Collocations for "cat"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "cat" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
cat
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- a [white, calico, Maine Coon, jungle, African] cat
- [a stray, a feral, an alley, a domestic] cat
- (is) the [largest, fastest] of the big cats
- the [jaguar, panther] is a big cat
- saw a black cat
- take your cat to the vet
- [pet, feed, pick up] the cat
- let the cat [out, in]
- the cat meowed for [food, attention]
- the cat [scratched, meowed, hissed] at
- the cat [meowed, hissed]
- was [scratched, bitten] by a cat
- can we get a cat?
- want (to get) a cat
- did you (remember to) feed the cat?
- the cat was [cleaning, preening, licking] itself
- like a cat in heat
- who let the cat out of the bag?
- curiosity killed the cat
- is the cat's meow
- is a cat's paw for
- he's such a [cool, scaredy] cat!
- slang: [cool, underground, great] jazz cats
- UK: cat's eyes in the road
- cat [toys, treats, litter, food]
- a cat [bed, tree, flap, door]
- play cat's cradle
- a cat's eye marble
- slang: a crazy cat lady
- [big, domestic] cat species
- is a cat burglar
- cat around all day
- cat around with the [women, ladies, girls]
- catting with other [women]
- obscure: cat the anchor
'cat' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
C
- alley
- anyway
- armchair
- astray
- bag
- ball
- barn
- bell
- board
- bone
- box
- bristle
- brush
- cable
- canned
- care
- catch
- charm
- chase
- cheetah
- claw
- cleaner
- climb
- clip
- coax
- collar
- collection
- companion
- crap
- creep
- dangle
- dog
- doodle
- excited
- family
- feeding
- female
- fiddle
- fidget
- flea
- food
- friendly
- front
- fur
- gate
- ginger
- groom
- hag
- hair