| 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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 | Frontline Plus for Cats & Kittens 6 Month supply
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6203
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|  | Multivet SSSCat Training Device for Cats - Free Ship
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 | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CATS UNDER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY 1 4 6 8
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 | Slicker Brush-Soft Pin For Dog/Cat Grooming
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|  | Mr. Herzher's LARGE Wicker Cat Kitty Litter Box Cover
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 | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 10 MONTHS DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
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 | KITTYWALK® CARNIVAL PET CAT ENCLOSURE FERRIS WHEEL NR !
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|  | Iams Cat Food Coupons
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 | CAT COLLAR WITH BELL & RHINESTONES , LIGHT BLUE, NEW !!
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 | Petsafe Simply Clean Continuous Cat KITTY Litter Box
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 | CAT BADALONA CAT TREE 42" TALL CARPETED BRAND NEW!!
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 | ADVANTAGE DOG/CAT KIT 4,5 AND 10 MONTH SUPPLLY EPA USA
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|  | THING IN A BAG WIGGLING JIGGLING CAT TOY
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 | C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Kit for Cats
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|  | DISCOUNT 16 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 3 MONTH SUPPLY ! AUTHENTIC!!
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|  | Mr. Herzher's LARGE Wicker Cat Kitty Litter Box Cover
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 | Ultra Touch Flea Comb/Cats
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 | Cozy sleeping bag or bed for your small dog
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 | Petnation Pet Carrier--Perfect for cats or small dogs
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|  | SAVE BIG ON ADVANTAGE CAT 5 DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
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 | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 64C
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|  | Cat Tree Toy House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F14
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 | 8 Months Frontline Plus for Cats FREE SHIPPING 3 6
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|  | ADVANTAGE CAT FLEA 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
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 | FRONTLINE TOP SPOT flea med small dogs 0-22 lbs SALE~~
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|  | CAT COLLAR WITH BELL & RHINESTONES , RED, NEW !!
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|  | K & H HEATED CAT KITTEN PET BED Thermo Kitty Hut Mocha
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 | New Deluxe Beige 52" Cat Tree Condo Scratcher 5067
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 | Multi colored cat sleeping bag or bed for your pet
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100% Natural once a month catFlea Drops up to 60 doses
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4201
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 | 8 Months Frontline Plus for Cats FREE SHIPPING 3 6
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|  | 6 Pack Feliway Diffuser refill 48ml
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 | Kitty cat condo condos tree house bed toy furniture 80C
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|  | Colorful Springs Thin 10 Pack
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 | Lot of 14 Pounce Cat Treats 3 oz perks 2.1 oz
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|  | Assortment of Cat Food Coupons
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 | 2 DVD's on Understanding Your Cat & Breaking Bad Habits
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|  | ORGANIC BARLEY SEEDS - CAT GRASS - FREE SHIPPING
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 | Purple sleeping bag or bed for your cat or small dog
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS FLEA KIT FOR CATS & DOGS-DEAL!!
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 | Guide to Owning Ragdoll Cat Pet Care Book
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 | 7 PURINA CAT CHOW Bags Healthful Life 16oz each - NEW
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|  | CAT KITTY SCRATCHING POST W/PLATFORM 27" TALL NEW!!
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
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|  | 16 MONTHS FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS & DOGS 3 4 6 8
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 | 3 MONTH Frontline PLUS for Cats
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A4301
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B2501
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|  | 6 MONTH Frontline PLUS for Cats
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 | Advantage 9 for Cats 6month supply Flea topical
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|  | Continuously Freshening Feline Drinking Fountain 72732
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|  | Cat Tree House Furniture Condo Scratcher Bed Toys 72B
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