| 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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 | Petmate Purrforma easy-tie waste bags, 24 bags total!!
$4.00 |
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|  | USA 6-Pack FRONTLINE PLUS for CATS
$26.00 |
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 | Brown Jacquard "Fargo" Cat Dog Paw Print Purse NWT
$16.95 |
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|  | PRETTY KITTY Cat PET Record KEEPING Journal ~ FREE SHIP
$9.95 |
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 | Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Fountain NEW SIZE LARGE
$47.00 |
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|  | Advantage For Cats over 9 lbs-4 months flea control
$28.99 |
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 | Large Pet Carrier for Dogs or Cats who like to Travel!
$14.99 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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 | Rustic Antiqued Cast Iron Cat Hooks, set of 6
$9.95 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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 | pet treat jar that chatters
$0.99 |
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|  | Cuddler PET Puppy Print Dog Bed Fleece Top LARGE BLUE
$37.00 |
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 | Cat Safety Harness- For Traveling Cats- Cat Seat Belt
$5.99 |
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|  | Cat Urn Pet Urns Custom made in likeness of your Kitty!
$49.99 |
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 | Petite Brown "Lucy" Dog Cat Paw Print Purse Handbag NWT
$12.95 |
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|  | Sport Pet Cat Royal Mansion Climb Tower ~Bed Toy Kitten
$19.95 |
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 | Kitten toy bed
$10.85 |
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|  | Ideal Chubby Cat Door Flap
$10.00 |
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 | PETMATE - DELUXE FRESH FLOW WATER FOUNTAIN! JUMBO!
$14.99 |
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|  | Hand sewn Cat Carrier Pads (1105)
$8.00 |
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 | LOT NATURAL RABBIT HIDE FOOT FEET KEYCHAINS CAT TOYS
$5.99 |
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|  | Feline Greenies 154 individual packs Chicken flavor NIB
$1.00 |
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 | NEW LOT CAT KITTEN CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS BALLS TOYS MICE
$10.50 |
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|  | 57" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-04
$59.99 |
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 | New LITTERMAID Mega LM950 + TENT Cat Litter Maid Box
$129.89 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for dogs 45-88 LBS 6 Doses
$58.00 |
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 | (5) $1 Purina Friskies Selects Indoors Cat Food Coupon
$0.99 |
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|  | Arm & Hammer Kitty cat litter coupons 20-$3 off + Bonus
$15.29 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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 | Booda Dome Litter Box Top Only Dark Blue
$1.99 |
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|  | DRINKWELL PLATINUM CAT FOUNTAIN
$24.99 |
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 | PURRfect DVD, Brand new cat video, for Cats
$4.27 |
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|  | DRONTAL ALLWORMER FOR CATS 4 PACK FREE SHIP
$16.00 |
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 | Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Fountain NEW SIZE MEDIUM
$37.00 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for CATS 6 Doses
$47.00 |
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 | Pink Pet Carrier
$25.00 |
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|  | LED Flashing Adjustable Cat & Dog Collar & Bell X-Small
$7.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT all sizes dogs cats stock UP
$17.95 |
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|  | Black MicroFiber Purse Cat Dog Purple Paw Prints NWT
$14.95 |
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 | NEW!! 'Cat-nip-tion' Catnip Pillow Cat Toy
$5.00 |
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|  | TWO Cute and Colorful Cat Toys Mice Cat Christmas Gift
$2.99 |
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 | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-12
$29.99 |
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|  | LOVE The 3 Kittens - Bracelet, Dog Cat Rescue Charity
$5.00 |
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 | 50 Peacock Feathers - Cat Kitten Pet Store Shop Supply
$24.88 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for dogs up to 22 LBS 6 Doses
$47.00 |
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 | Drinkwell 100 oz Fountain 10 Filters H2O Garden Brushes
$57.73 |
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|  | PEEK-A-PRIZE TOY BOX FOR CATS
$8.99 |
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 | Frontline Plus for Cats 6 mo. supply. New unopened box!
$19.50 |
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|  | CAT Photo Mouse Pad " SANTA KITTY "
$5.24 |
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 | Handsewn Cat Hammock (1085)
$20.00 |
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|  | Plastic Dog Food Mat- Placemat For Dog's Food Bowl
$2.99 |
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 | Drinkwell 100 oz Fountain 10 Filters H2O Garden Brushes
$57.73 |
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|  | WOOD PET URNS DOGS, CATS, BLOODWOOD CREMATION URN
$34.97 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS NEW IN BOX 3 MONTH SUPPLY USA
$36.99 |
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|  | Cat house scratching pole cat toys cat nail sharpener
$69.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT all sizes dogs cats stock UP
$17.95 |
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|  | Petmate Attract-O-Mat and Pet Hair Magnet-NWT (8903)
$5.27 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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|  | Feline Greenies 5 packs assorted flavors NIB
$0.99 |
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 | 20 IAMS $4 off cat food coupons + bonus!
$4.56 |
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|  | Black Cat/Flowers Door Mat-NWT (8895)
$4.00 |
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 | Patience Brewster Christmas Krinkles Cat Bowl NIB (8850
$4.50 |
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|  | Aria colorful GlamaCat Charm silvertone NIP
$3.79 |
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 | Coupon for FREE bag of IAMS or $7 off
$2.50 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CATS UNDER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY 1 4 6 8
$18.99 |
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|  | BLUE BEAST® HiOutput AAA BATTERY RED BEAM LASER POINTER
$5.99 |
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 | Fresh Step cat/kitty litter coupons ! 20-$1.00 + bonus!
$1.50 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for dogs 89-132 LBS 6 Doses
$60.00 |
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 | GO! CAT GO! CATNIP FLIPPERS CAT TOYS--NIP!
$3.75 |
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|  | FLOWER POWER CAT SCRATCHING POST--NIP!
$16.99 |
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 | GO! CAT GO! ZIG-AND-ZAG BALL CAT TOY--NIP!
$3.99 |
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|  | 2 packs of Greenies Pill Pockets for Cat chicken/salmon
$0.99 |
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 | Mr. Herzher's Two Step Pet Animal Stairs Cherry Finish
$99.99 |
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|  | CHRISTMAS PINK CHEETAH LEOPARD BOLSTER DOG CAT BED 22"
$0.01 |
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 | Drinkwell 100 oz Fountain 7 Filters Aqua Garden Brushes
$55.43 |
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|  | LED Flashing Lights Fancy Cat & Dog Fashion Collars Sm.
$6.99 |
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 | cat/dog waterer fountain petmate drinkwell platinum
$30.00 |
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|  | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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 | Cat Dog Animal Pet Outside Tunnel Cage Pen Mesh House
$19.99 |
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|  | Zanies Glitz Holiday Mice 6 pack silver red green New
$3.19 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA & TICK med ~*~ CATS 8 dose supply
$17.95 |
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|  | Shamrock Three Leaf Clover Dog Cat Pet ID Tag
$3.29 |
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 | 6 adjustable nylon cat collars wt bell#
$15.20 |
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|  | Meowy Christmas, feeding dish for your kitten CUTE
$6.00 |
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 | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA CONTROL KIT SMALL DOG 0-10 LBS 10 dose
$24.50 |
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|  | Cat Nip Square Pouches-Material Grab Bag (1050)
$1.00 |
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 | K&H Outdoor Heated Kitty Camper with Heated Pad
$55.99 |
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|  | Cat house scratching pole cat toys cat nail sharpener
$69.99 |
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 | BNIB CAT JUNGLE GYM SPACE SAVING CORNER DESIGN @COOL@
$14.99 |
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|  | GREENIES CAT KITTEN FELINE TREATS-25 PACKETS NEW SEALED
$5.50 |
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 | Brand new elf hat and collar Costume for Cat/kitten
$0.99 |
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|  | "A Spoiled Rotten Cat Lives Here" Door Mat-NWT (8896)
$4.00 |
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 | 94" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-09
$109.99 |
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|  | Drinkwell Fountain 100 oz. 6 Item Combo 4 Filter DW-735
$61.76 |
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 | Cat Tunnel Toy-NWT (8902)
$7.50 |
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|  | BNIB ROYAL MANSION CAT CLIMBING TOY @TAKE A LOOK@
$24.99 |
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 | LITTER ROBOT LITTER BOX BARELY USED GREAT DEAL!
$105.99 |
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|  | Litter Maid Elite Mega LME9250
$50.00 |
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