Numerous animal species designate distinct names for their male and female cat counterparts, while it's commonly known that a male cat is referred to as a Tomcat.

Have you ever pondered what a female cat is called? The name for a female cat is more complex than that of a male.

Let's explore the exact terminology for female cats and gain insights into how to correctly utilize these terms. Understanding the distinctions between male and female cats is essential for their well being and longevity.

Uncover the answer to the question - What is a female cat called?

For those with a female cat, her formal designation may vary based on her age or adopt a more general label.

Explore the three distinct terms used for a female cat - molly, queen, and dam.

The term "Molly" serves as a general designation for a female cat at any stage of life, unlike their male counterparts who can be referred to as either toms or tomcats.

Female cats are simply called Molly without the addition of cat, this term applies from birth and can technically persist throughout her entire life.

However it is particularly used for spayed cats during adulthood, as they are incapable of giving birth.

The origin of the term molly for a female cat is a topic of debate, while some believe that its roots remain undiscovered others suggest a connection to the word Mollita.

Mollita is derived from the Latin term denoting softness or weakness, some contend that the term emerged because female cats are perceived as weaker than their male counterparts offering a potential explanation for its origin.

If your female cat has undergone spaying she retains the designation of a molly throughout her entire life, however upon reaching sexual maturity and entering her heat cycle she is commonly referred to as a queen which also applies to a pregnant or nursing female cat.

Contrary to the perception that the term queen stems from the regal elegance often associated with cats, it is actually derived from queening a term used to describe the period when a female cat is giving birth.

While not the direct inspiration for the word it's worth noting that a significant number of free range domestic cats often operate within a matriarchal structure, where a mother cat assumes a leadership role in the community like a queen.

The third designation for a female cat is not commonly employed in everyday conversations but serves as a more technical term.

If you own a pedigree cat specifically used for breeding purposes she is identified as a dam, while this term is typically reserved for official cat documentation it may occasionally surface in breeding environments.

Some feline owners also use it to refer to an older pedigree cat in general, the origin of the term dam remains not fully understood but it is often speculated to have been derived from the term dame.

In various countries and languages a female cat is identified by diverse names, here are some illustrations of how a female cat is referred to in different regions.

In the UK and Ireland it is customary to designate a female cat with the term queen, dam or molly.

In Australia it is also common to use the term queen when referring to a female cat.

In Germany a female cat is recognized as a Katze, the term Katze is applied specifically to refer to a female cat while Kater is the term used for a male cat.

In France a female cat is referred to as chatte or chatte femelle, The term chatte is specifically employed to denote a female cat.

In Spain a female cat is known as gata or gata hembra, The term gata specifically designates a female cat whereas gato is used for a male cat.

In Italy a female cat is known as gatta or gatta femmina, the term gatta specifically denotes a female cat.

In Japan a female cat is termed mesu neko or onna no koneko, Mesu neko translates to female cat while onna no koneko means female kitten.

In Russia a female cat is referred to as koshka or koshka kot, Koshka is the term for a female cat while koshka kot is a more affectionate way of referring to a female cat.

Now that you're aware that female cats have distinct names you might be curious about why male cats are assigned only one, the primary reason is the absence of a comparable reproductive cycle in male cats.

If you observe closely the names for female cats predominantly revolve around their reproductive cycles, providing distinctions for various phases of their life cycle.

In contrast male cats experience only one stage of the reproductive cycle, eliminating the necessity for multiple terms.

A male cat is commonly referred to as a tomcat or simply a tom, this name originated from a book published in the 1700s titled - The Life and Adventures of a Cat.

The central character Tom engaged in the pursuit and courtship of numerous female cats, this literary connection led to the widespread adoption of tom or tomcat to denote male cats and the name has endured.

Before the prevalence of tomcat male cats were occasionally referred to as rams or boars due to their prowling behavior in search of a mate, However these terms fell out of favor as tomcat gained popularity.

There you have it whether you're discussing a spayed, intact, or pregnant female cat you now have all the terminology, personally when it comes to describing a cat the term I cherish the most is simply "mine"!