| 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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PET SAFE DELUXE CAT FLAP WITH TUNNEL*NEW*
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 | Hartz Control Flea Care for Cats - 3 mo. supply! NEW
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|  | K&H Heated Kitty Camper Outdoor Cat Bed House NEW
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 | Pet Cat Urine Stain Odor Remover Off Carpet Floor Rugs
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|  | Cute 24" BLACK Leather Dog Collar with Brass Bones
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 | NEW LITTERMAID ELITE MEGA LME9250 Automatic Litter Box
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|  | Tick Tock Teaser Cat Toy
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 | FRONTLINE TOPSPOT for cats 6 pack FREE SHIP IN USA
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|  | PETMATE FRESH FLOW LARGE CAT WATER FOUNTAIN 108 oz NEW
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 | *IDEAL LOCKABLE CAT FLAP* 4-WAY LOCK - 6 1/4" NIB
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 | Staywell 500 Series InfraRed Collar for Cat Door Yellow
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 | CAT LOT 17 TOYS Remote CTRL Mouse, GREENIES, Scratcher
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|  | Staywell 500 Series InfraRed Collar for Cat Door Blue
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 | Simple Solution Disposable Dog Diapers pkg of 12 x-lg
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|  | Zukes Hip Action Salmon Cat Treats 3 oz Bags 2 Pack
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 | Drinkwell Platinum Fountain + Brush + 4 Filters NEW
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 | 430301C: Large Paw Print Pet Bed/House for Dogs & Puppy
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|  | Cat Cocoon House Scratching Post Play Climber Playhouse
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 | Zodiac Spot - on Flea Cat (4 - 1cc Applicators) 4 Month
$15.84 |
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|  | Burlap Mouse w/ Catnip - 3 Pack
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 | New Deluxe 42" Cat Tree Condo Furniture, BP-5022
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 | Puttin on The Glitz CAT COLLAR W/Bell BREAKAWAY SiLVER
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|  | Cozy Handmade Cat Bed - BENEFIT AUCTION!!
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 | Cat condo scratching Sisal post furniture
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|  | Lot of Cat Supplies Halters Collars Leash Real Fur Cat
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 | Leopard Print Cat Crinkly Tunnel - 51" Long - NEW!
$28.00 |
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|  | LitterMaid Elite Mega Self Cleaning Cat Litter Box
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 | Comfort Zone Plug-In with Feliway
$21.40 |
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|  | CROSS BOW STRING 50LB HAND GUN STYLE crossbow NEW
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 | CAT LOT 20 TOYS, REMOTE Ctrl MOUSE, GREENIES, Scratcher
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|  | Cat Toy Scratching Post Furniture
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 | Furniture Cat Litter Box Cabinet On eBay New N/R
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 | New cat pet Nail trimmer electricon Pedicure Foot File
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|  | VAS Monster Cat Toy - LOTS of CATNIP - BENEFIT AUCTION!
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 | Cat / Dog Bed Sleeping Hut/House Leppard Material NIB
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|  | BRAND NEW Drinkwell Pet Fountain Water Dish Cat Dog NIB
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 | TURBO SCRATCHER CAT TOY REPLACEMENT SCRATCH PAD SET
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|  | Comfort Zone FELIWAY Diffuser Plug In-Used
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 | HERE KITTY GOOD CAT FEEDING PORCELAIN CROCK DISH SET
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|  | PetSafe Cat Windoor - Removable Pet Door
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 | NEW FINE TOOTHED FLEA COMB, DESHEDER, FREE SHIPPING
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|  | Ideal Chubby Cat Door Flap
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 | Wind Up Windup Fake Mouse Rat Cat Dog Pet Toy NEW!!!!!!
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|  | NEW Booda 6 Pack Soft Bite Mice Cat Toy with Catnip
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 | Cat Playpen Cage Midwest Model 130 With FREE BED !
$99.99 |
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|  | Comfort Zone with Feliway Refill- END URINE MARKING
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 | Littermaid Plus Litter Box System Automatic LM700
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|  | RHiNESTONE BREAKAWAY CAT Collar W/Bell Holly Berry Red
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 | Pet Dish, Cat, 2-piece, made Portugal, Very Cute! New!
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|  | Simple Solution Grooming Glove For Pets
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 | New Deluxe Beige 52" Cat Tree Condo Scratcher 5067
$48.88 |
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|  | $3 off IAMS Healthy Naturals Cat Foods Coupons
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 | 20 coupons B1G1 FREE Wholesome Goodness single cup X09
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|  | BNIB ROYAL MANSION CAT CLIMBING TOY @TAKE A LOOK@
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 | Cat Litter Box Cover Or Pet Hideaway Wicker Rattan 1805
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 | **HILL'S SCIENCE DIET COUPON FOR CAT or DOG DRY FOOD**
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|  | Zukes Hip Action Chicken Cat Treats 3 oz Bags 3 Pack
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 | DOG CAT BLANKET FLEECE THROW 34X48 HUMANE SOCIETY
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|  | fur mice cat toy LONG HAIR- pack of 50
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 | Molly and Friends Handmade Sisal Cat Scratcher NEW Beig
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|  | Roll 'n Clean Self-Cleaning Litter Box
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 | TERRIFIC FRESH PET AREA DEODORIZER/AIR PURIFIER - NIB
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|  | Dog Cat Pet Odor Stain Eliminator Best Urine Remover
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20 - 9 lives dry food coupons
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|  | Mock Suede Round Cat Bed - Plush Interior barely used
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 | Christmas Holiday Rudolph Cat Kitten Pole Teaser Toy
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|  | Fold-A-Bowl Disposable Pet Dish
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 | Meow Town Kitty Treehouse Hideaway Cat Play Furniture!
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|  | Comfort Zone FELIWAY Refill With Plug In--NEW
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 | K&H Heated Kitty Camper Outdoor Cat Bed House NEW
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|  | Deluxe Luxury Real Fur & Leather Cat Teaser Christmas
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 | Kong Naturals Cat Scratcher 2 Pack Single Refills
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|  | Deluxe Kitty Nest w/Fleece Sides Cat/Dog Bed -Assorted
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