| 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 Tree--64 inches tall
$150.00 |
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|  | 15" Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine Wash & Dry
$8.99 |
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 | Cat Litter Box Cover Or Pet Hideaway Wicker Rattan 1805
$49.99 |
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|  | Frontline Plus Cats Kittens 8 Weeks + Older - FREE SHIP
$0.99 |
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 | INSTA FIT PET DOOR
$9.99 |
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|  | 5 HEAD LASER POINTER CAT TOY DOG AIRSOFT NEW
$0.99 |
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 | MIRACLE COAT QUICK FINDER ELECTRONIC CAT NAIL CLIPPER
$19.99 |
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|  | Catmeister Cat Toy
$2.21 |
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 | 12 Wholesale Lot NIP Safety Cat Breakaway Collar w/Bell
$10.85 |
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|  | MIRACLE COAT QUICK FINDER SAFETY NAIL CLIPPER Dog/Cat
$12.99 |
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 | SmartCat Bootie's Combination Scratcher-Scratching Post
$19.95 |
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|  | Free coupon Purina Breeze Tidy Cats Litter System
$10.00 |
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 | CAT GRASS SEEDS - A MIX CATS LOVE - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | NEW LITTERMAID ELITE MEGA LME9250 Automatic Litter Box
$59.00 |
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 | Frontline PLUS for cats. 12-month supply
$90.00 |
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|  | Pet Studio Cat Litter Box Mahogany Cabinet 28Wx19Dx24H
$149.99 |
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 | Teaser Fleece Wand With Acrylic Rod Cat Toy
$2.21 |
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|  | Pet Essentials Cat Nook & SmartyKat Loco Motion Toy NIB
$12.99 |
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 | used HIDDEN CAT LITTER BOX W/ HOOD PLANT good condition
$38.50 |
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|  | KITTY CAT PUPPY DOG TOY SOLDIER STUFFED ANIMAL SET NEW
$4.99 |
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 | NEW! LUPINE KITTY COLLAR/ ADJUSTABLE 7-9 INCH/ SEAHORSE
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|  | Flashing Cat Ball
$2.21 |
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 | Cat Playpen Cage Midwest Model 130 With FREE BED !
$109.99 |
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|  | Set 3 pawprint adjust nylon cat collars wt a bell^
$7.58 |
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 | 73" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-08
$99.99 |
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|  | Breakaway Safety Cat Collar/Lead Bronco Orange Blue Set
$0.99 |
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 | Pointer Spotbrites Laser Mouse Toy For Cats
$2.99 |
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|  | Custom Cat Tree Condo Sisal Scratcher 2 Towers w/Beds
$164.99 |
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 | 10 MONTH ADVANTAGE FOR CATS KITTEN flea KIT to 9 lbs 6
$18.97 |
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|  | 15" Cotton Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine Wash & Dry
$7.99 |
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 | NEW PET CARRIER/TOTE,ANIMAL TRAVEL BAG,CAT PRINT,D9
$4.99 |
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|  | 15 x 20 Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine W & D
$10.99 |
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 | 15" Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine Wash & Dry
$8.99 |
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|  | 15" Cotton Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine Wash & Dry
$7.99 |
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 | 4 NEW Comfort Zone Feliway Refills
$1.25 |
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|  | LitterMaid Elite Mega + 2 waste recepticles and filters
$49.99 |
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 | CAT GRASS SEEDS - A MIX CATS LOVE - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain
$54.95 |
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 | Kitty Cat Water Fountain #76029 New in Box
$9.99 |
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|  | 15 x 20 Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine W & D
$10.99 |
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 | CAT DOG Lot of 13 SAFETY Christmas Collars 10-12" NEW
$6.99 |
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|  | Casual Kitty Mouse Patrol Tee X SM Orange CT01
$8.95 |
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 | Plastic glitter Laser cat collar with a bell 5 colors!
$11.50 |
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|  | Advantage Cats 9 lbs & Under (Orange) 6 Months! EPA!
$36.99 |
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 | TERRIFIC FRESH PET AREA DEODORIZER/AIR PURIFIER - NIB
$9.99 |
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|  | Nylon Zippered Cat Grooming Washing Restraint Bag Large
$19.95 |
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 | NEW (3) Comfort Zone Feliway Diffusers & Vials Farnam
$68.95 |
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|  | Slumber Pet Thermal Kitty Dog Cat Mat Pawprint Bed
$10.95 |
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 | CAT Photo Mouse Pad " SANTA KITTY "
$5.24 |
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|  | SmartCat Kitty Ultimate Litter Box
$10.95 |
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 | LOT OF 4 FREE PURINA YESTERDAYS NEWS CAT LITTER COUPONS
$0.99 |
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|  | Personalized Pet Memorial - Loving Hearts
$36.95 |
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 | 24 bags of Whiskas All Natural Temptations Cat Treats
$10.50 |
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|  | Lot of 3 Kookamunga Door Cattie Cat Toys w/Catnip
$2.99 |
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 | Savvy Tabby Espresso Wooden Cat Window Seat 18x14x12
$59.99 |
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|  | Tapeworm Cat Kitten Tape Worm Wormer 3 Tabs 23mg
$12.98 |
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 | 20) $5 off Purina Pro Plan or Selects Cat food coupons
$0.99 |
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|  | 15 x 20 Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine W & D
$10.99 |
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 | 19x19 Fleece&Sherpa Cat/Dog Snuggle Sack/Bed Hand Made
$14.99 |
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|  | CATNIP SEEDS - CATS LOVE IT!!!!!!!! - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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 | MEOW TOWN SOFT BERBER KITTY WINDOW PERCH
$9.99 |
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|  | Cat Kitten Toy Scratcher Teaser -50 Peacock Feathers
$24.96 |
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 | Cat Kitty Bed House Puppy Dog Giraffe Ferret Pet
$14.99 |
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|  | 15" Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine Wash & Dry
$8.99 |
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 | PINK CAT TOTE BAG
$2.99 |
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|  | 15 x 20 Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine W & D
$10.99 |
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 | Crinkle Ball w/Feathers
$5.95 |
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|  | Cat Playpen Cage Midwest Model 130 With FREE BED !
$99.99 |
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 | Cat Toy lot 6 Bouncy Atom Balls /Pet toy,brand new
$0.89 |
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|  | Fishy Fun Roll Cat Toy
$5.49 |
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 | fur mice cat toy LONG HAIR- pack of 50
$9.99 |
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|  | Soft Claws Clear Nail Caps Kittens First Year NEW
$2.50 |
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 | Sherpa Cat / Dog Safety Collar - SKY BLUE
$6.99 |
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|  | CATNIP SEEDS - CATS LOVE IT!!!!!!!! - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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 | ORANGE AND GREY KITTEN TOTE BAG
$2.99 |
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|  | Dog carrier NWT
$3.99 |
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 | Argo aero-pet airline approved dog & cat carrier pink S
$105.00 |
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|  | 2 New Comfort Zone with FELIWAY Refills
$0.99 |
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 | Casual Kitty Mouse Patrol Tee Shirt MED Orange CT03
$9.95 |
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|  | PERMANENT WASTE RECEPTACLE CONTAINER 4 LitterMaid *-*
$49.90 |
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 | 15" Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine Wash & Dry
$8.99 |
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|  | 2 New Comfort Zone with FELIWAY Refills
$0.99 |
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 | Plush Leopard Print Pet Carrier
$4.99 |
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|  | Casual Kitty Mouse Patrol Tee Shirt SMALL Orange CT02
$9.95 |
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 | 15" Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine Wash & Dry
$8.99 |
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|  | TAPE WORM TABS 2 PACKS NIP 6 TABLETS TOTAL FOR CAT-23mg
$7.99 |
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 | SmartCat Bootsie's Bunkbed and Playroom
$28.95 |
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|  | 15 x 20 Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine W & D
$10.99 |
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 | 15 x 20 Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine W & D
$10.99 |
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|  | Set 3 pawprint adjust nylon cat collars wt a bell@
$7.58 |
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 | 15" Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine Wash & Dry
$8.99 |
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|  | CAT Photo Mouse Pad " SANTA KITTY "
$5.24 |
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 | ORANGE COLORED/ TIGER CAT TOTE BAG
$2.99 |
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|  | Laser Exercise Beam Cat Dog Pet Toy Keychain
$5.95 |
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 | 19x19 Fleece&Sherpa Cat/Dog Snuggle Sack/Bed Hand Made
$14.99 |
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|  | K&H Mfg Thermo Kitty Bed Heated Cat Bed Domain
$46.95 |
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 | Petmate Cat Toy Rocking Grass Catnip Lights Vibrate NIB
$9.99 |
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|  | 15 x 20 Fleece Cat/Dog/Pet Bed Hand Made Machine W & D
$10.99 |
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 | Lattice Plastic Balls With Bells 4 Pack
$1.79 |
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