What is a group of cats called?

For cat carers, the idea of a group of cats hanging out and having a paw party might seem preposterous! But, our solitary silky softies can form social groups in shared territories - they’ll often have a complex pecking order, a variety of communication methods, and even appear to enjoy each other's company. What the fluff?!

So, what is the name of this extraordinary phenomenon? What is a group of cats called, where does the name for a group of cats originate from, and if there are any other ways to refer to a group of cats?

What is a group of cats called?

Let’s just jump straight in - a group of cats is called a ‘clowder’. Yep, a clowder, pronounced like the words ‘clown’ and ‘chowder’ have been smushed together. It’s one of the more unusual words to describe a group of animals but is definitely better than the word ‘murder’ used for a group of crows.

While adult cats don’t meow at each other (that special skill is left to talking to us humans), you will likely hear cats trilling while in a clowder. This is another form of feline communication to acknowledge one another in a friendly way.

Origins of the English word ‘clowder’

The word ‘clowder’ may not roll off the tongue as easily as ‘a pack of dogs’ does, but it does have some interesting origin suggestions. As is always the case with sources from the past, facts are often difficult to come by, so we’ll be going on plausible ideas if that’s okay!

It’s thought ‘clowder’ comes from the 18th Century word ‘clodder’ meaning a cluster or mass of things. This is further backed up by another suggestion it comes from the word ‘clutter’ which has a similar meaning. Think about the last time you saw a clowder, what did it look like? A chaotic mass of fur? Seems pretty legit to us.

The name for a group of kittens

We guess most people know to call a gang of baby cats a litter of kittens. If you didn’t know that, you’re welcome! But, you can also refer to them as a kindle of kittens. Why? Well, we’re actually not sure and neither was the Internet. Maybe something to do with them melting our hearts?

But, a litter of kittens can actually be traced back to the 1500s in England. A ‘litter’ used to mean a bed with a straw-stuffing mattress (so nothing to do with a litter box, luckily).  As kitties would have most likely given birth on a litter, or something similar, the name probably became synonymous with both meanings.

What is a group of feral cats called?

Groups of wild cats all have their own naming depending on their species - a group of lions is a ‘pride’, a gang of tigers is an ‘ambush’ - but a group of feral domestic cats, you can simply call them ‘a colony’. Quite nice, no?

Cat colonies exist with their own specific social structure with a top cat who watches over the others, decides if new cats can join, and has first dibs on food and mating partners. Kitties in feral colonies have a higher chance of survival on the streets compared to lone rangers, safety in numbers, and all that jazz.

Other names for a group of cats

A clowder can also be called a ‘destruction of cats’, which seems pretty accurate, in all honesty. However, other words such as ‘pounce’, ‘cluster’, ‘glaring’, and even a ‘nuisance’ have been used in the past (and in different parts of the world) to refer to a group of kitties. Well, we know our cat companions can rule a home and like to have everything their own way, but a ‘nuisance’ is a bit too far!

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