| 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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 | Cool New Cat or Dog Pet Bed Pad Mat Pillow for Crate
$12.34 |
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 | 4 PETMATE CAT DOG FRESH FLOW PET FOUNTAIN WATER FILTERS
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F14
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10 - $1 OFF ANY MEOW MIX DRY CAT FOOD COUPONS
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4201
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 | Hip CAT COLLAR Christmas Candy Canes Black ADJUST 7-11"
$5.95 |
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|  | CAT ScratchPad Carpet FURNITURE PROTECTOR with CATNIP
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 | 12 LitterMaid LMR200 Waste Containers Receptacles NIB
$10.99 |
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|  | NEW Blue Fluffy Cat or Dog Pet Bed 20x20"- Pet Supply
$11.50 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | Deluxe Pop Open Cat Play Cube
$4.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
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|  | 18 FANCY FEAST ELEGANT MEDLEYS CAT FOOD COUPONS $1.00/6
$0.99 |
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 | 24" COGNAC SISAL CAT SCRATCHING POST COMBO SPECIAL
$29.99 |
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|  | Cat Toy Fur Mice 6 pack / w Catnip pet toy Brand new
$0.01 |
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 | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2041-Blue
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|  | GREAT DEAL 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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 | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 64C
$15.99 |
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|  | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 66B
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 | Brand new Frontline Plus for cats 3 months flea nd tick
$40.00 |
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|  | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Reservoir and 7 Filters DW-722
$44.66 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F12
$0.99 |
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 | (18) FANCY FEAST GOURMENT DRY CAT FOOD COUPONS $1.00/1
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|  | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC01
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 | CATS 8 dose supply FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA & TICK med ~*~
$17.75 |
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|  | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-12
$29.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | 18 FANCY FEAST GOURMENT CANNED CAT FOOD COUPONS $1.00
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B2903
$0.99 |
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 | Ideal Pet Door Medium
$9.99 |
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|  | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2040-Blue
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | USED CAT GENIE, SELF FLUSHING, SELF WASHING CAT BOX!!!
$152.50 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS DOG/CAT KIT 3 6 8 MONTH SUPPLY EPA USA!!
$16.85 |
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|  | SCOOPFREE AUTO CAT LITTER BOX CARTRIDGE. 6PK. NEW!
$79.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
$0.99 |
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|  | 48" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F43
$0.99 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Reservoir & Aqua Garden DW-724
$42.08 |
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|  | SMALL DOG K9 ADVANTIX FLEA CONTROL KIT 0-10 LBS 10 dose
$23.99 |
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 | Advantix Blue K9 Over 55 pounds 6 Pack
$0.99 |
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|  | Frontline Plus *CAT* 6 MONTHS!!! EPA! NIB!!
$48.00 |
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 | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 64B
$15.99 |
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|  | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
$9.41 |
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 | SUPER 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$19.00 |
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|  | (18) PURINA FRISKIES BRAND DRY CAT FOOD COUPONS $1.50/2
$0.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B3001
$0.99 |
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|  | LitterMaid Repair Manual Soft Cover Version Book New
$15.90 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7463
$0.99 |
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|  | ORGANIC OAT CAT GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | Slumber Pet THERMAL Kitty CAT MAT Bed Dog Thermo *NEW*
$13.99 |
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|  | ANT FREE ANT PROOF PET BOWL CAT DOG DISH ANTI BARRIER
$7.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med small dogs 0-22 lbs SALE~~
$23.99 |
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|  | 24 LitterMaid LMR200 Waste Containers Receptacles NIB
$21.95 |
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 | 74" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2040
$0.99 |
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|  | AUTOMATIC AUTO DOG CAT PET FEEDER GRAVITY FED small
$34.99 |
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 | 12 dose flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs FRONTLINE PLUS
$34.84 |
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|  | BIG Litter Box BIG Cat Pan OVERSIZED LARGE Multi Cat
$16.99 |
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 | 6 KITTY KEY CHAIN, IF YOUR A CAT LOVER THIS IS A MUST.
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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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|  | SPORT PET'S SCRATCH, RATTLE & ROLL FOR CATS
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 | ORGANIC OAT CAT GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 66C
$15.99 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Reservoir and 10 Filters DW-723
$46.95 |
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|  | Hidden Cat Litter Box Washroom End Table Night Stand
$79.99 |
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 | Cat Toy Rattle Balls W/Catnip/Pet toy,brand new,in pack
$0.01 |
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|  | SET OF 3 SPARKLE CATNIP BALLS w/BELL Cat Kitty Pet Toy
$0.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
$0.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA & TICK med ~*~ CATS 8 dose supply
$17.95 |
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|  | 6 m FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med small dogs 0-22 lbs
$17.95 |
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 | New no hassle pet carriers that does the work for you!
$25.99 |
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|  | Kitten Couture! Must Have! Kitten Pillow w/Additude!
$8.00 |
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 | Cat Duplex w/ Rooftop Perch play toy Tunnel tower
$84.99 |
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|  | 10 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$17.95 |
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 | Rhinestone Cat Safety Collar, Brand New, Purple 10"
$9.75 |
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| JW PETs Cat-a-Log Cat Toy in Tube Rolling Ball
$0.99 |
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 | 49" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F41
$0.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE DOG/CAT KIT 4,5 AND 10 MONTH SUPPLLY EPA USA
$16.85 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6203
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7202
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$19.00 |
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|  | New Kitty Cat Scratcher Tree Post Pet Furniture w Toy
$9.72 |
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 | KITTY HAMMOCK
$9.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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 | 10 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$17.95 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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 | KITTY CAT TREAT JAR / CAT CANDY CERAMIC CANISTER
$9.99 |
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|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-8C
$99.99 |
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 | FIVE - $4 off ANY Arm & Hammer cat litter
$2.99 |
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|  | Rhinestone Cat Safety Collar, Brand New Pink
$9.75 |
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 | *CARPET Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture
$0.99 |
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|  | HUGE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$36.00 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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|  | New Kitty Cat Fun Play Tunnel 4 Feet Long Pet Cats Toy
$9.41 |
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 | Pet Dog Cat Fresh Water Fountain Watering Dish Waterer
$33.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6501
$0.99 |
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