Groups of animals are often assigned specific, sometimes surprising, collective nouns. These terms, which date back centuries, reflect both the physical gathering of creatures and their observed behavior. Domestic cats are unique because they have multiple accepted terms to describe their gatherings, moving beyond the simple “group” to embrace more colorful language.
The Primary Collective Noun: Clowder
The most widely accepted term for a group of domestic cats is a “clowder.” This collective noun is used for any general gathering of three or more cats and is the term most often found in formal dictionaries. The word likely traces back to the Middle English word “clodder” or “clutter” sometime in the late 1700s. This etymology suggests a “clotted mass” or a “crowded collection,” which accurately describes how domestic cats often pile together in a comfortable heap.
The term “clowder” differentiates a casual grouping of familiar house cats from a “colony,” which is specifically used for groups of feral or stray cats. Feral cat colonies typically exhibit a structured, resource-driven social dynamic, often centered around female cats, or queens, who jointly raise their kittens and defend a shared territory. A clowder, by contrast, is a less formal assemblage of pets whose social bonds are based on proximity rather than survival.
Other Collective Nouns and Archaic Terms
While “clowder” is the standard, the domestic cat possesses several other collective nouns. One such term is a “glaring,” which is used when cats are gathered in a way that appears hostile or wary of one another. This term captures the intense, watchful gaze cats often direct at unfamiliar individuals, suggesting tension.
Another accepted, yet less common, term is “pounce,” which refers to a group that is actively engaged in playful or predatory behavior. The archaic term “destruction” is occasionally applied to domestic cats, but it is more historically accurate for wildcats, reflecting their predatory impact. Terms like “cluster” or “clutter” are also sometimes used, originating from the same linguistic root as clowder.
Groupings of Large Felines
The collective nouns for domestic cats contrast with those used for their larger, wild relatives, which reflect the social structure and hunting habits of the specific species. For instance, the most famous large cat grouping is a “pride” of lions, recognizing their unique social habit of living and hunting in family units. Lions are the only truly social cats, with prides consisting of related females, their offspring, and a few males.
Tigers, which are solitary hunters, are referred to as an “ambush” or a “streak” when seen together. These terms describe their hunting method and their striped appearance in motion, respectively. Cheetahs, which also tend to be solitary, form a “coalition” when male siblings band together for territorial defense and hunting. These differing terms underscore the wide range of social behaviors across the entire Felidae family.