| 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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 | Pet carrier, Cat carrier, Dog Carrier,Pet purse
$12.95 |
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|  | Matatabi with dietary fiber- Japanese catnip
$5.80 |
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 | Advantage for Cats/Kittens 10-18 lbs Purple NIB 4 pack
$38.95 |
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|  | 24 PACK PETMATE FRESH FLOW WATER FOUNTAIN FILTERS
$37.99 |
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 | LARGE BIG OVERSIZED Litter Box BIG Multi Cat Cat Pan
$16.99 |
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|  | Omega Paw Self Cleaning Litter Box - Large with Mat
$39.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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|  | 60 MICE-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
$7.99 |
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 | Lot of (8) NEW Feliway Comfort Zone Refill Vials Farnam
$99.00 |
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|  | STAYWELL MAGNETIC CAT DOOR!! BRAND NEW!!
$49.99 |
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 | SmartCat Bootie's Combination Scratcher-Scratching Post
$19.95 |
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|  | cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~FRONTLINE PLUS
$17.95 |
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 | SmartCat Peek-N-Play Toy Box - Cat Toy
$16.95 |
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|  | Wet Food Pedestal Dish Bowl Cat Dog 6" Wide Almond
$26.00 |
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 | SmartCat Kitty Cat Corner Litter Box - Gray
$11.95 |
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|  | How To INSTRUCTIONS for DIY'S Dog Rhinestone Cat Collar
$5.99 |
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 | 4 pc Diamante cat collars wt bell-can fastened any pt.@
$12.08 |
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|  | NEW LITTERMAID ELITE MEGA LME9250 Automatic Litter Box
$51.01 |
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 | Omega Paw Self Cleaning Litter Box - Regular with Mat
$33.99 |
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|  | Wicker Cat Bed NEW with tags Dark Brown
$29.99 |
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 | Cat Playpen Cage Midwest Model 130 With FREE BED !
$99.99 |
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|  | Cat Litter Box Cover Or Pet Hideaway Wicker Rattan 1805
$49.99 |
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 | Saltwater Aquarium Video DVD - Relaxation Great 4 cats
$9.99 |
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|  | Hip CAT COLLAR Christmas Gingerbread Men ADJUSTS 7-11"
$5.95 |
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 | 2 OZ. OF CATNIP 100% ORGANIC CAT TOYS GREEN - FRESH!!!!
$1.50 |
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|  | Collapsible Kitten/Cat Blue Igloo PICK UP WELCOME
$6.00 |
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 | Kitten Collar - Crazy Red & Purple
$4.75 |
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|  | RING SLING PUPPY POUCH PET CARRIER BLACK DOTS $10.99
$10.99 |
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 | Premium Pet First Aid Kit For Cats/Dogs Must Have! NEW*
$13.95 |
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|  | Advantage-Cats over 9# 12 doses *FREE S&H* USA product
$90.00 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA & TICK med ~*~ CATS 8 dose supply
$17.95 |
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|  | Omega Paw Roll Away Self Cleaning Litter Box - Large
$34.99 |
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 | Instafit Cat Flap - New in the Package
$10.95 |
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|  | Hip CAT COLLAR Halloween BOO Bats with Bat Bell 7-11"
$6.99 |
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 | LOT OF CAT TOYS AND TREATS-NEW-MUST SEE!!!
$9.99 |
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|  | NEW IDEAL MEDIUM PET,DOG,DOGGIE DOOR FLAP, 7" X 11 1/4"
$14.99 |
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 | Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment, 1/8 oz tube
$11.95 |
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|  | 57" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-04
$59.99 |
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 | Advantage for Cats/Kittens 0-9 lbs Orange NIB 4 pack
$38.95 |
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|  | Advantage for Cats/Kittens 10-18 lbs Purple NIB 6 pack
$53.50 |
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 | ANIMAL PRINT STRIPES Print Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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|  | Littermaid litter box waste receptacle trash liners 400
$15.99 |
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 | (2) Petco Hill's Science Diet Indoor Cat Food 3.00 off
$0.69 |
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|  | NWOT T-shirt or Tank With Rhinestone Cat Face Motif
$22.95 |
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 | Dog Cat Ferret Rabbit and more MAGNETICS NECKLACES
$4.99 |
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|  | Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain
$54.95 |
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 | 4 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT DOGS 10-20 lbs
$17.95 |
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|  | Set 3 pawprint adjust nylon cat collars wt a bell@
$7.58 |
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 | Hip CAT COLLAR Halloween Stars Moons ADJUSTABLE 7-11"
$5.95 |
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|  | SmartCat Tick-Tock-Teaser - Interactive Cat Toy
$16.95 |
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 | 60 MIce-mouse: cat, furry toy
$7.99 |
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|  | Advantage for Cats/Kittens 10-18 lbs Purple NIB 4 pack
$38.95 |
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 | Hip CAT COLLAR Christmas Candy Canes Snowman Bell 7-11"
$6.99 |
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|  | Advantage Flea Drops for Cats/Kittens 10-18 lbs12 tubes
$96.00 |
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 | Lucky Litter LLC Scoop Free Cat Litter Box - $285 value
$75.00 |
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|  | PetSafe Cat Screen Doors,Pets under 30 lbs,EZ 2 install
$19.00 |
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 | NEW LITTER ROBOT Self Cleaning Electric Litterbox BEIGE
$329.00 |
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|  | SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post with Perch
$64.95 |
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 | $25 off EUKANUBA cat food exp. 12/31
$0.99 |
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|  | Peek-A-Prize Toy Box-------Cat Toy
$18.79 |
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 | KITTY CAT WATER TEASER TOY/FOOD DISH-NIB-MUST SEE!!!
$1.99 |
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|  | CAT DESHEDDING TOOL 1.75 PURPLE
$27.99 |
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 | SWAROVSKI EMERALD & DIAMOND DAZZLING CAT/DOG COLLAR
$21.99 |
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|  | 12 PACK PETMATE FRESH FLOW WATER FOUNTAIN FILTERS
$19.99 |
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 | Advantage Flea Drops for Cats/Kittens 10-18 lbs12 tubes
$96.00 |
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|  | Omega Paw Roll Away Self Cleaning Litter Box - Regular
$28.99 |
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 | STAYWELL INFRA-RED COLLAR KEY PACK YELLOW #580 NEW!
$12.99 |
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|  | Cosmic Stars Print Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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 | Collapsible Kitten/Cat Dark Blue House Shaped Igloo
$10.00 |
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|  | NEVER SCOOP Clean Kitty Cat Litter Box/Pan! 3-mo supply
$17.69 |
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 | CAT PLAY TUNNEL
$19.99 |
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|  | CAT BED - PUFFY KITTY NEST ASSORTED SOLIDS 15
$29.99 |
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 | HALLOWEEN RING SLING PUPPY POUCH PET CARRIER $10.99
$10.99 |
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|  | 8 OZ. OF CATNIP 100% ORGANIC CAT TOYS GREEN - FRESH!!!
$3.49 |
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 | 42" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-07
$39.99 |
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|  | GOD BLESS MY CAT, St. Francis Jewelry Medal Tag Charm
$2.99 |
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 | 50 Peacock Feathers ~ Cat Toy Pet Shop Store Supplies
$24.96 |
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|  | $30.00 NATURE'S BEST DOG OR CAT FOOD COUPONS
$0.99 |
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 | 4 OZ. OF CATNIP 100% ORGANIC cat toy green - FRESH!
$1.99 |
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|  | PET CARRIER -19 X 13 X 12H
$29.99 |
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 | Frontline Plus Cats 12 Doses Fleas & Ticks*NIB*FREE S/H
$95.00 |
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|  | Advantage for Cats/Kittens 0-9 lbs Orange NIB 4 pack
$38.95 |
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 | 430301C: Large Paw Print Pet Bed/House for Dogs & Puppy
$11.50 |
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|  | PART only:Soft Bed 4 Cat Condo,Tree,House,Pet Furniture
$9.99 |
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 | NEW! 24 Count LItterMaid Waste Receptacles LMR 200
$27.95 |
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|  | Matatabi - Japanese catnip
$5.80 |
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 | Advantage for Cats/Kittens 0-9 lbs Orange NIB 6 pack
$53.50 |
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|  | SWAROVSKI PEARLS PEARLS DIAMONDS CAT/DOG COLLAR
$21.99 |
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 | SOCCER BALLS ON BLACK Print Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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|  | 2 Pro Plan,Purina ONE or Purina Kitten Chow save $11.00
$4.99 |
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 | 100 Fresh Step Paw Points from cat litter boxes UPC
$1.75 |
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|  | NEW RING SLING PUPPY POUCH PET CARRIER PINK DOTS $10.99
$10.99 |
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 | SmartCat Cat Climber Multi-level Climbing Platforms
$99.95 |
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|  | STICK and ball: pet, dog cat toy, for use with condo
$9.90 |
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 | FLEA & TICK med 8 dose supply FRONTLINE PLUS 4 CATS
$25.00 |
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|  | Advantage for Cats/Kittens 10-18 lbs Purple NIB 6 pack
$53.50 |
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 | Lot of Three Cat Collars plus FREE Photo Key Chain
$9.99 |
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|  | Kitchen Decor Retro Good Kitty Treats Tin FREE SHIPPING
$6.85 |
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 | 42" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-07
$39.99 |
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|  | Glyco-Flex Cat II Stage II, 45 Tablets (015VS-9445-4)
$9.95 |
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