Skip to content
Fluff Up Your Feline Vocabulary with These Intriguing Words for Groups of Cats and Kittens
The English language often offers surprises, and that’s definitely true of obscure collective nouns for groups of cats. Words for groups of animals are often funny, like a prickle of porcupines or a flamboyance of flamingos. And we’ve all heard of a murder of crows.
Regarding groups of cats, there are numerous words one could use. Few other animals have so many available terms to describe their gatherings. Interestingly, these words can change depending on specific things like their age and whether the cats are feral or friendly with each other.
Aside from lifetime cat lovers and rescuers, you will not likely hear some of these words. In some instances, that’s for the best! But others are cute and fun to use to fluff up your cat vocabulary.
Words for Groups of Cats
Here are words used to describe groups of cats. Have you heard them all?
- Clowder
- Cluster
- Clutch
- Clutter
- Comfort
- Glaring
- Intrigue
- Kindle
- Litter
- Pounce
Not-so-great words:
- Destruction
- Doubt, Dout, or Dowt
- Nuisance
Video by Meow As Fluff:
Two Paws Down for Some Words
As you can see, there are at least three words for groups of cats that are ill-advised, especially around any cat lover or cat. We imagine these words would be scratched out if it were up to cats. Two paws down. 👎👎
Nuisance has a negative connotation, as does destruction, a name for a group of rowdy feral cats. This word might instantly earn you a frown from rescuers practicing TNR (trap, neuter, return) worldwide to help feral cats and control the population. If you’re feeling catty, you might use one of those words. We probably shouldn’t say that either.
Likewise, Doubt or Dout, however you spell it, is rarely used and has negative associations. Glaring, a word for a group of cats that are not familiar with each other, is a little humorous, so we are keeping it. It also easily describes many a glaring cat right after being rescued before they realize it’s all ok.
A Kindle of Kittens
We’ve all heard of a litter of kittens, but not as many say “kindle of kittens.” It’s cute, right? And fun to use. We occasionally see rescuers using the word for their rescue babies. Someone out there has read about a kindle of kittens on their Kindle.
Here’s a kindle of Calypso and Mazikeen (Maz) for your consideration.
Clowder of Cats
The occasionally used “clowder of cats” originated as far back as 1795 from the Middle English variant “clodder,” for a clotted mass, per Dictionary.com. It’s similar to “clotter,” for huddling together and “clutter.” Clowder is pronounced “klou-der” and sounds a lot like chowder.
Sidenote: It’s not a good idea to feed clam chowder to a clowder of cats due to the sodium. Cat food with the word “Chowder” would be fine.
Some might call the picture below a clowder of cats, but Cat Man Chris calls it “The cutest beggars around!”
Image via Facebook/Cat Man Chris, Cole and Marmalade
Video by Senior Cat Wellness:
Intriguing Word for Cat Cuddle Puddles
An intrigue of cats is intriguing but possibly related to “entanglement,” a synonym for intrigue, being entangled like a tangled kindle of kittens. Below, you can see an intrigue of Bond with Calypso, entangled as they often are. Jess calls this “A BoCa puddle of cuteness 
.” We often see rescuers referring to “cuddle puddles” of kitties, and we love it.
Pounce and Comfort of Cats
Of all these words, a pounce or a comfort of cats are pawsitive words we would like to use more. We get lots of comfort from our feline companions daily and love seeing them pouncing playfully.
We leave you with a bonus word that probably describes many of our followers as they surround themselves with a pouncing comfort of cats: Felinetrovert, soon to be added to the dictionary one day, we’re sure.
“Does this apply to YOU? 💜”
Share This Story!
Related Posts
Page load link
Go to Top
There are a few collective nouns which can be used to describe a group of cats but the most commonly used word is ‘Clowder’.
Some other collective nouns which can also be used for a group of cats include:
- Cludder
- Clutter
- Colony – this word is typically used to describe a group of (usually) stray cats that live together in a particular territory. You often find colonies of stray cats around fishing ports when there is plenty of food.
- Glaring – this is more commonly used when the cats are unfamiliar and unsure of each other (and are probably all glaring at one another!).
- Pounce
What is a Group of Kittens Called?
There are a few different collective nouns which can be used for groups of kittens. The most common collective noun is of course ‘Litter’. However this is only used when all of the kittens are siblings who are born together.
Other ways of describing a group of kittens include:
- Kindle – this word can be used to describe a group of kittens in exactly the same way as the word litter however it is less commonly used. The collective noun Kindle is thought to stem from a combination of the German word kinder (meaning children) and the old English word kindelen (meaning to give birth to). Somewhere along the line this word became associated with cats…and later electronic reading devices!
- Intrigue – not commonly used but anyone who has ever had kittens will testify that this is a very appropriate word to use for a group of kittens as they are perpetually curious!
- Entanglement – a rarely used collective noun yet one which makes sense when you have seen a group of newborn kittens with their limbs seemingly impossibly entangled together.
Want to make your own kindle without having to adopt loads more cats?
Check out these realistic stuffed cats!
Are there any other names for groups of cats or kittens that we missed out?
Do Let us know below.
As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small fee from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This helps us run the site, so thanks for your support!
It’s interesting that in English there are collective nouns that denote a group of animals–a herd of cattle, a flock of gulls–but what is a group of cats called? Or how about kittens? As you might expect for an animal that has had such a worldwide impact, there’s not one collective noun but several to describe a group of cats or kittens!
Let’s have a look at the various ways you can describe a group of cats and kittens in different situations. (My inner word nerd enjoys this–can you tell I was once a English teacher?)
When it comes to selecting a collective noun for a group of cats, you’ve got several choices:
- clowder
- cluster
- clutter
- comfort
- colony
- destruction
- dowt
- nuisance
- pounce
Let’s take a look at each–and when it’s appropriate to use one instead of the other.
Clowder is the most-used collective word for a group of cats consisting of three cats or more.
I could say that our cats Inca, Lucky and Jetty form a clowder. Clowder comes from the Middle English word clodder, referring to a clot or coagulated mass.
Hmm…I guess when I see Inca, Lucky and Jetty huddled together in a single chair on a cold winter day, I can see that (although I think I liked it better when I thought of clowder like chowder, not clowder like clot…)
A “cluster of cats” or “clutter of cats” would certainly describe our cat grouping (although personally I think “clutter of cat toys” might be more accurate in our home.)
A colony refers to a feral cat colony.
A “comfort of cats” also refers to three cats or more–and is so much nicer and cozier than our next few terms…
“Destruction of cats” is a collective term that’s used to refer to feral cats, a group that can get a bit rowdy amongst themselves sometimes and, well, perhaps sometimes destructive.
A “dowt of cats” (also spelled “dout“) is used similarly. Dout means to “put out” or “extinguish” so we are just moving on from this one…
“Glaring of cats” is a term that is used for a group of cats that don’t really know each other–and we all know that can result in glaring.
A “nuisance of cats” is a group of cats that are considered “nuisance cats,” unwanted cats which may or may not be feral. It’s not a nice term so once again we will just move on…
A “pounce of cats” is again a term for a group of cats, a happy terms that makes us smile.
What do you call a group of kittens?
When you are talking about a group of kittens, you’ll also find that there are several collective nouns that cover this group of fuzzy goodness:
- litter
- intrigue
- kindle
- entanglement
- clowder
- wrack
Litter is definitely the most commonly used term for a group of kittens with the same mother. It is derived from the old French word litiere which came from the Latin word lectus or bed. Litter is used not only for kittens but also puppies, pigs, rodents and other mammals that have multiple offspring.
But there are plenty of other terms you can use to describe a litter of kittens. Kindle is one of the most interesting terms and is used like litter for a group of kittens. It comes from the Middle English word kindelen to give birth and is related to our word “kindergarten.” (And if you live in Scotland, you may call a pregnant cat a Kittling. When she delivers her kittens, she has kittled.)
Some people use clowder, although that’s most often reserved for a group of adult cats.
Intrigue of kittens is not heard very often (although we’re intrigued to know why!)
Entanglement is another collective term rarely heard (although it’s easier to see why–why kittens are piled on top of one another in a cozy nap–it’s easier to see how the word came about!)
Wrack of kittens is also rarely used. Wrack is an old term for wrecked ship, derived from an Middle Dutch word Wrak which mean wreck. Well, after an intense play session of kittens, it’s easy to see how this term originated!
So there you have it! Whether you are looking for a term for a group of kittens or a group of cats for everyday conversation or your next Scrabble game, you’ve got plenty from which to choose!
Pin it to remember what to call a group of cats or kittens
Do you tell people that you have a lot of cats? If yes, you are using the wrong term. Want to know the fit word for so many cats? Learn from this article!
What is a group of cats called? It is called a clowder. You can also call it a clutter of cats and glaring. There has to be more than two cats to form a clowder. Sometimes, a group of aggressive cats is also called Destruction. But a group of only two cats is called a pair.
A cat can be best as a Pet. After having a bad day, when a cat sits in our lap and when we pet it we forget all our worries in seconds. But some people are scared of them.
4 Secret Names Of Group Of Cats
What happens when cats group up?Obviously,they want to share something like emotions with each other.Problem arises when you don’t know how to name such a gathering.Stop worrying though–here you will get to know about 4 secret terms to call out a lot of cats staying together.
1. Clowder of Cat
One of the most common names to mention a group of cats is Clowder. This refers to any number of cats that are together except two cats only.
2. Cluster of Cats
A cluster of cats is the second commonly known term to define a group of cats. It is used to describe a bunch of cats together.
3. Glare of Cats
A glare of cats or glaring is used to describe more than two cats that are uncertain of each others’ presence.
4. Pounce of Cats
Well, this collective noun is not widely acknowledged but it also tells that the cats are in a group. However, it is mostly about domestic cats.
The big cat is not domesticated. When we talk about big cats, we are talking about any of the following:
● Panthera
● Tiger
● Lion
● Jaguar
● Leopard and snow leopard
A lion is the only big cat that lives in a group. What is its group called? Its group is called pride. We must have often heard people saying that cats are smarter than Lions. Cats can Climb but lions can’t. It is said that cats taught everything to a Lion other than climbing. Hahaha! Lions mostly live in jungles and some live in the Zoo. This big cat is considered as the King of a Jungle. Check this video to see rare wild cats.
Stray Cats Group
Stray cats are cats that live in the streets. No matter what the breed is, if cats live in the streets without any human family, then they are considered as strays. Honestly speaking, I feel really bad for them. They have to find food in the trash, have to drink dirty water, they get into fights with other cats and even dogs. Some get hit by cars and some people don’t even bother to take them to the hospital. It’s very difficult for a kitten to survive on the streets especially when they are without mother and are too young. Kittens are mostly seen as a group because there is always a litter of kittens and the mother cat keeps them all together to manage things. It must be a tough job for a street mother to give birth and then take care of her own self and her kittens.
In some cases, there are some street cats that are living a happy life. If we talk about countries like Turkey, people actually take care of street cats, people and some proper organizations provide them food, there are proper laws for animals as they realize the importance of an animal.
Alley Cats Group
Alley cats group can be that group of cats that is associated with another for some common cause.
But technically speaking, the Alley cat group is a global production company. It’s related to Media production. They write and produce online video content. They work across all media platforms.
There are basically three main cats in the Alley Cat Group:
Dora Militaru:
It is the main cat. She has created a wide variety of programming formats for both web and broadcast tv. She is Roman by birth and is responsible for their websites and social media presence
Robert:
This one has specialized in video editing and graphic designing He is not overly verbose, he is all about catching the mouse. Robert also received a Silver Telly award for his work on the documentary “Regina Resnik New York Original”
Darek:
It’s their main cinematography cat. Her project includes the Academy Award-winning documentary short film “ Music by Prudence” His work has also won five New York Festival Awards as well as BDA.
Cats Drama Group
Now again, it’s something related to Media. Cats Youth Theatre is a friendly, inspiring and dynamic amateur group that aims to provide an education in stage skills and experience in theatrical performance and musical theatre for young people aged between 5 and 21. They have taken the concept of their Company from Cat (animal). Their theatre is split into four age’s groups:
● Kittens:
5-7 years
● Primary Junior:
8-11 years
● Secondary junior:
11-13 years
● Seniors:
13-21 years
CATS is a member of the Great Manchester Drama Federation. CATS is considered as a very good institution. There are so many success stories of CATS members. CATS proudly share the success stories of their members.
Uncommon Terms For a Group Of Cats
As we have already discussed, the actual name used for a group of Cats. We can use the word “cats” but the correct word is Clowder and a cluster of cats. How often do we see Cats in the group? When you see them in a group which is very rare I must say, from now on you will call them Clowder.
I mean let’s notice in our streets or some other streets we may find some group of cats which are basically Clowder. Some people have a cluster of cats in their homes as well.
Now, what about a group of kittens? Kittens have their own collective Noun. An actual term for a group of kittens is the Kindle of kittens. Another word we commonly use is Litter of kittens for a group of kittens that are siblings or we should say who are born together.
Group Of Cats Meowing
No matter what a cat says, It sounds “meow “ to us. It’s cute and funny that they meow sometimes for no reason even and sometimes for food, extra food or only for some attention. A cat owner must have a better idea that a cat has so many sounds, not just one meow. A long meow that looks like a howl means the cat is scared, in pain or looking for a mate. Their meow for food is different, their angry meow is different.
When we reach home and they say ‘meow’ which I believe means “hey! where have u been I missed you” sounds the best meow to me. Now, if we talk about their meow for food. Only then we can hear their meowing in a group. Especially when there is a group of stray cats that are fed by the human at the same place daily, when that human arrives you can hear a group of cats meowing. Cats meow to communicate with humans in 90% of the cases. They rarely communicate with other cats through meow.
Names Of Group Of Domestic Cats
Names for groups if domestic cats are Clutter, Pounce and Glaring. Domestic cats don’t usually fight with each other but this is not always true.
Groups of domestic cats are also called clowder. They can be seen in the streets or in houses as pets. As pets they play with each other and get attached soon. I believe they are seen often in groups. Stray groups of cats may fight with each other especially with the male cat but domestic cats don’t really fight or show aggression to each other that often.
There are Following Common Types of domestic Cats:
● Domestic Shorthaired Cats
● British Shorthair
● American Shorthair
Names Of Group Of Wild Cats
Wild cats? Yes, there exists a group of wild cats too that are mostly seen in the wild and not in the house. Another word used for wild cats is ‘Feral”. Feral is an unsocialized cat that is clear from its name. There are 36 species of wild cats. They are mostly unowned cats and they avoid humans. They survive by hunting. Again, a group of wild cats is also called Clowder.
Feral cats are the ones that often live in groups called colonies which they definitely prefer to be near food sources. It is very difficult to control their population as they are hardly being touched or held by humans. They hide from humans and prefer roaming freely. If you are fond of cats then you can check cat stories from here.
How Many Cats Are Called Clowder?
We just need more than two cats to called it a Clowder. Are cats group animals?
Cats can live in a group but they don’t really like any strange or new cat. But if we talk about feral cats, these cats are social animals that in feral condition actually live in groups. If we talk about the Queen (Mother cat) and her litter (Kittens), they live in a group. There are groups of cats in areas where there is some source of food.
For instance, we may see a group of cats in meat markets. I have seen stray cats fighting with each other too and some fights turn out very bad, they hurt each other very bad but it depends, in some cases, they are good friends mostly when they are of the same litter. Things could be so easy for cat owners if cats start playing with their cousin cats and don’t fight or hiss each other.
Why Is a Group Of Cats Called a Clowder?
Now, this is a question that may come in the mind of a lot of us. Let’s talk in a grammatical way, according to the dictionary, Clowder came into being from the term “clodder” which is an English term that originated in the late 1700’s and was used to describe a “clotted mass”. The term evolved over the years to the current “clowder”. There is no history behind giving this name to a group of cats.
We can also call them glaring if the cats are uncertain of each other. Other words used for them are pounce, clutter and destruction. There is no origin history behind them being called a clowder.
Did you know cats are head over heels in love with cat food? One of the best cat foods is Royal Canin Catfood.
What Are Groups Of Girl Cats Called?
A girl or female cat is called:
- Molly- spayed female cat
- Queen- an unspayed female cat
I personally think that female cats are more sweet, loving and intelligent as compared to males and Tomcats.
A female cat not even asks for love but also shows a lot of love and affection. Female cat gets adult at the age of 6-7 months. People often prefer male cats as a pet than females. Poor female cat!! Let’s promote spaying/Neutering to help animals
What is a Pounce of Cats?
As we have already discussed that another word used for cats is Pounce. But why are they called pounce? Again there is no original story for this specific word being chosen. But if we think deeper about the way they interact with humans it starts to make sense. What does pounce mean?
It means to jump or Leap. Cats always love to pounce on anything they see. It’s very common that the cat tries to pounce on a lizard, mouse, any toy or fellow cats. So, yes pounce makes sense.
Related Articles: What Is a Group Of Baboons Called?
How Many Cats Make a Clowder?
If we talk about Clowder, it can be one or more cats. Clowder can be 3 or even 10 cats despite the fact that they are of the same litter, whatever the gender and breed is. Well, yes breed doesn’t matter. As of 2019, 71 standardized cat breeds were recognized. The Cat Fanciers Association ( 44) and the Federation International Feline 43. So, No matter what breed gender or number of cats is, they are called clowder when they are in a group.
Whether it’s three males or three females or males and females both whenever there are more than two cats regardless of their gender we call it Clowder.
What Is a Group Of Baby Cats Called
A baby cat is a cat till age 4 weeks. It’s basically called a kitten and a group of kittens are called litter of kittens or kindle. A feline litter consists of 2-5 kittens. In rare cases, Cats may give birth to one kitten only. Basically, the litter of kittens is baby cats that are born to the same mother within a day or sometimes more than a day like between 24-36 hours. Litter of kittens mostly stays with the mother for at least 40 days.
Mother cats stop taking care of them when they know they can now survive on their own. They totally depend on the mother for survival for 3-4 weeks and it’s very rare that cats survive if mother cat is not around. It is advisable to not separate kittens from mothers for at least 2 months. But in the streets, mother cats have to face many difficulties. They have to find a safe place where she can stay with their kittens. Unfortunately, some kittens die or cats leave them due to stress.
In a house, the scenario is different. They feel safe and comfortable with their litter of kittens.
What Is a Group Of Black Cats Called
It is also called a clowder and glaring because they are too the cats.
Final Verdict
Finally, we have learned a lot about cats today. Cats are basically carnivores and are domesticated for years. They are best as pets or I should say a part of the family. People often say with humor that we don’t own us, they choose us. Every breed is beautiful in some way. Yes, there is a proper word used for a group of cats. From now on, use the word crowdel for a group of cats. Though there is no history behind this term used for group of cats but this is how it is, they are called a clowder. And yes, Cats can attack dogs. Never leave them alone.
If you find this article useful then don’t forget to share with your friends and family.
- Author
- Recent Posts
Hi, Frank is here. I am Zoo keeper, naturalist, animal lover, researcher and animal rescuer. AnimalsPick is the place where I love to share my personal experience and knowledge about certain animals.
It’s perfectly fine to call a group of cats simply that, a group. I mean, I personally wouldn’t have a problem with just calling them cats.
But you’re here for the official name of a group of cats right?
Well…
There you have it, a group of cats is called a Clowder. By definition, “Clowder” literally translates to, “a group or cluster of cats”.
No surprise there… If you’ve never heard that word before, don’t stress, me either.
A group of cats can also go by the name of glaring, pounce, or funnily enough, destruction. Whilst a litter of kittens can go by kindle.
The Origin Of The Word Clowder
It is believed the origin of the word dates back to the late 17th century and originates from the word clodder, which basically means to clot.
Clowder is referred to as a group consisting of more than 3 cats. Personally, I think “destruction of cats” is a much more appropriate term, let alone accurate in a sense.
The scientific name for cats is in fact, Felis catus however, whatever you call them, I’m sure the ‘clowder’ has no preference.
Here are some other names a group of cats could be called.
- A cluster of cats
Typically used for a group of cats the same size.
- Destruction of cats
Usually refers to feral or wild cats.
- A clutter of cats
A variant of clowder, clutter is another suitable word for feral cats.
- Nuisance
This name applies to house cats. Known to be the common nuisance in neighborhoods.
- Glaring of cats
- Pounce of cats
Individual Cat Names
Individual cats can also be identified by names. Some of these names depend on their sex and whether they are spayed or neutered.
Here are a few names individual cats can go by.
Tomcat:
Is the name given to an unneutered male cat.
Queen:
Fitting I know, this name is given to an unspayed female cat Molly:
Name that’s given to a spayed female.
Gib:
A suitable name for a neutered male.
For a list of cool cat names click here.
Do Cats Prefer To Live In Groups?
It may come as no surprise that cats prefer to live a solitary life. This doesn’t mean that they can’t or don’t live in groups though. Feral cats are known to live as a clowder, see what I did there.
For us it’s a little confusing, being social is part of our nature, therefore living in groups or families is perfectly normal for us. The same can be said for pack animals such as dogs, who in fact share many of our social beliefs.
Because cats are perfectly fine living on their own, they have learned to be very self-sufficient. This can lead to many people thinking that cats are untrainable, but this isn’t always the case.
They don’t always see the need to please their owners, but cats over time can definitely be trained. Head on over to the article I wrote for tips on how to train your cat.
If you already have pets and are introducing a new cat into the home there are a few things you can do to smooth the process. It’s important to note that kittens and adult cats socialize in an entirely different way.
Introducing A Kitten Into Your Home
When introducing a kitten into your home, do so slowly especially if you have just adopted a kitty.
Let them sit in their carrier in an open room, keep noise to a minimum and talk to them softly so they know you’re there. If you have other pets, control them and keep them calm around the kitten.
Eventually, kitties should be let out of their carrier and free to explore on their own. Let the kitten come up and smell everyone in their own time. The same goes for other pets.
First impressions should be calm, then turn to light play once they feel comfortable.
Kittens really adjust quickly to new environments and pets. Kitty will be everyone’s best friend in no time.
The process for adult cats is the same, ie: everyone should be calm and quiet. The biggest thing here is time, it can take some time for an adult cat to adjust to its new environment.
They will also already have their own opinions on people and other animals. That being said, over time even the most stubborn cats can warm up to their new home and friends.
Never force your cat into an uncomfortable situation. This will only make things worse and they could end up resenting you.
Pro Tip: Let any introductions be on their terms, otherwise, you’ll do more damage than good.
Cats are very capable of learning to live in a group given the time to learn how to do so. Let them find their feet within the group.
They’re pretty good at figuring it all out in the end.
If you already have pets and are introducing a new cat into the home there are a few things you can do to smooth the process. It’s important to note that kittens and adult cats socialize in an entirely different way.
Conclusion On What Is A Group Of Cats Called.
Well, there you have it. Next time you see a group of cats you can point to your friends and say, “check out that clowder”. Okay seriously, I don’t expect anyone to do that anytime soon, but you never know.
If you’re looking for tips on how to keep a kitty in check, you can head on over to the article on how to discipline your cat the correct way.
Contents of Article
- Quick Answer…
- What Is a Group of Cats Called?
- Where Did “Clowder” Come From?
- Are There Names for Individual Cats, Too?
- Do Cats Live in Groups?
- Can House Cats Form Groups?
Lots of beings in the animal world form groups. A herd of antelope. A pack of wolves. A litter of puppies. All animals have specific group names, but I’ve never heard one quite as strange as the name for a group of cats. What is it, you ask?
Quick Answer…
A group of cats is called a clowder. Yes, like chowder but with an “l”.The only information from Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is that it refers to a group of cats, but there isn’t any official origin story. There are also a few other terms for a group of cats that are equally as interesting: glaring, pounce, clutter and destruction.
Clowder is the word used to refer to a group of three or more cats, and it might be one of my all-time favorite words. Other terms you can uses to refer to a group of domesticated cats include glaring, pounce and clutter.
There aren’t any origin stories for why these specific words are used, but if you think about the way cats interact with humans it starts to make sense. If there is a group of cats huddled together, they’ll probably glare at you as you walk by, hence the term glaring. Cats also love to pounce on just about anything that passes by, whether it’s a human, lizard or another fellow cat, so pounce makes sense.
A very fitting word used to refer to a group of wild cats is destruction. While I wouldn’t agree that all feral cats cause destruction, they definitely claim their own territory and make their presence known. Plus, if you think about the time period of when these phrases are believed to have originated, maybe feral cats did cause some form of destruction in small towns.
Where Did “Clowder” Come From?
While there isn’t a solidified meaning, clowder originated from England in the early 1700s according to Dictionary.com. The word clowder is believed have been derived from “clutter” or “clotted”, although there isn’t any further explanation as to why these words were chosen.
It sure is an interesting word, and definitely isn’t one you hear often. I wonder if the loose basis on “clutter” and “clotted” refer to the way feral cats travel in packs, and might have appeared to clutter the streets. This is all purely speculation, but without any official meaning or origin story, it could be possible!
There are a few spots in my city where there are just tons of feral cats. If you’re out at the right time of the day, you could see ten or more feral cats just sitting in the middle of the roads — I’d definitely consider that as “cluttered.”
Are There Names for Individual Cats, Too?
There are quite a few different terms depending on a cat’s gender and whether or not they’re spayed or neutered.
Here are the terms used for all types of cats:
- Gib – neutered male cat
- Tomcat – unneutered male cat
- Molly – spayed female cat
- Queen – unspayed female cat
Do Cats Live in Groups?
A cat’s lifestyle is different depending on whether they’re feral or live inside. By nature, cats are solitary predators and therefore prefer to live and hunt alone.
When cats are feral, they will establish their own territory. The cat will patrol this area, where they eat and sleep, and mark it with their scent. Though they are solitary animals, they can adapt to a group, or clowder, in certain situations.
Feral cats might form a group around reliable food sources. Although cats can form a group and adapt to a communal living, they still aren’t pack animals like dogs. With dogs, there’s one alpha male of the group. Instead, cats typically have an alpha female, or queen.
Most feral groups of cats living together are females and their kittens. Male cats are able to form groups, but they can be a bit more aggressive and tend to live separately from the females. What you’ll typically see is a solitary male cat roaming around looking for a mate, while the feral females form packs and help raise their kittens together.
Can House Cats Form Groups?
In short, not really. Cats that live inside their whole lives exhibit much different behavior than a feral cat. Even in a multi-cat household, like the one I have, I don’t see the typical feral cat grouping going on.
Instead, our youngest male cat seems to be the boss of the others. They’re all submissive to him, rolling on their backs and exposing their belly. With feral cats, the leader is a female and shows the roaming tom cats who’s boss.
Knowing the proper terminology to refer to cats to, whether they’re in a group or not, I feel more educated about them. Also, having a multi-cat household, I’ve realized I can proudly say I live with a clowder of cats.
Jacquelyn Pica is cat mom to Bean Man Jones, a 2-year old adopted stray. She’s also a top-notch pet writer based in St. Petersburg, Florida.
What do you call a group of cats? What is a herd of cats called? These are interesting questions that have unusual nouns as answers.
I love this topic because there are some interesting collective nouns to describe groups of different animals.
Did you know a group of grasshoppers is called a cloud for example? I love that one.
Or, that a group of gibbons is called a troop?
So, what is the collective name for cats? – A clowder.
The dictionary definition of clowder is:
A group or cluster of cats.
It’s not that well known, which is why this question comes up in quizzes and debates. So, I don’t blame you for not having heard of the word, clowder.
I hadn’t either until the question came up with friends and I decided to look into what a group of cats is called.
There are some other words used to describe a group, collective, and bunch of cats too, you can use;
- Clutter
- Pounce
- Glaring
- Dout
- Nuisance
How Many Cats Do You Need to Make a Clowder?
Seeing as one cat is just called a cat, and two cats are a pair of cats. Three and above seems the sensible answer.
So, next time you see three or more cats within close proximity of each other you can refer to them as a clowder of cats and impress your friends!
There are also some common nouns to describe a group of kittens. You can use:
- Litter – This is the most common way to refer to a group of newborns kittens born to the same mother.
- Kindle – This word comes from the Old English for ‘kindling’ which was a term used for birthing and one I’ve heard used for kittens in particular.
- Intrigue – I’m not sure exactly why ‘intrigue’ has been used to describe a group of kittens, but I think intriguing is perfect as it’s a word that comes to mind when looking at new born kittens.
How Many Cats Can a Clowder Have?
Honestly, I can’t find a conclusive answer to the question of how many cats can be in a clowder. I think we can safely say any amount!
Other Names to Describe a Group or Pack of Cats
Are there any other names used to describe a group of cats you know about that I’ve missed or you’d like mentioned here?
Personally, I think we can all have some fun with this. If you want to refer to a group of cats with a word that describes them then go with it. How about:
- Cluster
- Posse
- Pack
- Mob
- Troop
I know when I’ve had a litter of kittens growing up in my home it’s felt like I was dealing with a mob or a posse at times!
Prefer videos over reading? I do too sometimes, I’ve got you covered:
As always, any feedback, comments and questions are welcome!
Whenever multiple animals of the same species hang out in the same place, there’s usually a unique nickname for it. For example, it’s a “drift” of pigs, a “pack” of dogs, a “flock” of sheep, and a “gaggle” of geese. Now you’re wondering: what is a group of cats called?
A group of cats is called a clowder if they seem to know one another (formerly “clodder” in 18th century English). A group of cats unfamiliar to one another is called a “glaring,” and a group of kittens is either a “litter” or a “kindle.”
Nothing will make you sound like a feline expert more than pointing out a group of cats and saying, “Hey, look at that _____!” To learn about the different terms used to describe a group of cats, read on!
Why Is a Group of Cats Called a Clowder?
There are two possible reasons that we call a group of cats a “clowder”:
- This term may date back to the word clodder (a word frequently used back in the 1700s through 18th century English. Clodder loosely translates to the phrase “clotted mass,” which somewhat explains how feral and stray cats tend to travel together — in a large clump. As the years went on, the pronunciation adopted a permanent change to clowder.
- Clowder is also noticeably similar to the English word clutter. While cats may be solitary animals while on the hunt for dinner, young or female feral cats tend to stick together via colonies — walking and feeding together en masse. When you see a cat colony of ten or more cats, you would think, “They look somewhat cluttered!”
Many feline enthusiasts call a group of two cats a pair, so any group of at least three cats could be a clowder.
Other Words to Describe a Group of Cats
Clowder doesn’t roll off the tongue as smoothly as a pack, gaggle, drift, or flock might. It’s also worth noting that this term also doesn’t accurately describe every group of cats — for example, you would probably use litter to describe a group of newborn kittens instead of clowder.
Here are a few other terms used to describe cat groupings:
Glaring
You’d use the word glaring if you’re describing a group of cats who don’t seem to know one another — at least not well. For example, a group of feral cats may be crowding together alongside a dumpster while pillaging for food scraps, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re members of the same colony.
As the term suggests, these foreign cats may be glaring at one another suspiciously as they try to gauge whether their fellow felines are aggressive or friendly. It’s not unusual for a glaring of cats to result in fights over territory, especially if male tomcats are involved — this heightens the risk for the spread of FIV or FeLV through deep bite wounds.
Kindle
The term kindle better describes a group of young kittens born to one mother cat. Kindle comes from the old-fashioned Middle English word kindelen, with a definition of “to give birth to young.”
Therefore, a mother cat kindles and produces a kindle — a litter of kittens. Very few people use this term over litter. It’s also unclear whether a kindle can also describe a group of kittens born to multiple mother cats (such as several unrelated kittens huddled together in a colony).
Litter
The most common way to describe a group of kittens born to a single mother cat is a litter — though some definitions of the word also require the same father amongst all offspring.
However, since a cat’s ovaries release eggs immediately after mating, a female cat may release multiple eggs during a single heat cycle. If she mates with different male cats over those seven days of fertility, a female cat may have numerous eggs fertilized by other fathers. Therefore, it’s not unusual for female cats to deliver a litter of kittens with multiple fathers — something called superfecundation.
Colony
If a group of cats lives and feeds together out in the wild, you can call that a colony. Both stray and feral cats join colonies to develop social bonds with other felines while sharing one similarity: a common food source. Cats living in colonies may gravitate toward residencies of people who leave food out or garbage bins known to contain food bits.
However, cats in colonies also wander — they may stray into the woods to hunt for rodents when food supplies are running low. Most cat colonies are matrilinear, meaning the members are strictly female cats and their offspring. In the absence of male cats, there’s also a lack of a colony hierarchy.
More Bizarre Terms Describing Cat Groupings
If you thought clowder and glaring were unusual terms to describe groups of cats, you’re in for a rude awakening. You could also call a group of cats:
- Destruction: A group of wild cats known to be fierce or territorial.
- Dowt: A group of feral or wild cats (this term does not apply to domestic cats).
- Pounce: A lesser-known way to describe a group of cats.
You may also hear a group of cats called a nuisance, cluster, or clutter, but only if it’s to describe a group of three or more cats. Otherwise, stick to pair when talking about two cats and a glaring or clowder when referring to domestic cats.
Want to know other collective nouns describing groups of other species? Watch the video below to learn more:
Words to Describe Individual Cats
A cat is a cat, and, if anything, you call your kitty by her name! However, did you know that you can use more specific words to describe a cat, such as if you were talking about an unspayed female cat? Here are some other cat-related terms for individual cats:
- Tom (or tomcat): An intact male cat with the ability to get an unspayed female cat pregnant; tomcats tend to spray and exhibit aggressive behavior to assert dominance and claim their territory.
- Gib: A neutered male cat; gibs tend to be less aggressive and territorial than unneutered male cats while also boasting lower risks of prostate issues and testicular cancer.
- Queen: An intact female cat who will go into heat every few weeks, marking fertility and egg release after mating; an unspayed female cat may reach sexual maturity as young as four months old.
- Spay: A spayed female cat; tend to have substantially lower risks of developing uterine infections or breast cancer throughout their lifespans.
- Sire: A father cat.
- Dam: A mother cat.
- Kitten: A young cat (either male or female) who has yet to reach full-grown status; usually younger than one year old.
Every term used to describe cats is very deliberate. For example, a tomcat and a gib are both male cats, but they differ in neuter status. The same logic goes for queens and spays. It’s time to start using these terms more freely and let the world know you’re a bit of a cat expert.
Conclusion
You’d call a group of geese a gaggle if they were on the ground but a skein if they were mid-flight. The words used to describe groups of cats are confusing and easy to mangle, but here’s a quick overview of when to use each:
- Clowder: Group of domestic cats
- Glaring: Group of cats who don’t know each other well
- Destruction, colony, or dowt: Group of feral or wild cats
- Litter or kindling: Group of kittens
Lastly, if you’re talking about two cats, stick to calling them a pair.
Sources
- Your Dictionary: List of Names for Groups of Animals
- The Free Dictionary: Kindled
- Wikipedia: Litter
- Wikipedia: Superfecundation
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline Leukemia Virus
- Pinterest: Pretty Cats
Pam is a self-confessed cat lover and has experience of working with cats and owning cats for as long as she can remember. This website is where she gets to share her knowledge and interact with other cat lovers.
Last Updated on September 24, 2021 by
When attempting to characterise a group of kittens, words like inquisitive, active, enthusiastic, and tiring spring to mind. Over the years, cats and kittens have been named a variety of names. Some of the names have stayed and are now used to describe a group of cats.
Terms Of Venery
You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered who came up with such bizarre animal group names. James Lipton’s book “An Exaltation of Larks: The Ultimate Edition” contains most of the names we use now to identify animal groupings, as well as many others we’ve likely never heard of. His study stretches back 500 years to a time when hunting was a gentleman’s pastime and members of the “upper class” flaunted their knowledge by playing word games at hunting clubs. The custom survived and expanded beyond the social elites throughout time. Many of these invented names became recognised terminology for many sorts of groupings, not only animals.
Kitten Terms
A litter of kittens, like many other young animals born to the same mother, is often referred to as a “litter.” They’re also known as a “kindle,” a word that refers to kittens rather than any other group of young animals. “Kindling” was a word for childbirth in Old English, and this is most likely where the noun came from. An “intrigue” is a word for a bunch of kittens that is seldom used. While kittens are undoubtedly inquisitive and fascinating animals, the phrase was most likely linked with them when the word “entanglement” was a common synonym. A tangle of fluffy tiny bodies may best be characterised as a raucous bunch of kittens.
Cat Terms
The terms “clowder,” “clutter,” “cluster,” “clutch,” and “pounce” are all used to describe cat groupings. Imagine coming across a bunch of cats in the dark with their eerily bright eyes; it’s easy to understand how the word “glaring” became yet another moniker for a group of cats. There’s no need to ponder how the words “dout” and “destruction” came to be associated with a bunch of wild cats.
Mistaken Identity
If someone gives you the chance to play with their mischievous kittens, you should probably refuse. A “mischief” is a term used to describe a bunch of rats. Puppies and kittens are the names given to young rats and mice. A mischief of kittens, on the other hand, would be a group of newborn rats rather than cuddly tiny felines, but mischievous would be an appropriate descriptor for a bunch of adorable little furballs.
Post Views: 1,325
What Do You Call A Group Of Cats? — Catmart.net
Jamie Fallon
Hi! My name is Jamie Fallon. I run Catmart, an online cat health and cat behavior resource. If I’m not sat in front of my PC—and I usually am—then I’m either spending time with my cats or my other half… Whoever jumps on me or asks me for food first!
Post navigation
Learn more with our complete list of cat FAQs! Have you ever wished for a pet cat that didn’t shed its fur all over your home? If so, you’re not…
Animal testing is sad but necessary. But what might shock you as a cat owner is that cats have historically been used for lab research, too. Are they still used…
Learn more with our complete list of cat FAQs! Do cats experience love? It’s a question that has mystified cat owners for generations. We all know the feeling of being…
Learn more with our complete list of cat FAQs! Have you ever wondered why cats purr? It’s a sound that fills the room with warmth and comfort, but there is…