What is a group of cats called?
A group of cats is called a clowder, this word is believed to be a variation of clutter, from the word clott, which means round mass or lump. A much less used term is a ‘glaring‘, however, there is little information available on the etymology of this word or when it fell out of use. The term clowder only applies to groups of three or more cats.
Are there words to describe groups of big cats?
Yes, groups of big cats also have their own collection of words:
- Lions: Pride, troop
- Jaguars: Shadow, prowl
- Leopards: Leap
- Tigers: Streak, hide, ambush
- Cheetahs: Coalition
Overview of cat terms
Description |
Name |
Variations or old terms |
| Entire female cat | Queen (female used for breeding) | Molly, doe |
| Entire male cat | Tomcat, stud (male used for breeding) | Boar, ram |
| Desexed male cat | Neuter (also applies to desexed female cats) | Gib |
| Desexed female cat | Spay | Neuter |
| Group of cats | Clowder | Cluster, clutter, glaring, pounce |
| Group of kittens | Kindle |
Litter (kittens from the same mother) |
| Group of feral cats | Colony | Dowt, dout, destruction |
| Old female cat | Grimalkin | |
| Person who loves cats | Ailurophile | |
| Person afraid of cats | Ailurophobe | |
| Female parent of kittens | Dam | |
| Male parent of kittens | Sire |