| 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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$15.20 |
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|  | NEW LITTERMAID LME9250 ELITE MEGA Automatic Litterbox
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Feliway Cat Phermone diffuser NO RESERVE
$1.34 |
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|  | Cozy Dog and Cat Bed
$24.95 |
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 | Nice Kitty Cat Christmas Stocking NEW & LARGE Velvety
$9.99 |
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|  | NEW Comfort PAW Dog & Cat Bed Small Size -Pink
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 | New Red and White Cat's Collar Fits ALL CATS
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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 | CATNIP SEEDS - LITTLE TRUDY - PERENNIAL - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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|  | The Window-Mounted Cat Porch 73770
$79.99 |
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 | Soft Claws Nail Caps for Cats
$7.50 |
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|  | NEW Comfort Small Dog & Cat Sofa Bed -Leopard Color
$9.95 |
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 | PetSafe Cat Fence Receiver
$99.95 |
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|  | KH Outdoor Heated Cat Kitty Camper Bed House Mat Thermo
$62.99 |
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 | NEW CEDAR CAT HOUSE NICE - HEATED - SALE $ 149.00 OFF
$149.95 |
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|  | Cat Collar -Bright Kitties on Black
$5.75 |
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 | Shed Ender Shedender 4 Pet Dog Cat Brush As Seen on TV
$3.99 |
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| *19 COUPONS HILLS SCIENCE DIET B3G1 FREE CAT FOOD+BONUS
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 | NEW Comfort PAW Dog & Cat Bed Small Size -Blue
$6.95 |
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|  | Catnip Cat Pet Bed Green with Organic Catnip
$9.99 |
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 | Holiday Kitty Gift Sets (1104)
$25.00 |
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|  | Cat Playpen Cage Midwest Model 130 With FREE BED !
$99.99 |
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 | COMPANION ROAD OVAL FLEECE PET CAT DOG DEN BED 17X15X6
$9.99 |
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|  | SmartScoop Automatic Litter Box Catching Mat Large
$15.89 |
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 | K&H Heated Cat Kitty Bed HUT - Thermo - COLOR: MOCHA
$46.95 |
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|  | PINK ANIMAL **PRINCESS BED** WITH BOW AND RHINESTONE
$7.95 |
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 | Comfort Zone Plug-In with Feliway
$21.40 |
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|  | SmartCat Peek-N-Play Toy Box - Cat Toy
$16.95 |
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 | Littermaid Litter Maid Cat Box LM800 Bonus RAMP
$2.25 |
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|  | Cat Litter Box Cover Or Pet Hideaway Wicker Rattan 1805
$49.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-3B
$59.99 |
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|  | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-05
$59.99 |
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 | NEW Comfort Small Dog & Cat Bed-Cow color
$9.95 |
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|  | NEW CEDAR CAT HOUSE NICE - HEATED - SALE $ 149.00 OFF
$149.95 |
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 | $1/1 WHOLESOME GOODNESS DRY CAT FOOD(20)COUPONS 1/03/09
$1.00 |
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|  | PRINCESS CAT KITTEN KITTY PINK GOLD CROWN DISH BOWL NEW
$5.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE DOG/CAT KIT 4,5 AND 10 MONTH SUPPLLY EPA USA
$16.85 |
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|  | Turbo Scratcher Replacement Pads Cat Toy Scratch NEW
$5.94 |
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 | BRINKER POTS CAT DISH---1994
$5.00 |
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|  | small dogs FRONTLINE PLUS flea control 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$23.75 |
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 | NEW Comfort Dog & Cat Bed Small Size
$9.95 |
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|  | Pet Door size small(cats to 15 lbs & dogs to 7 lbs) NEW
$0.99 |
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 | Whimsical Cat Motif Wall Mount Key Hook Holder -Brass-
$8.25 |
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|  | Continuously Freshening Feline Drinking Fountain 72732
$19.99 |
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 | NEW Petmate Fresh Flow Pet Fountain Medium Espresso
$25.98 |
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| Warm & Cozy 4-Way Machine Washable Pet Bed (Cats/Dogs)
$19.95 |
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 | CAT LOT 20 TOYS, REMOTE Ctrl MOUSE, GREENIES, Scratcher
$19.07 |
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|  | NEW Booda 6 Pack Soft Bite Mice Cat Toy with Catnip
$1.99 |
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 | BLACK WHITE PERSIAN CAT KITTEN KITTY FELINE ART WATCH
$22.00 |
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|  | Omega Paw Deluxe Window Perch Seat For Kitty Cats
$16.95 |
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 | NATURAL CHOICE COUPONS FREE 4 LB BAG
$1.50 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS DOG/CAT KIT 3 6 8 MONTH SUPPLY EPA USA!!
$16.85 |
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 | NEW CEDAR CAT HOUSE NICE - HEATED - SALE $ 149.00 OFF
$149.95 |
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|  | lot of cat accessories
$18.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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|  | Cat Toy Pet Shop Store Supplies - 50 Peacock Feathers
$24.99 |
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 | 94" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-09
$109.99 |
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|  | BRAND NEW LITTERMAID LM900 AUTOMATIC LITTERBOX
$9.99 |
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 | 6 plain colors adjust nylon cat collars wt a bell^
$15.20 |
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|  | NEW LITTERMAID ELITE MEGA LME9250 Automatic Litter Box
$21.11 |
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 | PRETTY KITTY Cat PET Record KEEPING Journal ~ FREE SHIP
$9.95 |
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|  | FLAMES ON BLACK Print Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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 | ORCA WHALE SHAPED CAT SCRATCHING PAD POST WITH CATNIP!
$24.95 |
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|  | CATNIP SEEDS - LITTLE TRUDY - PERENNIAL - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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 | 57" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-04
$59.99 |
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|  | Fresh step expressions cat litter coupons $17.00
$2.25 |
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 | Adams Flea and Tick Shampoo 6 oz
$0.99 |
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|  | NEW Comfort Small Dog & Cat Bed-Leopard Pink color
$12.95 |
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 | Drinkwell Platinum Fountain + Brush + 4 Filters NEW
$69.99 |
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|  | Smart Cat Ultimate Kitty Scratching Post 32" Height
$49.95 |
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 | NEW Christmas Holiday Burgundy Santa Claus Cat Toy
$2.50 |
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|  | LEOPARD SOFA SHAPED CAT SCRATCHING PAD POST AND CATNIP!
$21.95 |
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 | HAPPY SKULLS Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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|  | Whimsical Cat Motif Wall Mount Key Hook Holder -Brass-
$8.25 |
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 | Frontline Plus for Cats and Kittens 12mos supply
$21.00 |
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|  | Petsafe Indoor Wireless Deluxe Cat Fence Boundary
$138.99 |
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 | BRAND NEW Drinkwell Pet Fountain + 70oz RESERVOIR
$44.89 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS 8 DOSE FLEA/TICK KIT FOR CATS (6,12)
$17.95 |
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 | K&H Heated Cat Kitty Bed HUT - Thermo - COLOR: MOCHA
$46.95 |
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|  | FISH ON BLUE Print Cat Collar Collars
$5.99 |
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 | CUTE DECOR CAT/KITTEN CHRISTMAS STOCKING TREATS & TOYS
$2.49 |
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|  | VO TOYS/VIP KITTY FUN HOUSE CHEESE -BED -NEW
$26.99 |
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 | 65" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-14
$89.99 |
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|  | Beastie Bands snowmen Christmas red cat kitten collar
$5.99 |
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 | CAT LOT 17 TOYS Remote CTRL Mouse, GREENIES, Scratcher
$19.38 |
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|  | 67" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-15
$94.99 |
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 | 57" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-04
$59.99 |
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|  | 430301C: Large Paw Print Pet Bed/House for Dogs & Puppy
$11.50 |
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 | 8 Months Frontline Plus for Cats FREE SHIPPING 3 6
$19.90 |
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|  | 24 Christmas Mice Tumblers fleece roly Cat Toys grn/red
$14.99 |
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 | SmartScoop Self Scooping Automatic Litterbox Litter Box
$99.89 |
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|  | SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post
$47.95 |
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 | shaking & rattling fur mouse short hair-50 piece lot
$9.99 |
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|  | PURRfect DVD, Brand new cat video, FREE SHIPPING
$8.51 |
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 | NEW! SIMPLE SOLUTION Puppy Training Pads
$9.99 |
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|  | 16" Petco Cat Christmas Stocking w/ 10 Catnip Cat Toys
$4.99 |
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 | 55" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-03
$59.99 |
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|  | 3 HOLIDAY STUFFED CAT TOYS 100% to PET CHARITY
$2.75 |
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 | BRINKER POTS CAT DISH WITH CAT PAWS DECORATION
$5.00 |
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