| 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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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 doses DOGS 10-20 lbs
$17.95 |
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|  | SmartCat Tick-Tock-Teaser - Interactive Cat Toy
$16.95 |
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 | CAT..Safety Harness leash CAR SEAT BELT.....BLACK
$12.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed Scratcher Furniture *FREE SHIPPING*
$36.99 |
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 | Thermo Kitty Heated Cat Bed Cabin 16" Mocha Sage NEW
$49.99 |
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|  | YOUR ADOPTED CAT Indoor Care Training PREPARING DVD NEW
$1.00 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain Aqua Garden 4 Filters Brushes DW-718
$43.28 |
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|  | Thermo Kitty Mat Heated Cat Bed 25" Mocha Sage Washable
$29.99 |
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 | 10 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$17.95 |
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|  | 10 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$17.95 |
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 | Frontline Spray LARGE (500 mL)
$45.99 |
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|  | Stairway To Heaven Cat play Tower house climbing pole
$99.99 |
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 | NEW Pet Lightweight Smart PET RAMP Extending w/ Handle
$99.99 |
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|  | post + perch combo plush carpet Cat Tower Toy play area
$34.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CATS UNDER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY 1 4 6 8
$19.50 |
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|  | New Giant Litter Box Covered Pan Multiple Cats Product
$41.97 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Reservoir & Aqua Garden DW-724
$42.08 |
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|  | MIRACLEBEAM LASER-LITE LASER PET CAT DOG BIRD TOY NEW!
$3.25 |
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 | Hidden Cat Litter Box Washroom End Table Night Stand
$79.99 |
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|  | Beige Cat Litter Box Robot Supply Self Cleaning Liter
$329.00 |
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 | NEW Drinkwell BRAND Pet Fountain FILTERS 3PAC FREE SHIP
$6.49 |
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|  | DOG Tapestry Tote Faux Leather Trim Dog Breeds
$24.99 |
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 | Omega Paw RA15 SelfCleaning cat Litter Box NEW FASTship
$41.90 |
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|  | 10 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$17.95 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Reservoir and 7 Filters DW-722
$44.66 |
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|  | NEW! Wild Tail Moving Ball with Furry, Floppy Tail
$9.99 |
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 | Cat Tower 3 level-catnip station, toy, scratching post
$87.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT all sizes dogs cats stock UP
$17.95 |
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 | Thermo Kitty Sill Heated Cat Window Perch Seat Mat NEW
$49.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 doses DOGS 10-20 lbs
$17.95 |
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 | CAT.... PINK Kitty Fuzzy VERY SOFT SWEATER... LARGE
$10.99 |
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|  | DOG Tapestry Tote Large Bag AKC Breeds Dogs $0 SHIP
$39.99 |
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 | Our Pets Hidden Prey Real Bamboo Pet Cat Mouse Play Toy
$10.89 |
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|  | Kitty Travel Kit, With All Kitties Needs in One Package
$10.39 |
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 | Cat Duplex w/ Rooftop Perch play toy Tunnel tower
$84.99 |
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|  | DESPERATE Housecat GANZ Pet COLLAR Charm NEW Free SHIP
$6.49 |
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 | Halloween Cat Playmats with 100% Natural Organic Catnip
$9.99 |
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|  | NEW Pet Fountain SELF WATERER cat dog water bowl auto
$42.88 |
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 | 10 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$17.95 |
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|  | AUTOMATIC AUTO DOG CAT PET FEEDER GRAVITY FED small
$37.00 |
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 | HOME & AWAY CRATE - Portable Cat Cage 14X14X12 - dogh0
$36.99 |
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|  | CitiKitty Cat Toilet Training Kit potty train yur kitty
$38.70 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CATS UNDER 9 lbs 20 MONTH SUPPLY 1 4 6 8
$34.95 |
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|  | Organic Catnip Gift Pack~100%Certified Organic Catnip
$12.99 |
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 | Breathalyser Water Additive (500 mL)
$12.99 |
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|  | Cat Toy Mice Camo 9 Kitten Kitty NEW Mouse Pink
$5.29 |
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 | Our Pets Thrill of the Chase Pet Cat Mouse Play Toy
$13.89 |
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|  | CAT SOCKS - CAT AND MOUSE Anklet Socks ------ NEW!!!!
$5.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA & TICK med ~*~ CATS 8 dose supply
$17.95 |
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|  | Cat Collar with Pearls and Bell - Pet/ Dog Collars
$1.99 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Reservoir and 10 Filters DW-723
$46.95 |
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|  | Cats Sisal Scratch Tower Pawing post W/ Cat nip & Toy
$34.99 |
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 | NEW BLK Cat Litter Box Robot Supply Self Cleaning Liter
$329.00 |
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|  | 11 SCIENCE NATURE'S BEST CAT/DOG FOOD COUPONS $10.00/1
$5.00 |
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 | Deluxe Cat Toy Amusement Center-multi levels-2 towers
$134.99 |
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| FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 24 m SPECIAL SALE
$51.99 |
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 | LOT OF 3 PACKS NEW ASSORTED CAT/KITTEN TOYS
$5.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FOR CATS OVER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY 4 6 8 12
$34.95 |
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 | Tower of Kitty Power Cat Plush play toy Station & Cave
$124.99 |
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|  | FELINE TOWN Cat House Cats Perch play toy Tunnel tower
$99.99 |
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 | LRG Cat Collar SWAROVSKI ~ Classic on Purple ~ by AzDS
$29.69 |
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|  | Cat Tapestry Tote Faux Leather Trim Feline Fancy Breeds
$24.99 |
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 | LUPINE *Huge Selection* Cat Collar - 1/2 Safety Collar
$7.94 |
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|  | 5 REFILLS for Da Bird feather wand cat toy toys refill
$14.25 |
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 | Urine off Odor & Stain Remover FOR CATS (GALLON)
$32.99 |
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|  | Holiday Petz Christmas Santa Cat Toy- Catnip NEW Sealed
$2.99 |
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 | All-Natural Flea Spray Remedy Rosemary Dog Cat *Green*
$3.95 |
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|  | SPORT PET'S SCRATCH, RATTLE & ROLL FOR CATS
$8.99 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain Aqua Garden Cleaning Brushes DW-716
$39.64 |
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|  | Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain
$54.95 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain 10 Filters 3 Clean Brushes DW-714
$44.51 |
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|  | 10 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$17.95 |
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 | Thermo Kitty Heated Cat Bed 16" Washable Mocha Sage
$49.99 |
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|  | Drinkwell Fountain Aqua Garden 3 pods Clean Kit DW-717
$43.67 |
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 | Drinkwell Fountain Aqua Garden 10 Filters Brushes DW720
$49.22 |
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|  | Lupine 1/2" Nylon Adj.Dog Collar 10"-16" Sea Ponies NEW
$5.75 |
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 | LITTER ROBOT Black Self Cleaning Cat Litterbox Box Pan
$329.00 |
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|  | Lupine 1/2" Safety Cat Collar 8"-12" Royal Gold NEW
$5.75 |
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 | CATNIP CAT BED ~ PURR PAD ~MAT ~BLANKET plus Toy
$12.99 |
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|  | Ceiling Tall Kitty Skyscraper 3 step cat climbing post
$79.99 |
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 | flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose FRONTLINE PLUS
$17.95 |
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|  | CAT SOCKS - TIGER STRIPES Anklet Socks ------ NEW!!!!
$7.59 |
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 | SmartCat Kitty Ultimate Litter Box
$10.95 |
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|  | NEW Drinkwell BRAND Pet Fountain FILTERS 12x FREE SHIP
$21.89 |
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 | NEW! 6-PACK Greenies Feline (3 oz ea.) OCEAN FISH
$15.99 |
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|  | CAT FURNITURE DIRECTIONS Condo Scratcher Post Tree Bed
$9.95 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 4 doses DOGS 10-20 lbs
$17.95 |
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|  | Drinkwell Fountain Aqua Garden 7 Filters Brushes DW-719
$46.93 |
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 | 4 doses ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT DOGS 10-20 lbs
$17.95 |
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|  | Solid Plastic Dog Cat Food Water Bowl Dish Pet Feeder
$10.02 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS OVER 9 lbs 5 MONTH SUPPLY 6
$19.50 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT all sizes dogs cats stock UP
$17.95 |
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 | Tri-Level Rest Stop Cat Plush play toy station tower
$77.99 |
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|  | ANT FREE ANT PROOF PET BOWL CAT DOG DISH ANTI BARRIER
$7.99 |
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 | Halloween Catnip Toys Made By Sherri- Lot of 6
$4.99 |
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|  | Thermo Kitty Throw Heated Cat Bed Blanket 24" x 36"
$49.99 |
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 | SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post with Perch
$64.95 |
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|  | Drinkwell Fountain 50oz Reservoir and 4 Filters DW-721
$41.01 |
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 | Petmate Fresh Flow Replacement Filter 3 Pack
$4.99 |
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|  | Rectangular Pet Animal Bed Cushion Light Brown Suede
$37.00 |
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