| 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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 | Meow Town Flower Power Cat Climbing Fun Playing Tower
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|  | Calico Kitty Condo NIB!!!
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 | fur mice -60 piece-natural colors
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|  | Cute Plaid Cat Christmas Stocking With Catnip
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 | ORGANIC OAT CAT GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | CAT GRASS SEEDS - A MIX CATS LOVE - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | 3 Key Chain Urns & Paw Charms cremation vial pet urn
$27.00 |
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|  | Petsafe Simply Clean Automatic Cat Litter Box
$79.95 |
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 | NEW Cookies For Santa From The Cat Holiday Plate/Dish
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|  | Handcrafted Bucket 9 PC. Great Pet Gift-Bulk CAT TOYS
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 | Tabby Kitty Condo NIB!!
$17.99 |
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|  | 15 $1.00 off coupons Fresh Step Scoopable Cat Litter
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 | EUKANUBA PUPPY FOOD COUPONS $2.00 OFF
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|  | 50 piece sisal mouse cat toy
$9.99 |
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 | 6 Fresh Comfort Zone CAT REFILLS Feliway by Farnam NEW
$99.50 |
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|  | 4 $5 OFF ANY HILL'S SCIENCE DIET cat or dog FOOD COUPON
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 | Ceramic Cat Water Food Bowl Dish Pet Feeder - New
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 | Petmate One-Touch Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box. NEW!
$79.99 |
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|  | 17" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-11
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 | NEW Petmate Large HOODED CAT LITTER PAN Puppy PET HOME
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|  | Comfort zone for Dogs DAP spray and diffuser--USED
$3.00 |
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 | Cat Toy ~ Hand Made~ Catnip filled w/ 100% hypo filler
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|  | Dog Cat Kitten Puppy Pet Canopy Crib Bed Bassinet Blue
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 | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-10
$25.99 |
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|  | NEPETA CATARIA SEEDS - A CATS FAVORITE - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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 | CUSTOM PHOTO ENGRAVED BLACK GRANITE PET MEMORIAL
$39.99 |
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|  | YOUR CATS PHOTO ON 120 CUSTOM RETURN ADDRESS LABELS
$5.25 |
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 | 94" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-09
$109.99 |
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|  | fur mice cat toy -50 pieces pastel colored plush
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 | Custom Hardwood Kitty Cat Tree Slanted Scratcher Condo
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|  | CAT GRASS SEEDS - A MIX CATS LOVE - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | Da Bird feather wand cat toy pole toys kitten ferret
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|  | CUSTOM PHOTO ENGRAVED BLACK GRANITE PET MEMORIAL
$39.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE® FLEA GENUINE BAYER 6 DOSES 4 CATS OVER 9 LBS
$30.95 |
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|  | 90 SIFT CLEAN KITTY CAT PAN LITTER BOX SIFTING LINERS
$16.50 |
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 | 10- 2.00 coupons for kibble select dog food,
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|  | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | "Happy Cat" Meow Cat Dish Hand Painted & Crafted
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|  | 3 Fresh Comfort Zone CAT REFILLS Feliway by Farnam NEW
$53.50 |
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 | FRONTLINE Plus for Cats & Kittens 6 months supply
$31.99 |
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|  | 10 real furry mice BY ZANIES- Cat Toys-TOY-PET
$0.01 |
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 | CATNIP 4 OUNCE Bag FROM =*+*= WNCWildCatnipCo. PRIMO!
$3.75 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for Cats & Kittens, 6 MONTHS!!
$55.00 |
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 | Matching cat food bowls and littler scooper navy
$5.99 |
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|  | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | NWT - PET CARRIER FOR CAT OR DOG -W@W
$9.99 |
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|  | LARGE CAT 14 lb Soft Claws Paws Nail Caps Cats Feline
$13.99 |
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 | Decorative Cat Litter Box Cover "Cafe Au Lait"
$37.99 |
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|  | CAT DISH W/ PAW PRINTS BY: "SUPER PET"
$2.99 |
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 | Cat Fountain - Filtered Water System for Your Pet
$0.99 |
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|  | fur mice -60 piece-natural colors
$8.99 |
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PURINA, FRISKIES, CAT, FOOD, TREATS, TIDY CAT, LITTER,
$0.99 |
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|  | 1 LB. OF CATNIP 16 OZ. 100% ORGANIC * FRESH! * GREEN!
$6.99 |
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 | MEDIUM CAT 9-13 lb Soft Claws Paws Nail Caps 4 Cats Pet
$14.74 |
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|  | CAT KITTY KITTEN SILVER RHINESTONE CHARM FOR COLLARS
$4.99 |
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 | Kitty cat litter box toilet potty training
$25.49 |
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|  | Persian Kitty Condo NIB!!!
$18.99 |
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 | Lavenderology Lavender 'Buds' catnip lavender cat toys
$0.01 |
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|  | 1 Pound of Fragrant, Pungent Dried Catnip - Lot # 4
$10.00 |
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 | 15 $4.00 off Iams Cat food any size bag
$0.99 |
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|  | MidWest Cages Cat Play Pen Model 130 - FREE BED!!
$97.95 |
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 | Catit replacement purifying filters.
$0.99 |
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|  | Heated Kitty Pad-Item # 44
$34.95 |
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Cat coupons = HUGE savings -- $17 in savings
$2.00 |
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|  | 24" COGNAC SISAL CAT SCRATCHING POST COMBO SPECIAL
$29.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE Plus for Cats & Kittens 12 months supply
$66.99 |
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|  | Hartz Kitten Milk Replacement Powder 8 oz Cat Formula
$0.99 |
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 | 25 - Buy 2, get 1 FREE any Iams canned Cat food
$8.00 |
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|  | KITTY TREAT MIX BY ANN CLARK
$10.00 |
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 | Petmate Fountain REPLACEMENT PUMP PP333LV Jebao
$15.00 |
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|  | LOT OF 2 SCOOPWELL CAT LITTER BOX CLEANER SCOOPER nwt
$18.99 |
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 | cat treats-wholesale lot of 72 packages-Petro
$39.99 |
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|  | cat treats-wholesale lot of 72 packages-Seduction
$39.99 |
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 | EUKANUBA PUPPY FOOD COUPONS $2.00 OFF
$0.99 |
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|  | EPA Frontline Plus for Cats & Kittens 3 months supply
$18.00 |
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 | NEPETA CATARIA SEEDS - A CATS FAVORITE - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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|  | AMETHYST DIAMOND SWAROVSKI CHARM CAT COLLAR
$20.50 |
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 | LITTERMAID PLUS self cleaning litter box w/instructions
$19.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE BOX FOR CATS UNDER 9 LBS 6 MONTH SUPPLY EPA
$39.99 |
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 | 3 Comfort Zone plug-in FeliwaysFarnam KITS for CATS NEW
$75.50 |
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|  | Cat Toy ~ Hand Made~ Catnip filled w/ 100% hypo filler
$0.99 |
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 | Comfort Zone w/Feliway Plug-in & Refill! Cat Phermone
$15.93 |
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|  | SCratcher Board: pet, cat toy w/ condo, furniture, tree
$9.99 |
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 | 42" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-07
$39.99 |
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|  | NEW Purrforma self cleaning litter pan by Petmate
$25.00 |
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 | Cat Toy
$9.99 |
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|  | NEW LITTERMAID LM500 SELF CLEANING PET LITTER BOX
$84.95 |
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 | Cat Toy ~ Hand Made~ Catnip filled w/ 100% hypo filler
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|  | SMALL CAT 6-8 lb Soft Claws Paws Nail Caps Feline Cats
$13.99 |
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 | ORGANIC OAT CAT GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | 57" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-04
$59.99 |
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 | LITTERMAID 500
$29.00 |
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|  | Cosmic Catnip Scratching for Cat
$9.99 |
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 | CHenille bed chocolate Medium cat/ dog
$17.00 |
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|  | Cat supplies
$15.00 |
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 | KITTEN CLEAR 2-5lb Cat Soft Claws Nail Caps Feline Pet
$13.99 |
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|  | BRAND NEW Littermaid Elite Mega LME9000MB *NR*
$51.00 |
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 | Cat Design Litter Scoop & 4pc Cat Balls
$1.50 |
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