| 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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 | * EPA 10 Month Advantage 4 Cats over 9 Pounds USA 6 12
$35.95 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA KIT FOR CATS 8 DOSES
$18.99 |
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 | * EPA 20 Month Advantage 4 Cats up to 9 Pounds USA 6 12
$35.95 |
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|  | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA KIT FOR SMALL DOGS 0-10 LBS 10 DOSES
$18.99 |
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 | PART only:Soft Bed 4 Cat Condo,Tree,House,Pet Furniture
$9.99 |
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|  | New Cat KittenTapeworm Dewormer Tab 3ct exp. date12/10
$12.19 |
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 | ~ 74" Deluxe Cat Scraching Tree Furniture House Posts ~
$0.99 |
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|  | How To INSTRUCTIONS for DIY'S Dog Rhinestone Cat Collar
$5.99 |
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 | YOUR CATS PHOTO ON 120 CUSTOM RETURN ADDRESS LABELS
$5.25 |
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|  | EPA 10 Month Advantage for Cats 1 - 9 Pounds USA 4 6 12
$18.50 |
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 | 17" Cat Tree Condo House Scratcher Pet Furniture bed-11
$19.99 |
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|  | 6,000 ++ CATNIP (Nepeta Cataria) perennial seeds + gift
$3.33 |
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 | P0pm GRASSHOPPER TEASER STICK Pet Cat Kitten Toys
$1.99 |
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|  | 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS KIT EPA USA
$18.00 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT 9 LBS AND UNDER-10 MOS-EPA - USA 4 6 12
$15.98 |
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|  | ^..^L@@K 65" Cat Tree Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F3027-B
$4.99 |
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|  | EPA 5 Month Advantage for Cats over 9 Pounds USA 4 6 12
$18.50 |
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 | CAT Tunnel,40",Pet Toy,Noisy, Soft, for use with condo
$15.00 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 16 MONTHLY DOSES
$34.99 |
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 | USA 10 MONTH ADVANTAGE 4 CATS UP TO 9 POUNDS EPA 6 12
$17.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture T41
$9.99 |
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 | New AdoRaBle Cat Food & Water Dish SET 2 Dishes Bowls
$14.96 |
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|  | USA 8 MONTH FRONTLINE PLUS 4 ALL SIZED CATS EPA 6 8 12
$17.99 |
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 | SpotOn Plus for cats (As seen in Frontline's magazine)
$9.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS cats FLEA & TICK med 16 month supply ~
$36.75 |
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Littermaid LM700 Self-Cleaning Litterbox
$18.50 |
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|  | 15 Coupons B2G1 Free IAMS Canned Food - CAT RESCUE
$3.26 |
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 | P0pn BEE TEASER STICK Pet Cat Kitten Plush Toys
$1.99 |
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|  | RATTAN WICKER CAT Dog Pet LITTER PAN COVER Small KITTY
$49.50 |
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 | SpotOn Plus Flea and tick for cats See the advantage's!
$9.99 |
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|  | ~71"~ Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Furniture Pet Toy
$0.99 |
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 | USA 16 MONTH FRONTLINE PLUS 4 ALL SIZED CATS EPA 3 6 12
$34.95 |
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|  | 24" GREEN CAT POST SPECIAL
$19.99 |
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 | PVC Pet Bed Light Blue Hammock Cat Dog Ferret Gift
$0.99 |
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|  | Advantage Over 9lb Purple Cats Kittens Flea 4 pack New
$31.99 |
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7 NATURE'S BEST CAT OR DOG FOOD COUPONS $5 OFF 3LB BAG
$0.99 |
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|  | USA 10 MONTH ADVANTAGE 4 CATS OVER 9 POUNDS EPA 6 12
$35.50 |
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 | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
$7.99 |
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|  | DESIGNER CATBOX Cat Litter Box Chest Furniture Cover WT
$89.00 |
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 | EPA 8 Month Frontline Plus 4 All Cats Pounds USA 3 6 12
$18.50 |
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|  | New Littermaid Plus LM700 Self Cleaning Litter Box
$9.99 |
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 | Pretty Scratcher:pet, cat toy, for use with condo, tree
$6.99 |
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|  | 12 OZ. OF CATNIP! 3/4 LB! 100% ORGANIC! CAT TOYS GREEN!
$5.50 |
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 | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA KIT FOR SMALL DOGS 0-10 LBS 20 DOSES
$34.99 |
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|  | Cat Dish
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA KIT FOR SMALL DOGS 10-20 LBS 4 DOSES
$17.99 |
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|  | 24" COGNAC SISAL CAT SCRATCHING POST COMBO SPECIAL
$29.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA CONTROL FOR CATS 8 MONTHLY DOSES
$18.99 |
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|  | Cat Genie Litter Box catgenie
$172.50 |
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 | USA 5 MONTH ADVANTAGE 4 CATS OVER 9 POUNDS EPA 6 12
$17.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F3031
$9.99 |
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 | 5 MONTH SUPPLY OF ADVANTAGE FOR CATS OVER 9 LBS KIT EPA
$18.00 |
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|  | Multivet SSSCat Training Device for Cats - Free Ship
$36.95 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT 10 doses SMALL DOGS 0-9 lbs
$18.95 |
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|  | Omega Paw Self Cleaning Kitty Cat Litter Box - Regular
$23.95 |
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 | Urine Off Odor & Stain Remover FOR DOGS (500 ml)
$13.99 |
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| Littermaid LME9250 Elite Self Cleaning Litterbox
$42.29 |
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 | Paw Print Pets Dog House -16x16x14" - Bed Pet Supplies
$8.99 |
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|  | EPA 16 Month Frontline Plus All Cats Pounds USA 3 6 12
$35.95 |
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 | SmartCat Kitty Cat Corner Litter Box - Tan
$11.95 |
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|  | Cat-Opoly cat catopoly NEW!
$13.95 |
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 | Cat Life Furniture8 - Style, Quality, Fun - ONLY $10/Sh
$49.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$18.95 |
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 | Cat Dishes - Set of 2 - VERY CUTE!
$1.99 |
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|  | Large 20x24 Dog Cat Paw Print Deep Pet Bed:Pet Supplies
$12.44 |
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 | 60 Mice-mouse pet, cat, furry toy,
$7.99 |
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|  | 3 SERGEANT'S DUAL ACTION FLEA AND TICK COLLAR FOR CATS
$4.99 |
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 | USA 20 MONTH ADVANTAGE 4 CATS UP TO 9 POUNDS EPA 6 12
$35.50 |
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|  | Cat Dishes - Set of 2 - VERY CUTE!
$1.99 |
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 | Scratcher Board: pet, cat toy w/ condo, furniture, tree
$9.99 |
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|  | Cat Scratch Feeder - Pavlov's Cat
$39.00 |
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 | 69" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture T42
$9.99 |
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|  | NIB TWO QUART AUTOMATIC WATERING BOWL FOR PETS
$19.99 |
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 | kitty cat fort house scratchers tower condo furniture $
$16.00 |
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|  | New Deluxe 42" Cat Tree Condo Furniture, BP-5022
$49.98 |
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 | Hertz Cat Skin and Coat Shampoo
$12.50 |
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|  | GOD BLESS MY CAT, St. Francis Jewelry Medal Tag Charm
$2.99 |
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 | SPORT PET PET KITTY CAT SKYSCRAPER CONDO HOUSE GYM NEW
$34.24 |
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|  | NEW! 250 COSEQUIN CAPSULES CAT JOINT HEALTH SUPPLEMENT
$44.95 |
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 | L@@K 57" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Pet Furniture
$0.99 |
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|  | K9 ADVANTIX FLEA KIT FOR DOGS 11-20 LBS 8 DOSES
$34.99 |
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 | CATS/FRONTLINE PLUS/8 MONTH FLEA/TICK KIT (K5)6,12
$16.49 |
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|  | 4 pc Diamante cat collars wt bell-can fastened any pt.@
$13.88 |
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 | ~52"~ Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher pet Furniture L@@K
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Play Houses Tunnel Scratching Post Toys Trees Beds
$5.99 |
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS flea control small dogs 0-22 lbs 6 dose
$18.95 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2040B
$19.99 |
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 | 62" Cat Tree Condo Furniture Scraching Post w Hammock
$0.99 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F18
$9.99 |
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 | Euro Small Dog Agility Tunnel, Pet Toy,dia 16", 6.5 ft
$25.00 |
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|  | 60 Mice mouse pet cat, leather toy, for use with condo
$7.99 |
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 | NEW LITTERMAID LME9250 ELITE MEGA Automatic Litterbox
$48.00 |
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| $5.75 worth of cat food coupons, meow mix, goodlife
$0.01 |
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(10) $1 off Fresh Step Cat Litter Coupons
$0.25 |
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|  | SmartCat Peek-N-Play Toy Box - Cat Toy
$16.95 |
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT OVER 9 LBS - 5 MOS - EPA - USA 4 6 12
$15.98 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CATS - 8 MOS - EPA APPROVED -USA 3 6 12
$18.99 |
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