Cat Glossary

If you are new to the idea of having a cat or have had a cat for years, you might find this dictionary useful to understand some of the terms that cat breeders, pet stores, or your veterinarian might use. Although it doesn’t contain every term that refers to a cat, it does contain more of the regularly used terms.

-A-
ACFA (American Cat Fanciers Association). Originating in 1955, ACFA has grown to be one of the world’s largest cat organizations. ACFA is known as the fairest, friendliest and most fun feline association! Their goal is to promote the welfare, education, knowledge and interest in all domesticated, purebred, and non-purebred cats, to breeders, owners, exhibitors of cats, and the general public.
Ailurophile. A cat loving person
Ailurophobe. A person who hates cats
Alopecia. Bald area that normally has hair
Anestrus. Female cat not in heat
Antibiotic. A substance derived from a living organism and is used to inhibit the growth of bacteria
AOC (Any Other Color). Not normally accepted color or pattern in a certain breed of cat
AOV (Any Other Variety). Cat association term to classify cats that are offsprings of registered parents but are not eligible to enter championship cat show classes because they do not have the official requirements for coat color, coat length, or other physical characteristics.
Awn hairs. The part of the cat’s undercoat that is longer than the downy undercoat but shorter than the primary guard coat

-B-
Back crossing. Inbreeding where a cat is mated with a parent
Barring. Markings of a tabby cat
Base coat. The primary coat
Bi-color. Cat color basically white with large patches of another solid color
Blaze. Stripe or splash of white on the cat’s forehead or nose
Bloodline. The pedigree for a cat of a specific cattery
Booster vaccination. A follow-up injection that is periodically after the primary injection to continue immunity to a disease
Breed. Cats sharing common ancestors and similar physical characteristics
Brindling. Different colored hairs in a coat
Britches. Longer hair on the upper rear area of the legs
Brush tail. Long bushy hair

-C-
Calico. Cat color characteristic for female cats with patches of white, red, and black
Carrier. A cat carrying a genetic defect or disease
Castration. Removal of testicles in a male cat (neutering)
Cat Association. An organization for the promotion of cats, cat breeds, cat shows, and cat health
Cat Fancy. People who fancy cats and are involved in breeding, showing of cats, and cat clubs
Catnip (nepeta cataria). A plant of the mint family and acts as a hallucinogen to cats
Cattery. A place where cats are bred or boarded
CCA (Canadian Cat Association/Association Feline Canadienne). Iincludes registry of purebred cats, listing cat shows, show schedules, and Canadian breeders
CFA (Cat Fanciers Association). The world’s largest registry of pedigreed cats
CFF (Cat Fanciers’ Federation). Registry and show-sponsoring organization; second oldest in the US. Sponsors shows primarily in New England and the Midwest.
Coarse. A cat not refined or harmonious in conformation – considered a negative term
Cobby. Short body, broad, heavy boned, and low on the legs. (Persian or Manx)
Colorpoint. Cat¹s face, ears, tail, and legs pattern
Condition. Well being of a cat, including muscle toning, grooming, and good health
Conformation. Structure of a cat’s body, legs, and tail
Cross. Mating or breeding one cat with another

-D-
Dame. Female parent
Dander. Scales of dead skin can cause an allergic reaction in humans
Declawed. Surgically removing claws – not allowed to enter competition
Dew claw. The first digit found on the inside of the leg above the front paws
Domestic. A nonpedigreed cat
Down hairs. The shortest hair on the cat – soft and downy

-E-
Ear furnishings. Tufts of hair that grows in and around the ears
Ear mites. Tiny insects that feed on the lining of the ear canal
Euthanasia. Humanely ending a cat’s life

-F-
FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). A virus that causes one of the most lethal infectious diseases found in cats. It is directly and indirectly the cause of many feline illnesses including cancer of the lymphocytes.
FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). A coronavirus infection of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity. This disease leads to death.
FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Virus that attacks the cat’s immune system
FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease). Urinary tract disease causing urethral blockage and kidney stone formation
FUS (Feline Urologic Syndrome). A disease of the urinary tract often responsible for blockage of the urethra in male cats – life threatening

-G-
Gingivitis. Inflammation of the gums
Guard hairs. The longest, outer hairs of the cat’s coat

-H-
Heat. This is the period when a female cat is interested in mating and can become pregnant
HHP (Household pet). Domestic or purebred cat that is not registered and is a pet. Household pets can compete in special categories in cat shows.
Hybrid. Result of the mating cats of different breeds or more than two breeds
Hybrid vigor. Increased vitality resulting from breeding cats of two different breeds together

-I-
Immunization. Helping with artificial resistance to infection
Inbreeding. Mating of related cats

-K-
Kitten. A young cat between four and eight months

-L-
Line Breeding. Mating related cats that have a common ancestor appearing at least one time in the first three generations of both parent’s pedigrees
Litter. Kittens born by the same mother at the same time
Litter. Absorbent material used in a cat’s box

-N-
Natural breed. Breed without the interference of selective breeding
Neuter. Castrated male cat by removing the testicles so it can’t reproduce

-O-
Outcross. Breeding of two cats together that don’t have an ancestors in common for a minimum of three generations

-P-
Pedigree. Document outlining names, titles, colors, and registration numbers of cat’s ancestors. At least three to five generations
Premier. A registered neutered or spayed pedigreed cat
Purebred. A cat whose ancestors are of the same breed or are allowable outcrosses

-Q-
Queen. Female cat used for breeding purposes
Quick. Vein that runs through a cat’s claw

-R-
Rangy. Long body
Rex. Type of coat with no guard hairs but a soft and curly undercoat
Ringworm. Contagious skin disease caused by a fungus
Ruff. Collar-like fringe of hair around the neck

-S-
Selective breeding. Intentional mating of two cats to achieve a trait or to eliminate a trait
Self. Cat that is of one solid color from the base to the tip of the hair shaft
Set type. Breeding term to describe the process of breeding successive generations of cats with certain characteristics in hopes of producing cats that will possess the trait and also be able to pass it along to their offspring
Single coat. One coat, usually the top coat or guard hairs, without the downy undercoat
Sire. Male parent of a kitten
Spay. Female cat that has been sterilized through a surgical procedure
Stud. Male cat

-T-
TICA (The International Cat Association). World’s Largest Genetic Registry of Pedigreed Cats
Ticking. Darker tips of hair on the ends of the coat hairs
Tom Cat. Unaltered male cat
Tortie. Also called tortoiseshell. Usually a female. The coat colors are cream, red, and blank intermingled together.
Tufted. Hair on the tips of the ears and/or between the cat’s toes

-U-
Undercoat. Soft and downy hairs next to the skin

-V-
Variety. A cat that has registered parents but is not eligible for championship status because it does not conform to the breed standard

-W-
Weaning. Kittens learn to eat food, not depending on the milk of their mother