We all know that a group of crows is known as a murder, and that a group of lions is known as a pride. But different animals all have different collective nouns, and of course the domestic cat is no different.
But perhaps you’ve never heard the collective terms used to describe a group of cats before. Who knew there were so many terms used in the English language just to describe domestic cats!
So what is a group of cats called?
Typically, a group of cats is called a clowder. This is one of the more bizarre terms that is used to describe a group of cats, so it’s no surprise that this isn’t more commonly used. You may be interested to learn that there are also different terms used to describe a litter of kittens as well as a feral cat colony.
Today, we’re going to take a deeper look at the different terms used to describe groups of cats and why these are used today.
Why Is A Group Of Cats Called A Clowder?
So if the collective term for a group of cats is a clowder, where does this term come from? Interestingly, the term “clowder” originates from the Middle English term “clodder”. This originally was used around the 18th century, and typically means “clotted mass”.
Over the years, this term has evolved into “clowder”. Which is now used to describe a group of cats! It is thought that this term was used to describe a group of felines because of the way that they tended to stick together.
It is also thought that another reason a collection of cats is known as a clowder is because of how similar the word is to “clutter”. As we’ve mentioned above, a group of cats all crowded together can look rather cluttered, depending on how many there are.
While the true origins for the term “clowder” may have gotten lost over the centuries, these are both fascinating origin stories for the word.
What Is A Group Of Kittens Called?
Ever wondered if there is another term for a group of kittens? Well, there is! These are often described as a kindle of kittens, and will cover the term from newborn kitten up until the felines reach an adult age.
Once they have progressed to adulthood, the cats would then be referred to as a clowder, as we have covered in more detail above.
What Is A Group Of Feral Cats Called?
A group of feral cats tends to be known as colonies. This is because feral cats stick together in their own large groups, forming their own colonies. Cats are surprisingly social animals, and can actually form pretty strong bonds with one another.
You may find that one cat has a particularly strong bond with another cat, which will explain why feral cats tend to stick together as a group.
There are other terms used to describe a group of feral cats, but colony is the most common. Other terms used to describe a colony of feral cats includes a “destruction” or a “dowt”.
What Terms Are Used To Describe Individual Cats?
Fascinatingly, there are also several terms used to describe individual cats! The most obvious term of course is kitten, which is used to describe a baby cat before they have reached maturity.
There are also many names for cats depending on their gender and other factors. A male cat is often described as a tom or tomcat. However, if he has been neutered, then he is called a gib. This neutered male cat tends to be less territorial and aggressive than tomcats.
Female cats that haven’t been spayed are known as “queen”. They will typically go into heat every couple of weeks, and go on the prowl for a suitable tom. If a cat has been spayed, where she has the uterus removed to prevent pregnancy, they are known as a spay.
It is recommended to neuter or spay pet cats, as this will prevent them from disappearing for days at a time, and can typically make them less aggressive.
Spaying your female cat is also highly recommended, as it dramatically reduces the chance of them getting ovarian cancer or breast cancer, as well as reducing the chance of getting uterine infections.
Once cats have become parents, they also get different terms to describe this. A father cat is known as a sire. A mother cat is known as a dam.
What Other Terms Are Used To Describe Cats?
So now that we know some of the more common terms used to describe a group of cats, what other terms are there? It may surprise you to know that there are actually several terms used to describe a collection of cats aside from clowder.
Cats can also be described as a cluster, a pounce, a nuisance, or a dout. They can also be described as a clutter, which makes sense when you consider the origin of the term “clowder” that we examined in more detail up above.
They can also be described as a glaring of cats. This is one of the more intimidating terms used for cats, so would be appropriate for feral colonies. It is thought this could be because of the cats glaring at one another.
You could even use the term “destruction” to describe a group of cats. It is thought this is because a group of wild cats are typically thought to be more territorial or fierce than a group of domestic cats.
In Summary
So there you have it! You now know that a group of cats is known as a clowder. This collective noun isn’t as well known as other terms for a group of animals, and there are actually different terms depending on the age of the animal.
The collective noun for a group of kittens is a kindle, whereas the collective noun for a group of feral cats is a colony.
Why not impress all of your family and friends with your newfound cat knowledge? We’re sure that they haven’t heard of half of the collective terms that you have just learned!
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
