| 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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$11.09 |
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|  | 2 Marchioro Pet Carriers and 3 Remington Pet Carriers
$99.99 |
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$0.89 |
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$8.00 |
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 | Littermaid Mega LM900 Automatic Litter Box FREE SHIP
$129.89 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$18.95 |
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$99.95 |
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$9.75 |
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|  | New Meow Town Hide & Play Tunnel Scented with Catnip...
$4.99 |
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10 coupons Exp:11-22-08 Goodlife recipe treats for cats
$0.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA KIT FOR CATS 8 DOSES
$18.99 |
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 | Cartoon Cats Catnip Quilt
$15.99 |
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|  | Littermaid Mega LM900 Automatic Litter Box FREE SHIP
$129.89 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 16 MONTHLY DOSES
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
$36.75 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 10 LBS AND UP 5 DOSES
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 | Cat Collectibles Photo Frame
$6.00 |
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 | Pet Keychain Urn & Vial cremation jewelry pet memorial
$8.00 |
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|  | SOFT CLAWS KITTEN CLEAR CAT 40 CAPS STOP SCRATCHING NEW
$0.99 |
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 | 9-LEVEL72"Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
$0.99 |
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| 10 coupons Exp:10-18-08 meow mix cat treats
$0.50 |
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10 coupons Exp:10-18-08 meow mix cat food any variety
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|  | Reuse Littermaid Receptacles LitterGard System
$9.99 |
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 | Hip CAT COLLAR Brown Green Purple Dots ADJUSTABLE 7-11"
$5.95 |
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|  | CAT 3 BOWL PET DISH RAISED 4 INCHES***** FREE PET NAMES
$20.99 |
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 | ORIGINAL FURminator CAT DOG SMALL deShedding PURPLE
$16.05 |
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|  | CAT FOOD BOWL PET DISH RAISED 4 INCHES** FREE PET NAMES
$14.99 |
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 | Litter Kwitter Cat Potty Toilet Training NO LITTER BOX!
$59.95 |
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|  | 3 x PETMATE FRESH FLOW WATER FOUNTAIN FILTER FREE SHIP
$7.99 |
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 | Soft Claws for Kitten (New in Box)
$10.00 |
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|  | CAT FOOD BOWL PET DISH RAISED 4 INCHES** FREE PET NAMES
$14.99 |
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 | Cat Collectibles Cloisone Photo Frame
$6.25 |
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|  | Cat or Dog winter coat
$5.00 |
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 | LITTERMAID ELECTRIC LITTERBOX
$20.00 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$18.95 |
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 | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC03
$9.99 |
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|  | 3- $5.00 off coupons for purina pro plan kitten food
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 | Lot of FIVE Pawbreakers - Catnip Toy / Treat for Cats
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|  | Littermaid Mega LM900 Automatic Litter Box FREE SHIP
$129.89 |
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 | RARE SOFT CLAWS MED CLEAR CAT 40 CAPS STOP SCRATCHING
$2.75 |
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|  | CAT SCRATCHING BLOCK-NIB-PROTECT YOUR FURNITURE-REDUCED
$8.99 |
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 | 94" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-09
$109.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F3032
$6.99 |
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 | The Original Cat Dancer - BEST TOY EVER for CATS!!!
$3.55 |
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|  | Pet CATS Cat Grooming Bag Restraint System SMALL *NIP
$19.99 |
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 | Cat Collectibles Photo Frame
$6.00 |
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|  | advantage for cats 0 to 9 pounds 4 pack NIB
$15.00 |
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 | Any Iams canned food Buy 2 get 1 free 10 dog cat coupon
$0.99 |
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|  | Single Round Pet Feeder Cat Dog Food Bowl Plastic Dish
$8.50 |
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 | Catmate automatic cat feeder-Works great-No Reserve
$16.50 |
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|  | The Cat Dancer Complete Action Cat Toy - BEST TOY EVER!
$3.55 |
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 | Fashionable Cat Carrier Tote
$15.00 |
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|  | Certified Organic Catnip ( 1 oz. package)
$3.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
$36.75 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS NO S&H!!! 6 PACK BRAND NEW! EPA
$22.50 |
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 | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 62C
$9.99 |
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|  | All natural catnip toys (pack of 6 Assorted Colors)
$6.99 |
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 | (10) $2 OFF IAMS 8 lb dry CAT food coupon lot SAVE $20
$1.55 |
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|  | Flint River Ranch 40 lbs Cat & Kitten Food Lamb Chicken
$72.99 |
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 | RARE SOFT CLAWS LARGE CLEAR CAT 40 CAPS STOP SCRATCHING
$5.50 |
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|  | Cool New Cat or Dog Pet Bed Pad Mat Pillow for Crate
$12.34 |
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 | SpotOn Plus for cats (As seen in Frontline's magazine)
$9.99 |
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|  | Littermaid Mega LM900 Automatic Litter Box FREE SHIP
$129.89 |
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 | Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain - New - Pet Water Dish
$48.95 |
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|  | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-10
$25.99 |
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 | PETMATE FRESH FLOW DELUXE CAT WATER FOUNTAIN Free Ship
$36.99 |
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|  | Cat or Dog jogging suit
$8.00 |
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 | Three different pet costumes
$5.00 |
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|  | PetSafe Cat Window Veranda Perch Box Shelf With Door
$111.95 |
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 | 70" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F72
$0.99 |
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|  | 15 COUPONS-$3.00 OFF EACH-FRESH STEP CAT LITTER
$7.50 |
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 | WARNING! ATTACK CAt Novelty Sign
$4.50 |
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|  | 18 bags of Whiskas All Natural Temptations Cat Treats
$0.06 |
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 | fur mice -60 piece-natural colors
$8.99 |
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|  | Littermaid Mega LM900 Automatic Litter Box FREE SHIP
$129.89 |
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 | Littermaid Mega LM900 Automatic Litter Box FREE SHIP
$129.89 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
$18.95 |
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 | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-12
$29.99 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for Cats 6 month supply sealed in box
$15.52 |
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 | New BR 4x12x6H Cat Dog Cage Pen Crate Kennel Free Ship
$606.00 |
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|  | LitterMaid Elite W/ Ionic Air Cleaner
$45.13 |
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 | Rhinestone Cat Safety Collar, Brand New, Purple
$9.75 |
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|  | 200 FT Bulk 3/8" Brazilian Sisal Rope Sisal Rope
$22.00 |
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 | 45" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F40
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Collectibles Photo Album
$12.00 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 8 MONTHLY DOSES
$18.99 |
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|  | New Deluxe Beige 52" Cat Tree Condo Scratcher 5067
$49.98 |
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 | Purrfect height sisal scratching post - nearly 3 ft.
$39.99 |
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|  | 25 Pounce Moist Cat Treats 6.5 oz Value Pack resealable
$12.50 |
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 | ö Giant 4 ft Sisal Rope Cat Scratching Post Posts ö
$49.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F601B
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 | 8 bags Flint River Ranch Cat Treats Bonita Fish Flakes
$38.00 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture T35
$15.99 |
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10 coupons Exp:10-18-08 meow mix market select cat food
$0.99 |
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|  | DRINKWELL SCOOPWELL CAT LITTER BOX CLEANER SCOOPER nwt
$9.99 |
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 | Cat Collectible Friendship Candle
$12.00 |
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