 |
|
|  | BIG SALE 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$21.00 |
|
|
 | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
|
|  | Litter Liner High Back Large
$4.40 |
|
|
 | Air Filter For Various Cat Litter Pans
$1.50 |
|
|  | LAUREL BURCH FELINE FRIENDS LEATHER TOTE CAT PURSE RUST
$24.99 |
|
|
 | CAT KITTEN KITTY ZANIES TUNNEL OF FUN NEW
$14.95 |
|
|  | Zeolite Filter 2Xl
$2.10 |
|
|
 | Soft Paws / Claws caps 4 cat SMALL FREE gift WOW!!
$12.95 |
|
|  | Cat Kitten Pet Hide Out Tunnel Sack Bed Toys FREE S/H
$12.99 |
|
|
 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
|
|  | Cat Pan Liner Drawsrtring 12 Pack Large
$2.60 |
|
|
 | Cat Litter Pan Assorted Colors Giant
$5.10 |
|
|  | Wind Up Windup Fake Mouse Rat Cat Dog Pet Toy NEW!!!!!!
$6.95 |
|
|
 | CAT KITTEN KITTY KRACKLING HIDE-N-SEEK SACK BAG NEW
$12.95 |
|
|  | "I Love my Cat!"car ribbon magnet QUALITY
$4.99 |
|
|
 | "Cat Rescue & Adoption!"car ribbon magnet QUALITY
$4.99 |
|
|  | Cat Mate Lockable Cat Flap "New"
$4.99 |
|
|
 | Da Bird feather wand cat toy and 4 Attachment refills
$15.99 |
|
|  | Cat Eukanuba food coupons$5 off Purina total saved $15
$0.50 |
|
|
 | LITTER KWITTER quitter toilet train cat kitty litter
$59.95 |
|
|  | ~LQQK~ JEWELED FISH BONE CHARM ~ PETS+PEOPLE ~ $1.75 NR
$1.75 |
|
|
 | Litter Scoop Stand 3.8 Inch Holds Litter Scoop
$4.10 |
|
|  | CAT KITTY KITTEN EIGHT WAY PLAYHOUSE TUNNEL NEW
$18.95 |
|
|
 | Track-Less Litter Mat Blue For Cats 13.75InX17In
$4.30 |
|
|  | "I Love my Tabby Cat!"car ribbon magnet QUAL
$4.99 |
|
|
 | "Cats Rule!"car ribbon magnet QUALITY
$4.99 |
|
|  | Cat Condo Neutral Color
$2.00 |
|
|
 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
|
|  | GENUINE BAYER ADVANTAGE® FLEA 6 DOSES CATS OVER 9 LBS W
$30.95 |
|
|
 | Tapeworm Tabs Cat Kitten Tape Worm Wormer 3 Tabs 23mg
$13.99 |
|
|  | Zeolite Filter Large
$1.60 |
|
|
 | Savvy Tabby Swiss Estates Perch Cat Play Furniture
$219.99 |
|
|  | NIB Drinkwell Pet Water Fountain Cat or Dog Bowl NEW
$32.99 |
|
|
 | Savvy Tabby Tunnel Tower Perch Cat Play Furniture
$249.99 |
|
|  | 1 OZ. OF CATNIP 100% ORGANICALLY GROWN GREAT QUALITY!!
$0.75 |
|
|
 | 1 CATGENIE REPLACEMENT WASHABLE CAT LITTER BOX GRANULES
$22.99 |
|
|  | Cat Pan Liner 8 Pack Giant
$2.80 |
|
|
 | Twin Miami Mice 2 Fur Black And White
$1.50 |
|
|  | "I Love my Siamese!"car ribbon magnet QUAL
$5.99 |
|
|
 | Scoop Cat With 24Bags Blue For Cat Waste
$4.40 |
|
|  | Drawstring Cat Pan Liner 15 Pack Extra-Giant
$5.40 |
|
|
 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
|
|  | 42" Cat Pet Play Tunnel Bed Hide Out Neptune Napper NEW
$38.99 |
|
|
 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
|
|  | Framed Cat Litter Pan Large Assorted
$4.70 |
|
|
 | Cat Pan Drawstring Liner 10 Pack Small
$2.90 |
|
|  | Super Sleeper Cat Scratching Pad Replacement
$21.95 |
|
|
 | 12 OZ. OF CATNIP! 3/4 LB! 100% ORGANIC! CAT TOYS GREEN!
$5.50 |
|
|  | Zeolite Filter Deluxe Large
$2.50 |
|
|
 | Cat FLEA LOT u get FLEA COMB , COLLAR , & SPOT ON 10+lb
$0.99 |
|
|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
|
|
 | Slotted Balls Cat Toy 4 Pack
$1.50 |
|
|  | Raised Cat Wet Food Dish Bowl Pottery Splashback CD6-T
$47.00 |
|
|