| 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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|  | Cat Toy lot 6 Plastic Rattle Balls /Pet toy,brand new
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 | Nice Kitty Christmas Stocking ~Perfect for Holiday Toys
$24.00 |
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$17.95 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
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 | $12 NEW LASER POINTER PEN - CAT DOG PET TOY - 5 SHAPES
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|  | BLUE BEAST® HiOutput AAA BATTERY RED BEAM LASER POINTER
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 | All-Weather Gear Kit For Your Cat Stroller 292162
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|  | New PetMate Cat Playhouse Catnip Scratch Post Toy
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|  | ORGANIC CATNIP CAT TOY HANDMADE 100% to PET CHARITY
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 | Cat Scratching Post 17.5 "/pet toy furniture condo tree
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|  | Littermaid Waste Receptacles With Lids- Pack of 11- NEW
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
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|  | Buy1 Cat toy 50 Furry Mice Get 1 Pack Rattle Balls Free
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 | Kity cat condo condos tree house bed toys furniture 48C
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 | KANGAROO POUCH IS YOUR DOG DREAM SNUGGLE PAL COMFY WARM
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|  | Cat Toy lot 30 Crystal Rattle Balls /Pet toy,brand new
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 | Cat Playpen Cage Midwest Model 130 With FREE BED !
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 | CAT KITTEN KITTY SCRATCH PAD CATNIP MOUSE TOYS LOT NICE
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
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 | NEW LITTERMAID ELITE MEGA LME9250 Automatic Litter Box
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|  | Cat Scratching Post 27.5 "/pet toy furniture condo tree
$9.99 |
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 | Cat Toy 2 Sparkle Yarn Balls W/Catnip/Pet toy,brand new
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|  | Brand New CHIA CAT GRASS Planter Sylvester Unique Gift
$19.95 |
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 | Pet Lover Sign "Please Dont Let The Cat Out" Cute Kitty
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|  | How To INSTRUCTIONS for DIY'S Dog Rhinestone Cat Collar
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 | KITTY CAT Stocking Christmas Holiday Blue Soft NEW Tags
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|  | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
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 | Really 8 Doses Frontline Plus Cat KittensUS EPA
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|  | NEW Cat Kitten Pet Dish Bowl Merry Meowy Christmas DTAL
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A8001
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 | BLUE BEAST® HiOutput AAA BATTERY RED BEAM LASER POINTER
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|  | CAT KITTEN KITTY HARTZ WACKY TOYS BALL A BOUT MOUSE WOW
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 | Cat Toy Rattle Balls W/Catnip/Pet toy,brand new,in pack
$0.01 |
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|  | New cat pet Nail trimmer electricon Pedicure Foot File
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 | Cat Sisal Scratch Me 19.5"/pet toy tree with catnip bag
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 | E-CAT SELECTIVE ENTRY Electronic Pet Door Flap,dog,NEW!
$45.00 |
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|  | Soft Claws 40 Clear Nail Caps LARGE Cat Stop Scratching
$3.00 |
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 | new comfort zone for cats
$29.99 |
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|  | Whimsical Cat Motif Wall Mount Key Hook Holder -Brass-
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 | ~~NEW CAT LITTER BOX DECORATIVE HOUSING PAW PRINTS~~
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|  | LARGE - NEW CEDAR CAT HOUSE HEATED optional Insulated
$369.95 |
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 | 5 HEAD LASER POINTER CAT TOY DOG AIRSOFT NEW
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|  | Cat Toy One Fur Roller Mice w/ bell pet toy Brand new
$0.79 |
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 | Cat Playpen Cage Midwest Model 130 With FREE BED !
$99.99 |
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 | NEW PET CARRIER/TOTE,ANIMAL TRAVEL BAG,CAT PRINT,D9
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|  | Pet Lover Sign Cats Are Just Little People w/ fur coats
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 | Whimsical Cat Motif Wall Mount Key Hook Holder -Brass-
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|  | 2 Comfort Zone DIFFUSERS 4 Refills 1 Spray feliway CATS
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 | BRAND NEW LITTERMAID SELF CLEANING LITTER BOX LM600
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|  | Cat Toy Lot 2 Rattle Multi-Colored Mice/Pet Brand new
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 | Cat Toy Lot 2 Rattle Roped Mice/Pet mouse brand new
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|  | 10 Wholesale Lot NIP Safety Cat Breakaway Collar w/Bell
$17.50 |
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 | KENNEL-AIRE STAINLESS STEEL PET FOOD AND WATER BOWLS
$18.00 |
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|  | Fling Ama String Cat Toy
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7401
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|  | NEW PORTABLE PET HOME,PINK CAT/DOG TRAVEL POP-UP KENNEL
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6203
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|  | CAT HOLIDAY SNOWMAN COLLAR BLUE 100% to PET CHARITY
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 | BRAND NEW Drinkwell Pet Fountain Water Dish Cat Dog NIB
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|  | Kittywalk Deck &Patio Pet Cat Enclosure Portable System
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 | New PF10 Large Automatic Pet Digital Feeder Dog Cat
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|  | Four Paws Extra Wide Cat Scratching Post Catnip Kitten
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 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F14
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|  | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 64C
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 | Cat Toy lot 6 Bouncy Atom Balls /Pet toy,brand new
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|  | Soft Claws 40 Clear Nail Cap Medium Cat Stop Scratching
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 | Really 8 Doses Frontline Plus Cat KittensUS EPA
$16.50 |
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|  | Cat Playpen Cage Midwest Model 130 With FREE BED !
$109.99 |
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 | Cat Litter Box Cover Or Pet Hideaway Wicker Rattan 1805
$49.99 |
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|  | BLUE BEAST® HiOutput AAA BATTERY RED BEAM LASER POINTER
$5.99 |
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 | CAT KITTEN KITTY SCRATCH PAD CATNIP MOUSE TOYS LOT NICE
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|  | MUST^..^L@@K Cat Tree Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
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 | ORGANIC WHEAT SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
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|  | Cat Pet Toy Tunnel 40/8" Noisy & Soft & Fun
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 | .180 Large Pet Tower - Cubby hole Scratch Post Hemp NEW
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