house cat

noun

Definition of house catnext
as in cat
a small domestic animal known for catching mice the house cat at the Cheshire Cat Bookstore has the dual responsibility of being mascot and mouser

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of house cat There was a time when Lee would’ve been more averse to getting wet than a house cat. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 Watching Irina Morozova use her own tooth to have a few illuminating chats with her fellow inmates via Morse code, I was powerfully reminded of the gulf between her, a woman made of adamantium, and me, a soft little house cat in human form. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 At full size, pudus stand just 13 to 17 inches tall — roughly the height of a house cat. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026 Some have compared their size to a house cat. — Ryan Brennan april 24, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for house cat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for house cat
  1. cat
  2. kitten
  3. kitty
Noun
  • The cats are being rescued from the former Luján Zoo, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) northwest of Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires, after years of uncertainty over their fate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • That said, Hudgens made the look decidedly 2026 with her nails, which are topped off with a cat-eye effect—clearly one of her favorite manicure modes considering how often she's seen wearing it in a variety of colors.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of cat
Noun
  • The pieces are small, which is great for kittens, but many adult cats also prefer them this way.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Officers initially discovered more than 30 cats and kittens living in unsafe conditions aboard the vessel, with many appearing frightened and malnourished.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of kitten
Noun
  • All of these things can hurt or kill your kitty, so to keep them around longer, keep them inside.
    — Tanya Edwards, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
  • What started as posting photos of her adorable kitty became a full-time career.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of kitty

Browse Nearby Words

housebroken
house cat
house cats
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Cite this Entry

“House cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/house%20cat. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on house cat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about house cat

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