| 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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|  | 74" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2040
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 | Kelly Green Dog/Cat Collar with Pearl & Bell Small
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 | 64" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F11
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 | ADAMS PLUS BREAKAWAY FLEA & TICK COLLAR CATS & KITTENS
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|  | .026 PET TOY - CURIOSITY CUBE w. HANGING TOY HEMP ROPE
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Hartz Control Kills Fleas Kills Eggs For 7 months 0.6oz
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|  | ZODIAC FLEA & TICK COLLAR FOR CATS, BREAKAWAY, NIB
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 8 month supply ~*~
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 | New Castlemere Cobalt Pottery Cat Food Water Dish Bowl
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|  | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2040-Blue
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 | LEOPARD CAT OVERDOOR PLAY TUNNEL FOR YOUR KITTY
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 | Pet mate Attract O Mat Cat Tunnel Kitty Bed
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 10 LBS AND UP 5 DOSES
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|  | Fishy Fun Cat Kitten Crinkle Play Tunnel Bungee Toy
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 | Nylon Zippered Cat Grooming Washing Restraint Bag Large
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 | NEW Petmate Purrforma Plus XL Self Cleaning Litter Box
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 | MiracleBeam Laser Pet Toy PETSMART RED Cat Dog Birds
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Free Breeze Tidy Cats Litter System Coupon up to $39.99
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|  | GREENIES CAT KITTEN FELINE TREATS-25 PACKETS NEW SEALED
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 | PAMPERED KITTY CAT PLAY HOUSE TOY SCRATCHER CATS NEW
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|  | PetzLife Gel Spray Clean Dog Teeth Free Ship Toothbrush
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 | LITTERMAID LM700 AUTOMATIC CAT LITTER BOX SELF-CLEANING
$94.44 |
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|  | BARGAIN 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$34.99 |
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 | 10 pk Petmate Litter Locker Refill Use up to 2 months
$64.99 |
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|  | SPECIAL 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$16.50 |
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 | ADVANTAGE flea & tick treatment CATS over 9 lbs NEW 6pk
$27.00 |
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|  | OAK RAISED CAT FOOD BOWL PET DISH OR SMALL DOG
$14.99 |
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 | DEAL!!! 16 MONTH KIT FRONTLINE PLUS CATS EPA APPROVED!
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|  | ~71"~ Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Furniture Pet Toy
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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|  | COSMIC CATNIP 1/2-oz BAG/Sisal RATTLE CAT TOY-2NEWDeals
$0.60 |
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 | 24 PACK PETMATE FRESH FLOW WATER FOUNTAIN FILTERS
$37.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
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 | 16 MONTH KIT FRONTLINE PLUS CATS EPA APPROVED! DEAL!!!
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|  | Cat-Guardian Gear Lined Fashion Cat Muzzle- Pink Small
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS & KITTENS 0-10 LBS 10 DOSES
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7802
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|  | 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS KIT EPA USA
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 | 74" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2038
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
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 | KITTYWALK TOWN & COUNTRY CAT ENCLOSURE PORTABLE HABITAT
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|  | 38" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F38
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B5301
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6202
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| Advantage For Cats Over 9 lbs.6 Pk. EPA Approved
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 | Frontline Plus *CAT* 12 MONTHS! EPA! NIB! BARGAIN!
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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 | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA KIT FOR SMALL DOGS 0-10 LBS 20 DOSES
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|  | Cat Shaped Double Cat Dish With Two Hartz Cat Toys New
$3.00 |
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 | 74" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2038
$159.00 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
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|  | (10) sets Glamour Kitty Litter coupons expire 12/31/08
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
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 | Catit Cat Pet Drinking Fountain by Hagen
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|  | 5" Retro Blue Fish Cut-outs Diner Dish Bowl for Cats
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 | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA KIT FOR DOGS 11-20 LBS 8 DOSES
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|  | Smart Pet Ramp
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
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| 20 coupons for $1 on ANY Meow Mix dry cat food 3.15lb
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
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|  | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC04
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 | CATNIP BODY PILLOW Original from Portland OR!! 3 Tuf
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|  | 48" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F09
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20 coupons .75 off 1 Meow Mix Cat Treats
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 8 MONTHLY DOSES
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|  | SPOILED CAT 2 FURRY Organic catnip body pillows
$12.00 |
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Advantage For Cats Over 9 lbs.6 Pk. EPA Approved
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|  | SPOILED CAT 2 FURRY Organic catnip body pillows
$12.00 |
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 | LitterMaid Waste Receptacles 10 model LMR200
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|  | Petmate Hybrid Black Stainless Cat Dog Water Fountain
$32.49 |
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 | Frontline Plus Cats 6 "FREE USA SHIPPING* 3 12 TOO!
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA KIT FOR SMALL DOGS 10-20 LBS 4 DOSES
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 | DEAL 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$16.50 |
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