| 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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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS OVER 9 lbs 5 MONTH SUPPLY 6
$18.99 |
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 | K&H Lectro Soft Outdoor Heated Cat Dog Bed Free Cover
$39.99 |
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|  | Removable Portable Kitty Cat Outside Outdoor Pet Door
$69.95 |
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 | PET EXERCISER WITH 3 EXTRA CUSTOM BEAM DESIGNS
$1.99 |
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|  | BIO SPOT FLEA & TICK CONTROL FOR CATS
$6.50 |
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 | (10) $1.00 OFF ONE PACKAGE FANCY FEAST DRY CAT FOOD
$1.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CATS UNDER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY 1 4 6 8
$18.99 |
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 | Cat Toys for the Holidays by Vo-Toys
$6.99 |
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|  | K&H Lectro Soft Outdoor Heated Med Dog Bed Free Cover
$54.98 |
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 | GO GREEN! ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AUTOMATIC LITTER BOX
$74.99 |
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|  | (10) $1.00 OFF / 24 CANS OF FANCY FEAST CAT FOOD
$1.25 |
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 | Happy Holidays Dog Toy by Vo-Toys
$4.00 |
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|  | Sift Clean Sifting Cat Litter Box/Pan Liners. 6-months
$31.95 |
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 | K&H Heated Kitty Camper Outdoor Cat Bed House NEW
$64.99 |
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|  | Arm & Hammer cat kitty litter coupons 20-$3 OFF + bonu
$2.25 |
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 | Littermaid Mega Automatic litter box NIB
$75.95 |
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|  | Meow Town Flower Power Cat Climbing Fun Playing Tower
$59.99 |
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 | 2 COLOR REVERSIBLE SLING PUPPY POUCH PET CARRIER $14.99
$14.99 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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 | Nu-Cat by Vetri-Science (100 tablets)
$6.99 |
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|  | Flint River Ranch~Cat Hair Ball Remedy Food 6lbs
$16.99 |
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 | Country Cat Wall Decor - NEW!
$22.00 |
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|  | PetSafe PIG00-11007 Deluxe In Ground Cat Fence System
$199.95 |
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 | Meow Town Flower Power Cat Climbing Fun Playing Tower
$59.99 |
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|  | Boogie Mat-Refillable Catnip Nap Mat for Cats & Kittens
$8.95 |
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 | Happy Holidays Dog Toy by Vo-Toys
$4.00 |
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|  | LITTERMAID RECEPTACLES AND LIDS
$5.00 |
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 | Kitty Cat Christmas Stocking - NEW!
$9.00 |
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|  | SANTA'S BEST CAT, CHRISTMAS FEEDING DISH
$7.99 |
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 | Wet Food Pedestal Dish Bowl Cat Dog 6" Wide Honey Brown
$29.00 |
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|  | SANTA PAWS CAT TREAT JAR NEW IN BOX DILLARD'S CERAMIC
$5.99 |
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 | 30 Science Diet Indoor Cat Food coupons ($3 on 1) = $90
$3.00 |
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|  | Happy Holidays Dog Toy by Vo-Toys
$4.00 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Resev Aqua Garden 3 Pods DW-725
$46.12 |
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|  | Lot of Three Cat Collars plus FREE Photo Key Chain
$9.99 |
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 | MultiVet 4.5OZ SSSCAT Refill QTY 2
$18.09 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Resv 3 Brushes 4 Filters DW-727
$47.07 |
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|  | Happy Holidays Dog Toy by Vo-Toys
$4.00 |
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 | ORGANIC GRAIN GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Buddha Pet Collar Charm Handcrafted
$0.99 |
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 | 65" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-14
$89.99 |
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|  | Drinkwell Fountain 5 Item Clean H2O Garden Combo DW-731
$52.18 |
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 | FREE bag Nutro Natural Choice Dog Food - helps rescue!
$7.99 |
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|  | THERMO KITTY MAT CAT BED WARMER
$27.00 |
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 | 3 ORGANIC CATNIP KNOTS CAT TOY 100% to PET CHARITY
$3.50 |
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|  | LOOK AT THIS GREAT CAT TUNNEL FOR CATS AND DOGS
$0.01 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Resv 3 Brushes Aqua Grdn DW-730
$48.14 |
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|  | Don't Forget your Loved one(s) this Christmas!!
$2.99 |
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 | Black nylon cat collar with attached faux suede bandana
$0.99 |
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|  | Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box Large Green/beige
$34.98 |
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 | Air Kong Squeeker Gift Set
$25.00 |
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|  | 6 adjustable nylon cat collars wt a bell#
$15.20 |
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 | LAUREL BURCH FELINE FRIENDS LEATHER TOTE CAT PURSE RUST
$24.99 |
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|  | Littermaid Elite Mega Automatic Litter Box LME9000MB
$134.95 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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|  | Cat Kitty Litter Scoop
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT all sizes dogs cats stock UP
$17.95 |
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|  | LAUREL BURCH FELINE FRIENDS LEATHER TOTE CAT PURSE BLK
$24.99 |
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 | Oriental Asian Dog Dish Take Out Bowl Pet Dish Dog Bowl
$22.99 |
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|  | 12 LitterMaid LMR Waste Receptacles Containers Litter
$10.99 |
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 | Cat bed Sz 21 x 31 made with LOVE soft fleece material
$2.49 |
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|  | Littermaid Mega Automatic cat Litterbox LM900 - NEW!
$108.95 |
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 | Cat Food & Water Dish Mat for Favorite Feline Kitty
$7.99 |
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|  | NEW RINGSLING PUPPY POUCH PET CARRIER PAWPRINTS $10.99
$10.99 |
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 | Meow 4x 6 Cat Frame in Brown
$1.99 |
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|  | ORGANIC GRAIN GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | 94" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-09
$109.99 |
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|  | Hip CAT COLLAR Funky Purple Circles ADJUSTABLE 7-11"
$5.95 |
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 | 24 LitterMaid LMR Waste Receptacles Containers Litter
$21.95 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$23.75 |
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 | Slumber Pet Thermal Cat Mat Bed Reflects Heat LOT of 12
$89.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$23.75 |
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(20) $1.00/2 COUPON PURINA WHISKER LICKIN'S CAT TREATS
$0.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT all sizes dogs cats stock UP
$17.95 |
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 | BRAIDED RUG CAT Dish Kitty Mat L@@K! Fall Colors!!
$9.99 |
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|  | Hand Made Cat Bed Soft Batting Fillled 21"x25" Washable
$14.99 |
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 | "Happy Cat" Meow Cat Dish Hand Painted & Crafted
$9.25 |
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|  | set of cat food and kitty treats coupons for a pet NR
$0.97 |
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 | DRINKWELL PLATINUM PET FOUNTAIN CAT DOG WATER DISH BOWL
$59.95 |
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|  | Happy Holidays Dog Toy by Vo-Toys
$4.00 |
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 | Cat Toys for the Holidays by Vo-Toys
$12.99 |
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|  | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Resv 3 Brushes 10 Filters DW729
$53.01 |
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 | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med small dogs 0-22 lbs SALE~~
$23.99 |
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|  | DRINKWELL PET FOUNTAIN CAT DOG WATER DISH PACKAGE
$59.95 |
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 | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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|  | Tiger Dreamz Purple Trundle Cat Dog Pet Bed Faux Fur
$9.99 |
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 | 5 LBS Plastic Pellets Refill Granules For Cat Genie
$19.00 |
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|  | FleaBusters Flea powder 3lb once a year flea treatment
$43.00 |
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 | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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|  | DRIED BONITO FLAKE, VALUE PACK 100g, CATS LOVE THEM!!
$9.99 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Resv 3 Brushes 7 Filters DW-728
$50.72 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FOR CATS OVER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY 4 6 8 12
$34.95 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Reservoir Clean Brushes DW-726
$43.43 |
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|  | Elevated Raised Wet Food Pottery Dish CD6-T For Cat
$38.50 |
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 | * Kitty Christmas Cat Toys by Pet Holiday*
$0.99 |
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|  | NEW PET BED OR HOUSE FOR SMALL DOG OR CAT BED FURNITURE
$10.98 |
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 | Flint River Ranch~Lite Cat Food 9 lbs
$17.99 |
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|  | 1Mad Platters Mouse in Cheese on Plate Spinning Cat Toy
$4.74 |
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