| 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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 | Wet Food Pedestal Pet Cat Dish Bowl 6" W Blue Fishbones
$24.00 |
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|  | Advantage For Cats Over 9 LBS. 4 Tubes $ NOT A KIT $
$34.99 |
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 | CAT COLLAR-CHANUKAH- BLUE VELCRO-BEASTIE BANDS
$4.99 |
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|  | Wet Food Pedestal Dish Bowl Cat Dog 6" Almond Paw Print
$29.00 |
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 | Flashing Cat Ball
$2.21 |
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|  | Fresh'nClean Pet Hair Vac-Away Carpet Deodorizer Powder
$3.75 |
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 | Wholesale 6 laser pointer 5 head Lazer New C Low S+H
$4.80 |
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|  | Reversible Pet Hammock
$20.95 |
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 | Kittyvite Daily Vitamin Paste - For Senior Cats
$2.99 |
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|  | Black Jacquard "Fargo" Cat Dog Paw Print Purse NWT
$17.99 |
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 | Cat Toy Fur Mice 6 pack / w Catnip pet toy Brand new
$0.01 |
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|  | Hard Food Dish Water Bowl Cat Dog 4.5" H Almond Mouse
$25.00 |
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 | Pointer Spotbrites Laser Mouse Toy For Cats
$2.99 |
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|  | New no hassle pet carriers that does the work for you!
$25.99 |
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 | Cat Scratcher Toy Mouse Shaped hangs up or floor play
$12.99 |
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|  | Wet Food Pedestal Pet Cat Dish Bowl 6" Wide Teal Green
$26.00 |
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 | NEW SSSCAT Cat Dog Training Spray Repellent Multivet
$24.99 |
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|  | Brown Jacquard Wallet Cat Dog Pet Paw Prints NWT
$11.95 |
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 | PVC Pet Bed Yellow/White Hammock Cat Dog Ferret Gift
$15.50 |
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|  | Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Cat Dog Auto. Water Fountain
$9.99 |
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 | NEW ** Super Cute CAT ** Italian Links Watch - 14688765
$0.99 |
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|  | NEW ** Super Cute CAT ** Italian Links Watch - 14688766
$0.99 |
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 | Pet Bed - Medium - Animal Print **NEW**
$4.99 |
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|  | Outward Hound Pet-a-Roo Front Carrier - Medium
$28.95 |
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 | Cat Pet Original Art Note Cards - Cocteau quote inside!
$6.95 |
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|  | pet treat jar that chatters
$0.99 |
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 | PET PORTER HARDSHELL CAT DOG CARRIER CARGO TOTE CASE NR
$9.99 |
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|  | Food Water Cat Dish Bowl Feeder 5" Wide 5.5" High Pink
$28.00 |
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 | NEW! TranQuil Tabs for Dogs (60 Tablets)
$9.99 |
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|  | BRAND NEW SEALED LITTERMAID 18 PACK WASTE RECEPTACLES
$9.99 |
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 | petsafe in-ground cat fence receiver collar
$70.00 |
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| 24 coupons $1/1 Goodlife Recipe Treats for Cats
$0.99 |
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 | Omega Paw Large Self Cleaning Cat Kitty Litter Box
$19.99 |
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|  | Pet Mate Fresh Flow Deluxe Water Fountain Dog Cat GUC!
$9.99 |
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 | FAT-CAT Cozy Bed with Reversible Pad - Purple-ON SALE
$16.95 |
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|  | Jungle Cat Cave ,cat bed,kitty hideaway,cat play area
$29.99 |
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 | Boogie Mat-Refillable Catnip Nap Mat for Cats & Kittens
$8.95 |
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|  | ADAMS PLUS BREAKAWAY FLEA & TICK COLLAR CATS & KITTENS
$8.99 |
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 | Black "Nikko" Dog Cat Pet Paw Print Purse Handbag NWT
$16.95 |
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|  | 2 Meals Dog or Cat Timed Food Feeder - FREE SHIPPING!
$29.99 |
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 | DRINKWELL PET FOUNTAIN CAT DOG WATER DISH PACKAGE
$54.95 |
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|  | PET CARRIER SOFT SIDED RED AND BLACK SNAPDOWN FLAP
$0.99 |
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 | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | SANTA'S BEST CAT, CHRISTMAS FEEDING DISH
$9.99 |
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 | RYE CAT GRASS SEEDS - FAST GROWING - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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|  | Wet Food Pedestal Pet Cat Dish Bowl 6" W Almond Fish
$24.00 |
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 | Heated Pet Bed Indoor/Outdoor Dog/Cat Warmer Small NWT
$46.50 |
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|  | Food Water Cat Dog Dish Bowl 6" Wide 5.5" High
$26.00 |
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 | Cat Dog Pet Original Art Note Cards -Schweitzer quote!
$6.95 |
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|  | Pacifier Pillow for suckling kittens
$10.00 |
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 | CATS Cat Grooming Bathing Bag Restraint System * MEDIUM
$19.99 |
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|  | NEW- CHICAGO Sights 3.5 x 5" Picture Frame
$6.50 |
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 | Cute pair of kitty dishes, hardly used
$0.99 |
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|  | Continuously Freshening Feline Drinking Fountain 72732
$21.99 |
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 | Hard Food Dish Water Bowl Cat Dog 5" Wide Teal Green
$25.00 |
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|  | 8 DOSE CAT ~ 6 DOSE SMALL DOG KIT FRONTLINE PLUS REFILL
$17.99 |
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 | PVC Pet Bed Black/Grey Hammock Cat Dog Ferret Gift
$15.50 |
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|  | Cat Toy 3 Squeaky Mice/Pet toy mouse brand new
$0.99 |
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 | Wet Food Pedestal Dish Bowl Cat Dog 6" Wide Pink
$33.00 |
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|  | Fat Cat Inc. / Kitty Hoots ShowGulls CATNIP + FEATHERS
$3.92 |
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 | K&H Thermo Kitty Furniture Warmer 12"x16" NEW
$29.99 |
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|  | Original "BIGFOOT" CAT FURNITURE CONDO TREE /80 INCHES
$249.99 |
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 | Water Food stainless steel dish with food storage base
$5.00 |
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|  | 20) $3.00/1 Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Coupons x 2/09
$0.75 |
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 | K&H Thermo Kitty Heated Lounger 16 x 20 Cat or Dog
$49.98 |
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|  | Hard Food Dish Water Bowl Cat Dog 5" W Honey Mouse
$25.00 |
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 | 20 Pc CAT Toy CHRISTMAS Holiday STOCKING w/TEASER WAND
$0.99 |
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|  | New no hassle pet carriers that does the work for you!
$25.99 |
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 | Cat Toy 4 Long Furry Rattle Furry Mice Catnip Brand New
$0.99 |
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|  | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | Cat Dog Pet Original Art Note Cards - Burden quote!
$6.95 |
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|  | 400 NEW LINERS for LITTERMAID WASTE RECEPTACLES
$22.00 |
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 | NEW RING SLING PUPPY POUCH PET CARRIER CHEETAH $11.99
$11.99 |
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|  | Wet Food Pedestal Pet Cat Dish Bowl 6" Almond Paw Print
$26.00 |
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 | Feliway Spray feline cat comfort
$14.36 |
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|  | Outward Hound Pet-a-Roo Front Carrier - Medium
$28.95 |
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 | Hard Food Dish Water Bowl Cat Dog 5" Wide Honey Brown
$24.00 |
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|  | SMARTSCOOP AUTOMATIC CAT LITTER BOX SELF CLEANING NIB
$109.95 |
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 | Catnip Cup 0.5 Ounce Fresh And Aromatic Catnip
$1.89 |
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|  | CleverCat Top Entry Cat LitterBox - LINERS ONLY.
$5.99 |
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 | Black MicroFiber Purse Cat Dog Purple Paw Prints NWT
$14.95 |
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|  | Irish Ireland Shamrock Lucky Pet Dog ID Tag St Patrick
$3.29 |
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 | Cat - Outside CATS Winter Shelter Kit
$39.99 |
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|  | Catnip toys set of 3
$2.99 |
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 | Cat Pet Original Art Note Cards - Kitty City!
$6.95 |
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|  | Cat - Outside CATS Winter Shelter Kit
$39.99 |
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 | Black Wallet Tan Trim Cute Cat Dog Pet Paw Prints NWT
$12.99 |
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|  | cat bug toy--cats love to chase bugs--so give them bugs
$0.99 |
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 | VBG Diarrhea Control Gel - Cat (1ml)
$13.50 |
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|  | Lentek 6-Day Automatic Pet Dish Cat Dog NEW I Ship Fast
$29.95 |
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 | Cat Toy 2 Crystal Rattle Balls /Pet toy,brand new
$0.89 |
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|  | Wet Food Pedestal Dish Bowl Cat Dog 6" Wide Teal Green
$29.00 |
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 | Bio Spot Flea Tick Control Cats 6 month supply - NEW
$9.99 |
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|  | RYE CAT GRASS SEEDS - FAST GROWING - FREE SHIPPING
$3.00 |
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 | Cat Toy lot 6 Rainbow Foam Balls /Pet toy,brand new
$0.99 |
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|  | PVC Pet Bed Brown Hammock Cat Dog Ferret Gift
$15.50 |
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 | DRONTAL ALLWORMER FOR CATS 4 PACK FREE SHIP
$16.00 |
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|  | Black "Terri" Shoulder Purse with Pet Paw Prints NWT!
$18.95 |
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 | LitterMaid Repair Manual Soft Cover Version Book New
$15.90 |
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