| 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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 | Petromalt Hairball Formula 4.4Oz For Cats
$5.10 |
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|  | Groomer's Blend Flea & Tick Shampoo 17Oz For Dogs/Cats
$4.10 |
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 | 12" X 12" PHOTO ENGRAVED PET MEMORIAL
$69.99 |
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|  | Cat Claw Clipper
$4.10 |
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 | Booda Catnip Terry Mouse Soft Cat Toy
$2.00 |
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|  | 16Ga 1/2 X 1 Welded Wire 30X For Cages/Fences
$13.80 |
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 | Kitty Cactus W/Pom Pom 16In Assorted
$9.80 |
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|  | Petromalt Hairball Formula 2Oz For Cats
$3.00 |
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 | Heated Pet Pad Medium
$54.20 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for Cats - over 8 wks
$46.90 |
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 | Starfish Catnip Cat Toy
$2.00 |
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|  | Fat Cat Floppability Dog Toy - Chicken - 15
$6.70 |
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 | Sifting Enclosed Cat Litter Pan Large Assorted
$22.70 |
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|  | Swatical Cat Toy
$2.80 |
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 | Cat Zoom Groom Brush For Cats
$4.00 |
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|  | Extra-Wide Catnip Scratching Post
$7.00 |
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 | Litter Locker Plus Reduces Odor From Cat Litter
$23.90 |
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|  | Rattle and Roll Neon Mouse - Cat Toy 2 Pack
$1.60 |
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 | Slicker Wire Brush For Cats
$5.10 |
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|  | Fungisan Germ Ringworm Formula For Cats
$2.80 |
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 | Farnam's Scratchex Flea & Tick Shampoo for Pets
$3.80 |
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|  | Zeolite Filter Deluxe Large
$2.80 |
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 | Kitty Cuz Cat Toy
$1.80 |
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|  | Pet Hair Magnet Works Great On Clothes/Furniture
$6.80 |
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 | Liner 12 oz. Cat Bowl 12Pk
$2.80 |
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|  | Catnip Two Toss - 2 Multicolor Toys For Cats
$3.00 |
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 | Sponge Soccer Balls 4 Pack
$1.80 |
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|  | Kittyvite Vitamin Moist Treat - For Senior Cats
$3.00 |
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 | Cat Dental Treats Plus 20Ct Reduce Plaque/Tartar
$3.80 |
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|  | Spray W/ Cortisone 4Oz For Cats/Dogs
$6.60 |
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 | Control Flea And Tick Repellent For Cats
$4.10 |
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|  | Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box Pearl Odor-Free Design
$23.70 |
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 | Burlap Cat Balls 3 Pack
$1.70 |
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|  | Mat & Tangle Remover Removes Them Easily
$4.00 |
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 | Kmr Liquid 8 Oz Food For Kittens
$2.90 |
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|  | Simple Solution Grooming Glove For Pets
$1.80 |
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 | Battery Operated Fling-ama-String Interactive Cat Toy
$23.90 |
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|  | Fresh Flow Replacement Filter
$4.10 |
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 | Booda Catnip Terry Elephant Soft Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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|  | Catnip Tails Cat Toy
$1.80 |
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 | Feather Boa Cat Toy with Wand
$1.70 |
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|  | Heated Pet Mat - Small
$46.50 |
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 | Scoop Away Plus Crystals 25LB Cat Litter
$13.60 |
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|  | Petromalt Hairball Formula 3.2Oz For Cats
$4.20 |
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 | Pink Bowl Cat 12Oz W/ 2 Liners
$2.80 |
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|  | Slicker Brush For Dog/Cat Grooming
$4.10 |
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 | Burlap Mouse w/ Catnip - 3 Pack
$1.80 |
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|  | Roll A Treat Cat (Small Dog) Ball
$2.80 |
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 | Track-Less Litter Mat Blue For Cats 13.75InX17In
$4.10 |
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|  | Angelfish Catnip Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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 | Litter Liner High Back Large
$4.20 |
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|  | Litter Scoop Stand 3.8 Inch Holds Litter Scoop
$4.00 |
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 | Litter Mat Flexible For Cats Assorted Colors
$4.00 |
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|  | Heated Pet Bed Large
$60.60 |
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 | 4Paws Ear Wash 4Oz
$5.00 |
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|  | Case of 24 Evolve Natural Seafood Cat Food 5.5oz Cans
$22.40 |
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 | Catmeister Cat Toy
$1.60 |
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|  | Catnip Scratching Post 17In
$4.10 |
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 | Flint River Ranch Cat Kitten Food 25 samples Lamb Chick
$18.50 |
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|  | Kittyvite Vitamin Moist Treat -Kittens/Adult Cats
$2.80 |
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 | Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box Titanium Odor-Free
$22.20 |
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|  | Litter Liner High Back 2Xl
$4.20 |
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 | Fishy Fun Multicolor Cat Toy
$3.00 |
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|  | Love Glove Grooming Mitt Massage And Grooms Pet
$5.20 |
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 | Booda Catnip Terry Bunny Soft Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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|  | Toothpaste For Cats 2.5Oz
$2.80 |
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 | Cat Pan Drawstring Liner 10 Pack Small
$2.80 |
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|  | Catnip Bubbles 8 Oz Blow Bubbles For Your Cat
$1.70 |
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 | Booda Catnip Terry Hedgehog Soft Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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|  | Cfa Sparkle Ball Set 2Pc Cat Toy
$1.80 |
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 | Simple Solution Stain And Odor Remover 64 Ounce
$5.40 |
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|  | Cfa Seagull Wand Cat Toy
$4.20 |
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 | Kmr Powder 12 Oz Food For Kittens
$15.00 |
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|  | Pps 3/8InX12In Safety Collar Purple For Cats
$3.90 |
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 | Cfa Cat Nip Porcupine Cat Toy
$2.80 |
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|  | Kittyvite Daily Vitamin Paste - For Senior Cats
$2.90 |
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 | Carpeted Cat Scratching Post 5 Year Warranty
$13.90 |
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|  | Booda Catnip Terrie Cow - Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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 | Cat Dental Treats Plus 50Ct Reduct Plaque/Tartar
$6.60 |
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|  | Jingle Balls - Sturdy Ball Cat Toys - Lot of 6 Cat Toys
$3.99 |
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 | Hamilton Pps 3/8In X 14In Safety Collar Black For Cats
$3.90 |
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|  | Battery Operated Fling-ama-String Interactive Cat Toy
$23.90 |
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 | Fat Cat Floppability Mad Cow Dog Toy - 15
$6.80 |
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|  | Cup Catnip 2 Ounces Fresh And Aromatic Catnip
$3.00 |
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 | Ps 3/8In Adjustable Break-Way Collar Red For Cats
$3.80 |
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|  | Booda Terry Monkey - Catnip Cat Toy
$1.90 |
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 | Kitty Cactus Cat Carpeted Scratching Post 18 2 Pack
$23.10 |
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|  | Booda Catnip Terry Hippo Soft Cat Toy
$2.00 |
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 | Booda Dome Clean Step Litter Box Iris Odor-Free Design
$22.00 |
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|  | Lot of 3 Catchables Cat Toy 8.5 Catnip Toys
$6.80 |
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 | Ps 3/8In Adjustable Break-Way Collar Blue For Cats
$3.80 |
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|  | Shake Rattle Roll Multicolor Cat Toy
$3.00 |
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 | Petromalt Fish-Flavored Hairball Formula 2Oz For Cats
$3.00 |
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|  | Tag Spotbrites Laser W/Heart ID Tag For Cats/Dogs
$4.10 |
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 | Aoe Spray 8Oz Odor Eliminator For Pets
$5.20 |
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|  | Evolve Natural Chicken Food For Cats - 24 Cans - 5.5oz
$23.20 |
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 | Ski Slope Scratcher In W/Catnip And Toy Mouse
$9.40 |
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|  | Air Freshener-Clean Cotton 6.6Oz For CV Dispenser
$5.00 |
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 | Hooded Pan Set Blue Large For Cats
$13.30 |
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|  | Dinner Mat Cat Assorted For Food Dishes
$4.10 |
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