| 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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 | 2 PETMATE CAT DOG FRESH FLOW PET FOUNTAIN WATER FILTERS
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|  | $16 off Iams Cat Food $4 off any size bag - RESCUE
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|  | FLAMES ON BLACK Print Cat Collar Collars
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|  | Multi Level Hanging Cat Condo
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 | Royal Splendor PET BED Dog Puppy Cat Kitten Metal Frame
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS KIT flea tick 4 cat kitten 8 month 6
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 | STICK and ball: pet, dog cat toy, for use with condo
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
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 | 3mo,Cat/Feline Frontline Plus flea and tick.NIB! NR
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 | SmartCat Kitty Ultimate Litter Box
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|  | Cat Collar - Blue w/Race Flags
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 | Frontline Plus for cats 3 applications
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|  | 3 pk Filters Foam Cartridges CatIt Small Fountain 50053
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 | 10 pk Petmate Litter Locker Refill Use up to 2 months
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|  | Savvy Tabby Espresso Wooden Cat Window Seat 18x14x12
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 | SALE 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
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|  | BRAND NEW Littermaid Elite Mega LME9000MB *NR*
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 | Saltwater Aquarium Video DVD - Relaxation Great 4 cats
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|  | Plastic glitter Laser cat collar with a bell 5 colors!
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
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|  | 3mo,Cat/Feline Frontline Plus flea and tick.NIB! NR
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 | PetzLife Gel Spray Clean Dog Teeth Free Ship Toothbrush
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|  | Cat Veranda window seat kitty kitten door perch petsafe
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 | Large 20x24 Dog Cat Paw Print Deep Pet Bed:Pet Supplies
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 | Drinkwell Platinum Fountain +Garden+Brush+10 Filter+Mat
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|  | 42 HEAD LAZER POINTER ~ LASER BEAM BRAND NEW
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 | Pet Supplies Foldable Pet Carrier
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|  | LOT OF 12 PINK/BLUE DANGLE CHARMS,, VERY NICE
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 | Cat Veranda with Lockable Entry Flap
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|  | Lot of Three Cat Collars plus FREE Photo Key Chain
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 | 1 LB. OF CATNIP 16 OZ. 100% ORGANIC * FRESH! * GREEN!
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|  | Bird Watcher Perch, Cat Condo, Climber, Cat Tree
$125.00 |
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 | Cainine Dog Kitty Halloween Costume for Cat Kitten
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|  | ADVANTAGE Cat under 9 lbs 4 months NO KITS
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
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|  | BIG SALE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
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 | Outdoor Feline Funhouse -Portable Outdoor Cat Enclosure
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|  | Advantage flea control CAT OVER 9lbs 6 MONTH SUPPLY!
$8.40 |
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 | NEW PORTABLE PET HOME,PINK CAT/DOG TRAVEL POP-UP KENNEL
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 | IKEA Dog or Cat bed - New!
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 | 4 OZ. OF CATNIP 100% ORGANIC cat toy green - FRESH!
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|  | 1 Pound of Fragrant, Pungent Dried Catnip - Lot # 4
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 | Cat Playpen Cage Midwest Model 130 With FREE BED !
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 | Comfort zone for Dogs DAP spray and diffuser--USED
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|  | Frontline Spray (250 mL)
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 | 3mo,Cat/Feline Frontline Plus flea and tick.NIB! NR
$2.00 |
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|  | .180 Large Pet Tower - Cubby hole Scratch Post Hemp NEW
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 | Pet Supplies Grooming Hamilton Cat CATS Muzzle *MEDIUM
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
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|  | 8 OZ. OF CATNIP 100% ORGANIC CAT TOYS GREEN - FRESH!!!
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 | Advantage flea control CAT OVER 9lbs 4 MONTH SUPPLY!
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|  | Advantage flea control CAT 0-9lbs 6 MONTH SUPPLY!
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B7801
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|  | Catit Cat Pet Drinking Fountain by Hagen
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 | Cat Wave-shaped Sisal Board w/ Scratching Post
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|  | Cat Litter Box Cover Or Pet Hideaway Wicker Rattan 1805
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 | ADVANTAGE Cat over 9 lbs 4 months NO KITS
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|  | SCOOPWELL Litter Box Scoop And Cat Box Cleaner
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|  | Outdoor Decor & More 5' Wood Bridge
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 | cat litter box furniture cabinet cover bathroom odor
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 | Continuously Freshening Feline Drinking Fountain 72732
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|  | SCratcher Board: pet, cat toy w/ condo, furniture, tree
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 | Cat Kitten Toy Scratcher Teaser -50 Peacock Feathers
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 | 94" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-09
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|  | pet bed, cat quilt made w Laurel Burch fabric $28.&$3.
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 | Multi Cat BIG Litter Box OVERSIZED LARGE BIG Cat Pan
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