hunting cat

Spotted African sprinter

A hunting cat is a cat trained or used to pursue game, historically referring to cheetahs kept by nobility for coursing prey.

The term also describes domestic cats with strong predatory instincts: She's a real hunting cat—always bringing home mice and birds.

roles

mouser

Rodent-catching cat

ratterAnimal catching vermin
pest controlManaging unwanted organisms

anatomy

claws

Animal gripping nails

retractableAble to draw inward
whiskersFacial sensory hairs
night visionAbility to see dimly

ears · fangs · paws · reflexes · balance · tail · padded feet · binocular vision · acute hearing · keen eyesight

behavior

stalking

Stealthy, persistent pursuit

pouncingLeaping to attack
ambushSurprise strike from concealment
crouchingBending low, knees bent

creeping · prowling · lurking · tracking · chasing · batting · toying · chittering · watching · waiting

wildcats

bobcat

Wild cat, abbreviated tail

lynxTufted-eared wild feline
servalAfrican wildcat with oversized ears
caracalTufted-eared wild feline

ocelot · margay · wildcat · jaguarundi

breeds

tabby

Patterned domestic cat

siameseThai cat breed
savannahTropical grassland ecosystem
burmeseOf a Southeast Asian nation

prey

mouse

Small gnawing mammal

birdFeathered flying vertebrate
lizardFour-legged scaled reptile
rabbitLong-eared lagomorph

vole · shrew · rat · chipmunk · squirrel · mole · insect · moth · cricket · grasshopper

Opposites

predatory behavior

hunting catscavenger

Seeker of refuse

vulture · hyena · dung beetle · detritivore · grazer

domestication and function

hunting catlap cat

Affectionate feline companion

house cat · indoor cat · show cat · barn cat

prey-predator relationship

hunting catquarry

Pit for extracting rock

game · mouse · rabbit · bird · prey species

Family

hunting, cat, hunt, hunts, hunted, hunter, hunters, huntsman, huntsmen

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G