| 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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 | 17" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-11
$19.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5701
$0.99 |
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 | PEDI PAWS ROTARY NAIL TRIMMER - NIB
$11.49 |
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|  | MUST^..^L@@K Cat Tree Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
$0.99 |
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 | Kitty Cat Fleece Rope Toy -BENEFITS ANIMAL RESCUE
$5.00 |
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|  | M.A.X. Dachshund Cat Scratching Pad
$29.95 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B3001
$0.99 |
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|  | CATS Cat Grooming Bathing Bag Restraint System * MEDIUM
$19.99 |
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 | Grain & Potato Free Beef/Salmon Cat Food 6.5 lbs
$4.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
$0.99 |
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 | NIP - Farnam Feline Comfort Zone with Feliway Spray
$9.99 |
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|  | MUST^..^L@@K Cat Tree Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
$0.99 |
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 | Whimsical Cat Motif Wall Mount Key Hook Holder -Brass-
$8.25 |
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|  | Irresistables - Sushi Surprise Food Topping - 1oz
$4.99 |
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 | PET CAT GROOMING BAG RESTRAINT WASHING NAILS, LARGE NIP
$9.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Scratcher post furniture
$0.99 |
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 | HUGE 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$38.00 |
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|  | WOW 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$21.00 |
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 | ** Kitty Cat Toy Toys Furniture Tree Bed Condo House **
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A8001
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
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|  | Hip CAT COLLAR Thanksgiving Fall Floral ADJUSTS 7-11"
$5.95 |
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 | 15- $5 OFF ANY 1 EUKANUBA DRY CAT FOOD COUPONS-SAVE $75
$0.99 |
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|  | 100"-112" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
$0.99 |
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 | Easy Oat Kit
$3.95 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6802
$0.99 |
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 | 2 OZ. OF CATNIP 100% ORGANIC CAT TOYS GREEN - FRESH!!!!
$1.50 |
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|  | KITTY KEY CHAIN, IF YOUR A CAT LOVER THIS IS A MUST.
$1.25 |
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Frontline Plus Cat Kitten
$5.00 |
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|  | NEW 41" Cat Kitten Kitty Pet Hide Out Bed Toy Tunnel
$19.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5301
$0.99 |
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|  | FAT-CAT Cozy Bed with Reversible Pad - Purple-ON SALE
$16.95 |
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 | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 62C
$9.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A8001
$0.99 |
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 | QUALITY Hospital Bed Pads Reusable Cotton Quilted
$24.00 |
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|  | PET CAT GROOMING BAG RESTRAINT WASHING NAILS, SMALL NIP
$9.99 |
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 | Litter Locker by Petmate~EUC Blue & White Litter Scoop
$7.00 |
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|  | PET CAT GROOMING BAG RESTRAINT, BATHING,NAILS ,MED,NIP
$9.99 |
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 | Personalized Custom Cat Collar Name Phone Number Bell
$6.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B3803
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Toy Scratching Post Furniture
$0.49 |
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|  | 2 Real SHEEPSKIN & Organic CATNIP CAT TOYS - FREE SHIP!
$9.99 |
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 | Lot of 50 nylon mice
$6.99 |
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|  | 5 Purina Kitten Coupons total saving $55
$6.37 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
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|  | Boogie Mat-Refillable Catnip Nap Mat for Cats & Kittens
$8.95 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
$0.99 |
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|  | Assorted lot of Cat toys, feathers, mice, balls
$0.99 |
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 | Travel Pet Carrier for Cat - Dog
$9.90 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A5201
$0.99 |
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 | PINK CHEETAH LEOPARD PRINT BOLSTER DOG BED PAD CAT PET
$0.01 |
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|  | M.A.X. Tiger Cat Scratching Pad
$178.95 |
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 | One-Quarter Pound, Powerfully Strong Catnip Buds
$3.50 |
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|  | Nutro cat food rebate coupon - Receive $10, $5, and $4!
$0.99 |
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 | Argo aero-pet airline approved dog & cat carrier pink S
$105.00 |
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|  | tiny CATNIP BAGS! CAT TOYS! HOME GROWN! BUY 1 up to 25
$0.99 |
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 | One-Half Pound, Powerfully Strong Catnip Buds
$6.00 |
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|  | DEAL 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$21.00 |
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 | Outward Hound Pet-a-Roo Front Carrier - Medium
$28.95 |
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|  | Halloween Pet Bed - Unique! - Cat Dog Basket Black Fall
$0.99 |
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 | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 73B
$24.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5301
$0.99 |
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 | Cat condo scratching Sisal post furniture
$0.49 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7202
$0.99 |
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 | 2oz. Certified Organic Catnip
$3.95 |
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|  | BARGAIN 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$38.00 |
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 | 1 LB. OF CATNIP 16 OZ. 100% ORGANIC * FRESH! * GREEN!
$6.99 |
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|  | Cat Toy Scratching Post Furniture
$0.01 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
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|  | cat toy wand with feather attachment cat teaser
$3.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTHS FREE SHIPPING
$32.95 |
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|  | PEDI PAWS ROTARY NAIL TRIMMER - NIB
$15.00 |
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 | 8 OZ. OF CATNIP 100% ORGANIC CAT TOYS GREEN - FRESH!!!
$3.49 |
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|  | 94" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-09
$109.99 |
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 | 32" Cat Kitten Pet Hide N Seek 3/Way Bed Toys Tunnel
$19.99 |
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|  | M.A.X. Leopard Sofa Scratching Pad
$24.95 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6202
$0.99 |
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|  | 57" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-04
$59.99 |
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 | .185: CLOSEOUT SALE - PET CASTLE Cubby Platforms Towers
$24.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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 | .042 PET PLAYGROUND w. SWING HAMMOCK + HEMP WHEEL TOY
$9.99 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for CATS 3 applicators Kills Fleas ticks
$20.50 |
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 | FrontlinePLUS -Cats 6 Month Supply!
$40.00 |
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|  | NEW CAT COMFORT ZONE FELIWAY PLUG IN DIFFUSER 2 KITS
$53.98 |
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 | Lot of 3 Kookamunga Door Cattie Cat Toys w/Catnip
$2.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B7301
$0.99 |
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 | .094 PET TENT CARRIER - BLUE - CAT ON CLOUD DESIGN NEW
$0.99 |
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|  | .006: NEW 4 Level Cat CONDO w/ 6 Scratch POSTS: 2 BEDS
$29.99 |
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 | MidWest Cages Cat Play Pen Model 130 - FREE BED!!
$97.95 |
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|  | 1 OZ. OF CATNIP 100% ORGANICALLY GROWN GREAT QUALITY!!
$0.75 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7463
$0.99 |
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|  | 96"-109" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
$0.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6501
$0.99 |
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|  | NEW CAT COMFORT ZONE FELIWAY PLUG IN DIFFUSER ONE KIT
$26.99 |
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 | HANDCRAFTED 10" ROUND STAINED GLASS SUNCATCHER CAT NEW
$9.99 |
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|  | NEW 41" LEOPARD Cat Tree Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$21.00 |
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|  | Drinkwell Platinum Fountain +AquaGarden+Brush+7 Filters
$84.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
$0.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH FREE GIFTS
$60.35 |
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