| 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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|  | NEW Littermaid CAT CARPET Scratch Pad LMC100
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 | Meow Town Floor To Ceiling Kitty Sky Tower Cat Tree NEW
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|  | WizDog Indoor Dog Potty training aid w/ free gift
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|  | Hip CAT COLLAR Christmas Gingerbread Men ADJUSTS 7-11"
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 | BAG-it: A PERMANENT SOLUTION for LITTERMAID RECEPTACLES
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|  | Littermaid MEGA LM950+TENT Electric Litter Box Cat Maid
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 | BRAND NEW PET SAFE CAT DOG DOOR LOCKABLE FLAP 12lbs
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|  | Persian Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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 | "Cat Rescue & Adoption!"car ribbon magnet QUALITY
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|  | Pet Door - Ideal Cat Flap Cat Door
$34.99 |
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 | Tidy Cats Breeze Cats Litter Box System
$38.10 |
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|  | Honeysuckle Cat Pom Poms Kitty Toy Pet Feline
$3.49 |
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10- $3.00 PURINA PRO PLAN DRY CAT FOOD COUPONS
$1.50 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 CATS 8 MONTHLY DOSES
$18.99 |
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 | K&H Sage Thermo-Kitty Nest 19" x 19" x 5" Cat Bed NEW
$48.95 |
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|  | Norwegian Forest Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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 | USA FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS FREE SHIPPING 3 MONTH BOX
$35.00 |
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|  | CATS RULE Heart Crown Pet Collar Jewelry CHARM Cat Tag
$3.25 |
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 | Siamese Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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|  | Maine Coon #1 Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FOR CATS OVER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY 4 6 8 12
$34.95 |
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|  | PERMA-lid: A PERMANENT LID for LITTERMAID RECEPTACLES
$12.99 |
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 | Cat Flea&Tick FRONTLINE PLUS 16dose/48mon SAVE$100s USA
$44.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL 4 CATS 16 DOSES
$34.95 |
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 | LAUREL BURCH FELINE FRIENDS LEATHER TOTE PURSE ~ BLACK
$39.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA KIT FOR CATS 8 DOSES EPA USA
$18.99 |
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 | Oriental Shorthair Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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|  | Tabby Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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 | NEW Littermaid ELITE Mega LME9000 Automatic Litterbox
$119.89 |
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|  | Swiss Cheese Wedge w/Sisal Cat Chalet Bed Furniture Toy
$39.99 |
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 | CAT MATE CAT KITTEN SINGLE BOWL AUTO FEEDER 205C/C10
$22.22 |
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|  | Littermaid Mega LM900 Automatic Electric Litter Box '08
$89.89 |
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 | Pet Door - Staywell Infrared Cat Door
$125.00 |
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|  | Pet Door - Staywell 4 Way Locking Cat Door for Thick Do
$49.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS OVER 9 lbs 5 MONTH SUPPLY 6
$17.97 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL 4 CATS 8 MONTHLY DOSES
$18.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 CATS 16 MONTHLY DOSES
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|  | 16 dose USA CAT KIT *Frontline Plus Flea&Tick*SAVE 800%
$41.99 |
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 | CAT MATE CAT KITTEN SINGLE BOWL AUTO FEEDER 205C/C10
$22.22 |
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|  | Maine Coon # 2 Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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 | Somali Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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|  | K&H THERMO KITTY CAT SILL HEATED WINDOWSILL PERCH BED
$34.49 |
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 | Honeysuckle Cat Bow Tie Bowtie Kitty Toy Pet Feline
$3.29 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 8 MONTHLY DOSES
$18.99 |
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 | Pet Door - Staywell 4 Way Magnetic Locking Cat Door
$69.99 |
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|  | BRAND NEW ScoopWell PREMIUM LITTER SCOOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
$10.88 |
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 | NEW Littermaid Brand PREMIUM CLUMPING Cat Litter 3 BAGS
$45.89 |
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|  | Personalized pet blanket! Kitty Cat Throw! Free name!
$12.95 |
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 | Ladies Blue Tee " See, Hear & Speak No Evil " Sz MED
$9.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CATS UNDER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY 1 4 6 8
$17.97 |
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 | RAISED CAT BOWL / CAT DISH / FEEDER 15" HIGH HANDMADE
$21.00 |
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|  | PetSafe CAT WINDOOR CAT ENTRY DOOR
$92.54 |
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 | Rag Doll Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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|  | Feliway Electric Diffuser (48 mL)
$22.99 |
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 | BRAND NEW DRINKWELL LITTER BUDDY 4-IN-1 LITTER TOOL SET
$10.99 |
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|  | DOG MATE Electromagnetic Dog Flap/Door Large Size Wht
$73.33 |
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 | NEW LITTER ROBOT Self Cleaning Electric Litterbox BEIGE
$329.00 |
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|  | Persian head Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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 | Pet Door - Ideal Pet Door for Screen Doors
$35.99 |
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|  | 16 dose USA CAT KIT *Frontline Plus Flea&Tick*SAVE 800%
$41.99 |
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 | Littermaid ELITE LME5000 Automatic Electric Litter Box
$89.89 |
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|  | Lot of (8) NEW Feliway Comfort Zone Refill Vials Farnam
$99.00 |
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 | K&H THERMO KITTY CABIN HEATED CAT KITTEN BED
$49.94 |
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|  | USA FRONTLINE TOP SPOT FOR CATS 3 MOS BOX FREE SHIP EPA
$31.99 |
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 | Persian sitting Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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|  | Advantage For Cats Over 9 LBS. 12 Tubes
$85.99 |
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 | Collar Charms set of 4 bells Silver Plt clasp Dog/Cat
$5.95 |
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|  | Pet Door - Staywell 4 Way Locking Cat Door for Big Cats
$46.95 |
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 | Large Square Cat Beanbag Bed Cats Just Love These! Blue
$14.99 |
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|  | Dog Pet Toy Cricket Baseball Tennis Ball Pink w Clip
$8.21 |
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 | K&H Sage Thermo-Crinkle Sack 15" x 12" Cat Bed NEW
$48.95 |
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|  | Snowshoe Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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 | Siberian Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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|  | Crunchkins / Purr-fect Greetings / Catnip card for cats
$4.99 |
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 | Advantage For Cats Over 9 LBS. 4 Tubes
$34.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA KIT FOR CATS 8 DOSES
$18.99 |
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 | Frontline® 1 LARGE vial+kit no collar FLEA KILLER - CAT
$24.99 |
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|  | K&H Sage Thermo-Kitty Nest 19" x 19" x 5" Cat Bed NEW
$48.95 |
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 | COMFORT CLEAN LITTER MAT-WORLDWIDE SHIP
$5.99 |
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|  | 20 month USA CAT KIT *Advantage -Flea Killer*SAVE 1000%
$39.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CATS UNDER 9 lbs 20 MONTH SUPPLY 1 4 6 8
$34.95 |
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|  | NEW for Littermaid Mega 12 ODOR KILLING Carbon Filters
$9.89 |
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 | Manx Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 CATS 8 DOSES EPA USA
$18.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 16 MONTHLY DOSES
$34.95 |
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|  | Dog Cat Ferret Rabbit and more MAGNETICS NECKLACES
$4.99 |
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 | CAT MATE CAT KITTEN SINGLE BOWL AUTO FEEDER 205C/C10
$22.22 |
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|  | NEW Cat Nip 0.5 oz resealable bag
$1.00 |
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 | Russian Blue sitting Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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|  | NEW Littermaid LMT100 Cat Privacy TENT Kabana Cave Cove
$29.89 |
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 | Omega Paw Roll Away Self Cleaning cat litter box
$69.95 |
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|  | BRAND NEW Littermaid LM500 Automatic Cat Litter Box NIB
$64.89 |
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 | Petmate Litter Locker Plus Refill Cartridge Lot of Six
$49.95 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL 4 CATS 16 MONTHLY DOSES
$34.95 |
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 | Turkish Van Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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|  | Scottish Fold Cat Wood Personalized Ornament
$9.00 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS NEW IN BOX 3 MONTH SUPPLY USA
$36.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL KIT FOR CATS 16 DOSES
$34.95 |
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