| 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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 | tuna flavored Enisy F for FHV-1 protects YOUR kittens
$16.00 |
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|  | Automatic Cleaning Litter Round Up Litter Box Petmate
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 | Elevated Cat Pottery Food Dish Water Bowl WDB5-S Blue
$27.00 |
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|  | Lattice Plastic Balls With Bells 4 Pack
$1.79 |
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 | New Jeweled Paw Print Dog Charm Pet Collar Purse Silver
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|  | CAT & DOG TEAR STAIN PREVENTER, HERBAL HEALTH PURIFEYE
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 | Colorful Springs Thin 10 Pack
$1.79 |
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|  | EYE ENVY WHITE CAT TEAR STAIN REMOVER
$19.50 |
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 | LITTER QUITTER AS SEEN ON TV TRAIN CAT TO USE TOILET
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|  | Organic Catnip in HP Jar, Witch, Wicca, Cat Magic
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|  | new NAIL clippers FOR cats CAT clipper TRIMMER
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 | Raised All Purpose Food Dog Dish Bowl Pushback CD5-T
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|  | Nylon Zippered Cat Grooming Washing Restraint Bag Large
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 | OMEGA PAW REGULAR ROLLING CAT LITTER BOX ROLL
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS OVER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY
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|  | Pet Bed cat small dog kitty sponge blue and yellow
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 | Petmate Deluxe Fresh Flow Cat Dog Pet Feeder NIB
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|  | Very Cute Cat Kitten Kitchen Serving Bowl BRAND NEW!!!
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 | Frontline Plus for dogs 45-88 LBS 6 Doses
$58.00 |
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|  | PetSafe PIG00-11007 Deluxe In Ground Cat Fence System
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 | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
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|  | NWOT T-shirt or Tank With Rhinestone Cat Face Motif
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 | Catnip Cup 0.5 Ounce Fresh And Aromatic Catnip
$1.89 |
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|  | ULTIMATE CAT SCRATCHER POST by SMART CAT QUALITY
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 | Cat & Dog Pet Carrier New Nylon Folds Flat Airplane
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|  | KITTEN HOLIDAY FURRY COLLAR BENEFIT PET RESCUE 100%
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 | Cat Food Dish Bowl Pottery Splashback CD6-S On Pedestal
$38.00 |
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|  | Zodiac FleaTrol Cat & Kitten Spot On 3 month supply
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 | Flashing Cat Ball
$2.21 |
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|  | Staywell Original Small Plastic Dog or Cat Door
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 | fur mice cat toy -50 pieces pastel colored plush
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|  | Elevated Cat Wet Food Dish Bowl Splashback CD6-S Blue
$38.00 |
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 | Iams ProActive Health Adult Cat Food Coupons (6x$ 4.00)
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CATS UNDER 9 lbs 20 MONTH SUPPLY 1 4 6 8
$34.95 |
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 | Hagen CatIt Pet Water DRINKING FOUNTAIN for Cats & Dogs
$29.99 |
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|  | Booda Dome Cleanstep Cat Box No Lid
$1.99 |
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 | 3 MAUI MEOWI VERY POTENT CATNIP CANDY STICKS SHIPS FREE
$11.88 |
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|  | FAT-CAT Fleecy Banket for Cats and Kittens - SHIPS FREE
$16.95 |
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 | Adorable cat lover photo frame. MUST SEE!!
$9.99 |
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|  | Large Cat Bed
$5.99 |
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 | Raised Cat Food Dish Water Bowl WDB6-T Blue
$40.00 |
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|  | Iams Healthy Naturals Cat Food Coupons (6x$ 4.00)
$0.99 |
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 | USA 6-Pack FRONTLINE PLUS for CATS
$26.00 |
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|  | Advantage 16 Month Supply Flea/Tick Trtmt-9LBS/Up-Cats
$10.00 |
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 | Santa Coat for Dog or Cat! Christmas Costume for Pet
$5.95 |
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|  | OMEGA PAW LARGE ROLLING CAT LITTER BOX
$25.99 |
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 | Feline Tape Worm Tabs 3 ct bottle
$10.95 |
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|  | Pointer Spotbrites Laser Mouse Toy For Cats
$2.99 |
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 | Frontline Plus for dogs 89-132 LBS 6 Doses
$60.00 |
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|  | Buy 2 get 1 FREE Iams Can Cat Kitten Dog Puppy 12-31-
$0.99 |
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 | *NEW* SIGNATURE HOUSEWARES - STONEWARE CAT FOOD BOWL
$4.50 |
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|  | WICKER 2 TIERED CAT BASKET WITH WASHABLE PILLOW COVERS
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 | ARTHOGEN JOINT CARE FOR CATS GLUCOSAMINE 60 CAPS SEALED
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|  | Ionic Flea Comb, Pet Comb, New
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 | Frontline Plus for dogs up to 22 LBS 6 Doses
$47.00 |
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|  | Tapestry Pet Carrier- new in box -holds up to 22 lbs
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 | NEW ~ CRUNCHY CAT TUNNEL TOY ~ NEW
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|  | L@@K! large 3 opening cat tunnel, bowl, 2 collars, toys
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 | Raised Cat Food Dish Bowl Splashback CD6-S Goldfish
$38.00 |
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|  | Raised All Purpose Food Cat Dish Bowl Pushback CD5-T
$44.00 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS DOG 89-132 LBS EPA 6 MONTHS FREE BONUS
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|  | 3 MAUI MEOWI SUPER POTENT GIANT CATNIP FISH SHIPS FREE
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 | Six Colors Nylon cat collars*
$15.20 |
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|  | NEW ** Super Cute CAT ** Italian Links Watch - 14688766
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 | Pet Bed cat small dog kitty brown camoflage
$35.00 |
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|  | Nylon Zippered Cat Grooming Washing Restraint Bag Sm
$12.95 |
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 | NEW ** Super Cute CAT ** Italian Links Watch - 14688765
$0.99 |
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|  | new NAIL clippers FOR cats CAT clipper TRIMMER
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 | Set 6 Replacement FILTERS Hagen CatIt Drinking Fountain
$12.00 |
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|  | Contech CatStop Ultrasonic Outdoor Cat Deterrent
$40.00 |
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 | DRINKWELL Orignal Filter 4-pack FREE SHIPPING! Cat Dog
$7.99 |
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|  | Fish Shaped Cat Bowl and Picture Frame Stoneware
$7.85 |
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 | ~CATIT LARGE DOME AUTOMATIC CAT WATER FOUNTAIN W/ MAT~
$33.99 |
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|  | K & H HEATED CAT KITTEN PET BED Thermo Kitty Hut Sage
$35.75 |
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 | Linatone Shed Relief 16oz Supplement Cats Lambert Kay
$1.99 |
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|  | Oval Stoneware Feeder Bowl Dog 4.5" High Keep Ears Dry
$29.00 |
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 | NEW LITTERMAID SELF CLEANING POWER LITTERBOX AUTOMATIC
$156.99 |
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|  | Frontline Plus for CATS 6 Doses
$47.00 |
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 | Lazy Pet Deluxe Window Perch, Navy Blue
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|  | x-tra large catnip winnie the poo christmas blanket NEW
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 | MAUI MEOWI POWERFUL CATNIP CIGAR PURRFECTOS FREE SHIP
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|  | Catit Pet Fountain Replacement Filter Cartridges 3pk
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| 9 coupons save $1.00 off 2 PACKAGES of PURINA WHISKER
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 | PETSAFE CAT WINDOOR WINDOW DOOR NEW
$78.99 |
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|  | Raised Cat Food Dish Bowl Pottery Splashback CD6-S
$38.00 |
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 | PETMATE "PET TAXI" SMALL 9" TALL PET MAX NEW
$7.00 |
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|  | 18" Carpeted Cat Scratching Post scratch pole kitten NR
$4.99 |
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 | Furminator Cats Small 1.75" Pro Deshedding Tool New
$14.95 |
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|  | Deluxe Kitty Nest w/Fleece Sides Cat/Dog Bed -Assorted
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 | Kitty Hammock - Cream Cover - Cats Love Them
$11.99 |
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