| 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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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CATS - 8 MOS - EPA APPROVED -USA 3 6 12
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 | NIB TWO QUART AUTOMATIC WATERING BOWL FOR PETS
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|  | Omega Paw Self Cleaning Litter Box - Regular with Mat
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 | CAT DOG PET URINE ODOR CARPET FLOOR CLEANER ELIMINATOR!
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 | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2040B
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 | Pretty Scratcher:pet, cat toy, for use with condo, tree
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| Littermaid LME9250 Elite Self Cleaning Litterbox
$68.56 |
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 | USA 8 MONTH FRONTLINE PLUS 4 ALL SIZED CATS EPA 6 8 12
$17.99 |
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|  | Euro Small Dog Agility Tunnel, Pet Toy,dia 16", 6.5 ft
$25.00 |
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|  | SmartCat Peek-N-Play Toy Box - Cat Toy
$16.95 |
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 | NEW Kitty Furniture ~ Cat Shelf Bed Napper Window Perch
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|  | USA 10 MONTH ADVANTAGE 4 CATS OVER 9 POUNDS EPA 6 12
$35.50 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT 9 LBS AND UNDER-10 MOS-EPA - USA 4 6 12
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6203
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 | NEW LITTERMAID LME9250 ELITE MEGA Automatic Litterbox
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 | * EPA 20 Month Advantage 4 Cats up to 9 Pounds USA 6 12
$35.95 |
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|  | 8 Months Frontline Plus For Cats, EPA Approved # 3,6,12
$17.00 |
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 | New Littermaid Plus LM700 Self Cleaning Litter Box
$41.53 |
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|  | 60 Mice-mouse: cat, furry toy
$7.99 |
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 | * EPA 10 Month Advantage 4 Cats over 9 Pounds USA 6 12
$35.95 |
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|  | Scratcher Board: pet, cat toy w/ condo, furniture, tree
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 | 48" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture T43
$9.99 |
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|  | Omega Paw Self Cleaning Litter Box - Large with Mat
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 | MiracleBeam Laser Pet Toy PETSMART RED Cat Dog Birds
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|  | USA 16 MONTH FRONTLINE PLUS 4 ALL SIZED CATS EPA 3 6 12
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 | SALE 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$16.50 |
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|  | .026 PET TOY - CURIOSITY CUBE w. HANGING TOY HEMP ROPE
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 | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA KIT FOR DOGS 11-20 LBS 8 DOSES
$34.99 |
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|  | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA CONTROL KIT SMALL DOG 0-10 LBS 10 dose
$18.95 |
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 | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F51
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|  | "Leopard Pattern Pet Carrier For Cat or Lil Dog - New"
$29.30 |
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 | Science Diet Cat Food 20 Large 5.5 oz Cans
$10.00 |
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|  | Pet Studio Cat Litter Box Mahogany Cabinet 28Wx19Dx24H
$149.99 |
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 | Omega Paw Roll Away Self Cleaning Litter Box - Large
$34.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA/TICK KIT FOR CATS 16 DOSES (#6)/12
$33.99 |
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 | 20SAVE $1.00 ON PURINA HEALTHFUL LIFE CAT FOOD COUPONS
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|  | GOD BLESS MY CAT, St. Francis Jewelry Medal Tag Charm
$2.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT OVER 9 LBS - 5 MOS - EPA - USA 4 6 12
$15.98 |
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|  | ~52"~ Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher pet Furniture L@@K
$0.99 |
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 | 20" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-12
$29.99 |
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|  | EPA 8 Month Frontline Plus 4 All Cats Pounds USA 3 6 12
$18.50 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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|  | NEW RINGSLING PUPPY POUCH PETCARRIER PETS/SPOTS $10.99
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 | USA 20 MONTH ADVANTAGE 4 CATS UP TO 9 POUNDS EPA 6 12
$35.50 |
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|  | Oral Flea Control: Capstar for Dogs & Cats 2-25 lbs Fe
$19.35 |
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 | Omega Paw Roll Away Self Cleaning Litter Box - Regular
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$17.99 |
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 | Cat Tree Toy House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F14
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|  | .026 PET TOY - CURIOSITY CUBE w. HANGING TOY HEMP ROPE
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$18.95 |
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|  | NEVER SCOOP Clean Kitty Cat Litter Box/Pan! 3-mo supply
$17.69 |
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 | BIG SALE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$34.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6501
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 | EPA 16 Month Frontline Plus All Cats Pounds USA 3 6 12
$35.95 |
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|  | USA 10 MONTH ADVANTAGE 4 CATS UP TO 9 POUNDS EPA 6 12
$17.99 |
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 | Paw Print Pets Dog House -16x16x14" - Bed Pet Supplies
$8.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA KIT FOR SMALL DOGS 10-20 LBS 4 DOSES
$17.99 |
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 | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
$7.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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 | EPA 10 Month Advantage for Cats 1 - 9 Pounds USA 4 6 12
$18.50 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6202
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 | 17" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-11
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|  | Frontline Spray LARGE (500 mL)
$45.99 |
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 | Saltwater Aquarium Video DVD - Relaxation Great 4 cats
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
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 | Cat Life Furniture8 - Style, Quality, Fun - ONLY $10/Sh
$49.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE for Cats Over 9 lbs
$46.00 |
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 | Original "BIGFOOT" CAT FURNITURE CONDO TREE /80 INCHES
$249.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
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 | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med dogs 23-44 lbs 3 mon
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|  | PetSafe Scat Mat Indoor Training Aid for Dog or Cat
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 | $10 off Tidy Cats Litter System PLUS Glap Wisp $3 coupo
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|  | 4 pc Diamante cat collars wt bell-can fastened any pt.@
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA KIT FOR CATS 8 DOSES
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|  | CET Chews for Cats (30 chews) Fish Flavor
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$17.50 |
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|  | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
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15 Target $5.00 off Iams Premium Protection Food Coupon
$1.75 |
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|  | Cat-Opoly cat catopoly NEW!
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 | 60 Mice mouse pet cat, leather toy, for use with condo
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|  | Frontline Spray (250 mL)
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 | 70" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F72
$15.99 |
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|  | USA 5 MONTH ADVANTAGE 4 CATS OVER 9 POUNDS EPA 6 12
$17.99 |
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 | EPA 5 Month Advantage for Cats over 9 Pounds USA 4 6 12
$18.50 |
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| Littermaid LM700 Self-Cleaning Litterbox
$16.10 |
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 | LITTERWORKS CABINET STAND 4 Littermaid ELITE LitterBox
$116.89 |
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