| 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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 | SALE 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | Continuously Freshening Feline Drinking Fountain 72732
$14.99 |
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 | Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain
$54.95 |
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|  | Eleven Litter Maid Waste Receptacles LMR200
$1.99 |
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 | 74" Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F60
$9.99 |
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|  | CAT DOG PET URINE ODOR CARPET FLOOR SOFA REMOVER!!!!
$8.99 |
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 | 42 HEAD LAZER POINTER ~ LASER BEAM BRAND NEW
$3.95 |
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|  | small dogs FRONTLINE PLUS flea control 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$23.84 |
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 | CET Chews for Cats (30 chews) Fish Flavor
$8.99 |
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|  | NEW OUTDOOR OR INSIDE INSULATED CAT HOUSE NICE $39.95
$39.95 |
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 | K & H HEATED CAT KITTEN PET BED Thermo Kitty Hut Mocha
$35.75 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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 | SmartCat Tick-Tock-Teaser - Interactive Cat Toy
$16.95 |
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|  | MIRACLEBEAM LASER-LITE LASER PET CAT DOG BIRD TOY NEW!
$3.25 |
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 | SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post with Perch
$64.95 |
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|  | Pretty Scratcher:pet, cat toy, for use with condo, tree
$6.99 |
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 | New Small Pet Bed With Removable Cushion
$0.55 |
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|  | Fresh Dried Catnip, Christmas / holidayTreat cat w/ NIP
$4.25 |
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 | NEW! 6-PACK Greenies Feline (3 oz ea.) OCEAN FISH
$15.99 |
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|  | Canine Advantix Kit - makes up to 20 months, FREE SHIP
$20.00 |
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 | CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON RED Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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|  | Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box
$29.95 |
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 | 6 MONTH K9 ADVANTIX Green (for dogs up to 10lbs.)
$59.99 |
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|  | SMARTSCOOP AUTOMATIC CAT LITTER BOX SELF CLEANING NIB
$97.95 |
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 | FLEA & TICK Control Spot on Plus - Zodiac - Over 5lb.
$1.99 |
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|  | Slumber Pet THERMAL CAT MAT Bed Reflects Heat 22x18
$11.99 |
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 | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2041-Blue
$0.99 |
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|  | Black/Gray Thermal Cat Pet Bed Mat - Cat Products
$12.99 |
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 | NEW OUTDOOR OR INSIDE INSULATED CAT HOUSE NICE $39.95
$39.95 |
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|  | TINY FISH ON GREEN Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Canine Advantix Kit - makes up to 10 months, FREE SHIP
$12.50 |
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 | PETMATE 17" Burrow Black Cat/Dog Bed - GREAT CONDITION!
$5.99 |
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|  | HELP THIS POOR SICK KITTY -FIREMAN DECAL 100% toCHARITY
$5.00 |
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 | BRAND NEW LITTERMAID LM900 AUTOMATIC LITTERBOX
$9.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B8201
$0.99 |
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 | small dogs FRONTLINE PLUS flea control 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$23.75 |
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|  | Cat Tunnel,40",Pet Toy,Noisy, Soft, for use with condo
$15.00 |
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 | Advantage Flea Treatment for Cats over 9lb 6 mth supply
$35.00 |
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|  | Kitty Kisses KEYCHAIN URN, Vial & Heart Charm pet urn
$8.50 |
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 | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-12
$29.99 |
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|  | Hartz Wacky Cats Kitten Frenzy cat toy mice NEW 12ct
$2.69 |
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 | 65" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F45
$0.99 |
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|  | Catnip Cat Nip Toy Cats Kittens Kitty - Cats Happy Hour
$3.99 |
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 | Catit Cat Pet Drinking Fountain by Hagen
$21.99 |
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|  | Scratcher Board: pet, cat toy w/ condo, furniture, tree
$9.99 |
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 | NEW LITTERMAID LME9250 ELITE MEGA Automatic Litterbox
$20.50 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A5801
$0.99 |
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 | Calming Cat Mat with Microwaveable Buckwheat Insert
$8.50 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med small dogs 0-22 lbs SALE~~
$23.99 |
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|  | Assembled Litter Box Cabinet measures 28" W x 19" D x 2
$179.99 |
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 | 2 Real SHEEPSKIN & Organic CATNIP CAT TOYS - FREE SHIP!
$10.99 |
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|  | 10/$1.00 coupons on any Meow Mix Market Select
$0.99 |
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 | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2040-Blue
$0.99 |
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|  | Urine Off Odor & Stain Remover FOR DOGS (500 ml)
$13.99 |
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 | Kittywalk Deck & Patio Pet Cat Enclosure System + Cover
$44.95 |
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|  | *CARPET Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture
$0.99 |
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 | 9 inch YELLOW Cat Safety Collar Bell & Faux Pearls
$3.25 |
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|  | NEW OUTDOOR OR INSIDE INSULATED CAT HOUSE NICE $39.95
$39.95 |
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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
$9.99 |
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F04
$0.99 |
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 | 51" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F51
$0.99 |
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|  | Kitty Travel Kit, With All Kitties Needs in One Package
$10.39 |
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 | Rustic Antiqued Cast Iron Cat Hooks, set of 6
$9.95 |
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| Littermaid LME9250 Elite Self Cleaning Litterbox
$9.99 |
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 | Part only:Soft Bed 4 Cat Condo,Tree,House,Pet Furniture
$9.99 |
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|  | shaking & rattling fur mouse short hair-50 piece lot
$9.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | PINK PRINCESS ANIMAL BED W/ BOW & RHINESTONE **NEW**
$7.95 |
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 | PETMATE - DELUXE FRESH FLOW for Dogs and Cats! LOOK!!
$10.99 |
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|  | PEPPERMINTS Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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 | Large 20x24 Dog Cat Paw Print Deep Pet Bed:Pet Supplies
$12.44 |
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|  | PETMATE - NEW le bistro 2 qrt WATERER and extras!!
$5.99 |
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Littermaid LM700 Self-Cleaning Litterbox
$9.99 |
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|  | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
$7.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4301
$0.99 |
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|  | CHRISTMAS SPARKLES SWAROVSKI FUSHIA PINK CAT COLLAR
$17.99 |
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34 WHOLESOME GOODNESS DRY CAT FOOD/CUPS COUPONS L@@K!
$0.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$23.75 |
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 | Frontline Spray LARGE (500 mL)
$45.99 |
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| 4 PURINA PRO PLAN DRY CAT FOOD COUPONS $3 OFF ANY SIZE
$0.99 |
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 | LITTER ROBOT Black Self Cleaning Cat Litterbox Box Pan
$329.00 |
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|  | PETSAFE - NEW 2-Way Cat Flap - Any cat would love this!
$1.99 |
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 | CATGENIE REPLACEMENT PELLETS CAT GENIE GRANULES PVC
$31.00 |
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|  | Pet Carrier, Sturdy Nylon, For Small Dogs and Cats, NEW
$24.95 |
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 | 24" SISAL CAT SCRATCHING POST SIENNA
$24.99 |
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|  | Frontline Spray (250 mL)
$26.99 |
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 | Cat Catnip toys lot pack of three ASPCA collection NIP
$3.00 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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 | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F05
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F18
$9.99 |
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 | SmartCat Kitty Ultimate Litter Box
$10.95 |
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|  | Advantage Flea Treatment for Cats over 9lb 6 mth supply
$35.00 |
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 | 67" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-15
$94.99 |
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|  | PURRSTRONG- Glow in the dark Safety collar
$5.99 |
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 | Catnip toys set of 3
$2.99 |
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|  | BIG SALE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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