| 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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 | Littermaid Automatic Cat Litterbox with lots of extras!
$53.00 |
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|  | HUGE DISCOUNT ADVANTAGE CAT 5 DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
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 | EPA - 8 Months of EPA FRONTLINE for CATS - fAST Shpg
$17.85 |
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|  | 100"-112" ADJ CAT TREE FURNITURE CONDO HOUSE SCRACHING
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 | (18) FANCY FEAST CANNED CAT FOOD COUPONS $1.50/1
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS - SINGLE DOSE
$7.99 |
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 | Fling Ama String Cat Toy
$19.99 |
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|  | Green Dog/Cat/Puppy Collar with Diamonds & Bell Small
$5.00 |
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20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
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|  | 7 Handmade cat toys
$3.25 |
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 | CAT NIP * MEOWY WOWEE * Napeta Cataria
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B4001
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20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
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|  | PACK 'N PAWS BASKET WEAVE 16.5" PET CARRIER BROWN $170
$99.99 |
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 | ORGANIC OAT CAT GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$4.00 |
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|  | Cat Tree Toy Bed House Scratcher Post Furniture F12
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 | tiny CATNIP BAGS! CAT FABRIC TOYS! HOME GROWN! DUTCH
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| 20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
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 | 2 COLOR REVERSIBLE SLING PUPPY POUCH PET CARRIER $14.99
$14.99 |
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|  | Advantage For Cats Over 9 LBS. 12 Tubes
$85.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6601
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CATS UNDER 9 lbs 10 MONTH SUPPLY 1 4 6 8
$16.50 |
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 | Advantage For Cats Over 9 LBS. 4 Tubes
$34.99 |
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| 20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
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 | FRONTLINE PLUS Flea Kit for CATS 8 Doses USA EPA 3 6 12
$18.95 |
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| 20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
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 | 6 dose small dogs FRONTLINE PLUS flea control 0-22 lbs
$16.99 |
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| Advantage for cats under 9lbs. (Orange)
$39.80 |
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 | New BR 3x12x4H Cat Dog Cage Pen Crate Kennel Free Ship
$399.00 |
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|  | Wind Up Windup Fake Mouse Rat Cat Dog Pet Toy NEW!!!!!!
$6.95 |
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 | 100% Brand New Pedipaws in original box As Seen On TV
$0.05 |
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|  | "HUGE" Cat Tree Toy House Scratcher Post Furniture FC03
$9.99 |
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 | HUGE DISCOUNT 16 MONTH SUPPLY FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$35.50 |
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|  | Pet Taxi - Cat or Small Dog
$4.02 |
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 | FREE SHIPPING 16 MONTH SUPPLY FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$35.50 |
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|  | "Fur Ball" Cat Collar Charm
$3.99 |
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 | BRAND NEW CP - 7 CAT PAN WITH HOOD ENCLOSURE - GIANT
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A8001
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 | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2041-Blue
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6605
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20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
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|  | LOT NATURAL RABBIT HIDE FOOT FEET KEYCHAINS CAT TOYS
$5.99 |
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 | 6 Handmade cat toys
$3.00 |
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|  | 72" Cat Tree House Condo Scratcher Post Furniture F2050
$0.99 |
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 | ALIVE? Wacky Crazy Weasel Ball Pet/Cat/Dog toy Weazel
$9.98 |
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|  | HUGE DISCOUNT ADVANTAGE CAT 10 DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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 | NEW Soft Dog Pet House Furniture Navy Blue Fabric
$48.00 |
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|  | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F18
$0.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A7202
$0.99 |
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|  | Nutri-Vet Pet-Ease Natural Calming Diffuser for Cats
$17.99 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B6802
$0.99 |
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|  | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL CATS OVER 9 lbs 5 MONTH SUPPLY 6
$16.50 |
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 | (18) GOODLIFE FOOD FOR CATS OR DOGS COUPONS $1.50/1
$0.99 |
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|  | ORGANIC OAT CAT GRASS SEEDS - FREE SHIPPING
$4.00 |
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 | .094 PET TENT CARRIER - BLUE - CAT ON CLOUD DESIGN NEW
$0.99 |
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|  | 10 $.50/1 Whiskas Temptations Cat Treat Coupons x3/21+1
$0.75 |
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 | FURminator Small Cat Deshedding Tool Brush Comb
$15.50 |
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|  | K&H Heated Cat Kitten Pet Bed Thermo Kitty Hut SAGE
$35.74 |
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 | 69" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F42
$0.99 |
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|  | FREE SHIP ADVANTAGE CAT 5 MONTHS DOSES OVER 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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 | (20) 9LIVES DRY CAT FOOD PRODUCT COUPONS $1.00/1
$0.99 |
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|  | CP - 7 TRANSLUCENT CAT PAN WITH HOOD ENCLOSURE - GIANT
$26.80 |
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 | 48" Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F43
$0.99 |
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|  | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A5201
$0.99 |
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 | Cat Tree House Toy Bed Scratcher Post Furniture F07
$0.99 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 12 MONTH US EPA APPROVED 3 6
$60.35 |
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 | 47 LitterMaid Waste Receptacles LMR200 never used
$20.50 |
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|  | FRONTLINE PLUS CAT 6 MONTH EPA APPROVED 3 12 TOO
$32.95 |
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 | Glitter Mice with Feathers (Container)
$10.99 |
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|  | Merry Christmas to My CAT/Dog-Pet fountain garden grass
$6.99 |
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 | 72" Cat Tree House Scratcher Post Furniture F2041-Beige
$0.99 |
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|  | Small Purple FURminator Cat DeShedding Tool Brush Comb
$22.25 |
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 | NEW LITTERMAID SELF CLEANING LITTER BOX
$90.00 |
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|  | 10 Coupons Save $40 on Iams Dry Cat or Kitten Food
$15.00 |
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 | .194 - Deluxe Multi Level Cat Scratching Playset Tower
$24.99 |
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| 20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
$0.99 |
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 | ADVANTAGE FLEA CONTROL KIT ALL SIZES dogs cats SAVE!!!!
$16.99 |
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|  | Hartz Twirl and Whirl Interactive Cat Toy
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 | Kitty Cat Activity/Toy Play Circuit & Massage Center
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| 20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
$0.99 |
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 | Tiny Pillow Catnip Toys Made By Sherri - Lot of 16
$6.99 |
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|  | CATNIP SEEDS - CATS LOVE IT!!!!!!!! - FREE SHIPPING
$2.50 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B7301
$0.99 |
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|  | FREE SHIPPING 8 MONTH SUPPLY OF FRONTLINE PLUS FOR CATS
$17.50 |
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 | Cat Playpen Cage Midwest Model 130 With FREE BED !
$99.99 |
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|  | 12 Handmade cat toys
$4.00 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #A6401
$0.99 |
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|  | Our Pets Play-N-Squeak Whack Attack Cat Kitty Toy
$19.95 |
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 | K&H Outdoor Heated Kitty Camper with Heated Pad
$55.99 |
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| 20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
$0.99 |
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20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
$0.99 |
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|  | FREE SHIPPING ADVANTAGE CAT 10 DOSES UP TO 9 POUNDS
$17.50 |
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 | Armarkat Cat Tree Pet Furniture Condo Scratcher #B2903
$0.99 |
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|  | New Deluxe 42" Cat Tree Condo Furniture, BP-5022
$48.98 |
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 | Cat Litter Box
$4.55 |
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| 20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
$0.99 |
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 | 50 Peacock Feathers - Cat Kitten Pet Store Shop Supply
$24.88 |
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|  | CATNIP SAUSAGE LINKS TOY...Organic Catnip 22"- 27" long
$2.99 |
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20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
$0.99 |
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| 20 - $1 OFF GOODLIFE TREATS FOR CATS GOOD LIFE COUPONS
$0.99 |
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