Wonderful French vocabulary with cats

Last updated 31st January 2025

Learning about related vocabulary can make your journey into the French language more enjoyable. Focusing on cats adds a playful touch to your conversations while helping you connect with others who share your love for these pets.

In this article, you will discover essential words and phrases about cats, verbs that express your affection for them, and some interesting French idioms that feature these beloved animals. Get ready to enhance your vocabulary while having fun with this charming topic.

If you are looking for a feline friend, consider checking first the Société Protectrice pour les Animaux (SPA). All cats deserve a cosy and loving home !

Firstly, to better refer to your cat in French and sound like a native speaker, familiarize yourself with these terms :

• Un chat = a male cat
• Une chatte = a female cat
• Un chat domestique = a pet cat
• Un chat errant = an alley cat / a stray cat
• Un chat sauvage = a feral cat
• Un chaton (mâle ou femelle) = a kitten (male or female)
• Un matou = a tomcat / a big male cat
• Un minou = a male pussycat
• Une minette = a female pussycat

Next, when taking care of your feline, you may need these common items :

• Un arbre à chat = a cat tree
• Le bac à litière = the litter box
• Un collier (pour chat) = a cat collar
• Des croquettes = dry cat food
• Une caisse / cage de transport = a cat carrier
• Un grattoir / griffoir = a scratching post
• Un jouet pour chat = a cat toy
• La litière = the litter
• La nourriture pour chat = cat food
• Un panier pour chat = a cat basket

Finally, these terms are useful to outline cat specifics :

• Les griffes = claws
• Les moustaches = whiskers
• Le museau = the muzzle / nose
• Les pattes = paws
• Le pelage = fur
• Les poils de chat = cat hairs
• La queue = tail

• Chasser = to hunt
• S’étirer = to stretch
• Feuler = to hiss
• Se frotter contre moi / contre mes jambes = to rub against me / my legs
• Griffer = to scratch
• Grogner = to growl
• Mettre bas = to give birth
• Miauler = to meow
• Ronronner = to purr
• Sauter = to jump

• Adopter = to adopt
• Câliner = to cuddle
• Caresser = to pet
• Castrer un chat = to neuter
• Emmener son chat chez le vétérinaire = Bring your cat to the veterinarian
• Jouer = to play
• Nettoyer le bac à litière = to clean the litter box
• Nourrir = to feed
• Pucer un chat = to chip
• Stériliser = to spay

Finally, let’s take a look at some popular French idioms that celebrate our beloved cats. If you’ve checked out our earlier articles, you’re already aware of the French penchant for quirky expressions. We’ve gathered a selection of vibrant and food-related French idioms for you.

• Appeler un chat un chat = saying things straight, as they are (to call a cat a cat)
• Donner sa langue au chat = running out of guesses (to give your tongue to the cat)
• Il n’y a pas un chat = there’s nobody (there’s not one cat around)
• Avoir un chat dans la gorge = to have a sore throat (to have a cat in your throat)
• Avoir d’autres chats à fouetter = to have other things to do (to have other cats to whip)
• Jouer au chat et à la souris = to play at cat and mouse
• Quand le chat n’est pas là, les souris dansent = people enjoying themselves when unsupervised (when the cat is away, the mouse are dancing)

• La nuit, tous les chats sont gris = when it’s dark, all people look the same (at night, all the cats are grey)
• Chat échaudé craint l’eau froide = someone hurt in the past will fearful being hurt again (a scalded cat fears cold water)
• A bon chat, bon rat = monkey see, monkey do (to a good cat, a good rat)

In conclusion, if you’d like to use some of this vocabulary in context, feel free to reach out today ! And, of course, dog lover or any other pet aficionado is welcome.