What do you call a group of cats?
Did you know that cats have been living rent-free in human homes for nearly 10,000 years? That's right, these furry freeloaders have been mooching off us since around 7500 BC. To put that in perspective, that's about 5,000 years before the ancient Egyptians started building the pyramids. This was before pottery wheels were even invented, but I think I know why there aren’t a lot of artifacts from that time — the cats were obviously knocking anything the humans made onto the ground and breaking them.
Throughout history, cats have played various roles in human society. In ancient Egypt, they were worshipped as gods (an arrangement they still seem to expect in most households). During the Middle Ages in Europe, they got a bad rap and were associated with witchcraft. Talk about a fall from grace! But cats, being the resilient creatures they are, managed to claw their way back into our good graces. By the time the internet rolled around, they had fully reestablished their dominion over human hearts – and social media feeds.
But what happens when these solitary sovereigns of sass gather in groups? I imagine it's like a convention of tiny, furry dictators, each vying for world domination while simultaneously being distracted by a passing butterfly. The collective judgment in their eyes could probably wilt houseplants and curdle milk. Yet, we can't help but be charmed by the idea of multiple cats in one place. It's a mix of "Aww, kitties!" and "Oh no, they're plotting something."
Speaking of multiple cats, have you ever wondered if there's a special term for a group of these whiskered wonders? Of course, we know that some groups of animals have quirky terms. We've got a murder of crows, a pod of dolphins, and even a blessing of unicorns (yes, really). So, what about our feline friends? Do you know what a group of domestic cats is called? And we’re talking small, domestic type cats here folks, so don’t start thinking about tigers or anything.
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Nerd Notes – For after trivia!
Well, well, well, cat fanciers and trivia enthusiasts! If you've been calling that pack of felines in your neighborhood a "cat gang" or a "floof fleet," I hate to break it to you, but you've been doing it wrong all this time. The official term for a group of cats is – drumroll, please – a "clowder."
Yes, you heard that right. A clowder. It sounds like something you'd call a group of clumsy performers or perhaps a particularly confusing pile of laundry, doesn't it? But nope, it's all about the cats.
Now, if you're already known as the neighborhood's resident cat whisperer (or crazy cat lady/gentleman – we don't judge), here's your chance to really cement that reputation. Next time you're at a social gathering (you know, that rare occasion when you leave your feline overlords unattended), casually drop "clowder" into conversation. "Oh, you have two cats? That's cute. I have a whole clowder at home." Watch as eyebrows raise and people either back away slowly or immediately ask for your Instagram handle to see all those cat pics.
But wait, there's more! (Isn't there always when it comes to cats?) If your group of cats seems a bit... unsure of each other, like they're one hiss away from a full-on fur-flying fiasco, you can also call them a "glaring." As in, "I tried to introduce a new kitty to my clowder, but now I've just got a glaring situation on my paws." It's perfect, isn't it? You can practically feel the judgy cat stares emanating from the word itself.
Now, you might be wondering, "Where in the name of Bastet did 'clowder' come from?" Well, put on your etymology hats, folks, because we're diving into some word history.
"Clowder" isn't just some modern invention by an overzealous cat fanatic (though we wouldn't put it past them). It actually dates back to the late 18th century and comes from the term "clodder," meaning to clot or mass together. It's related to the word "clot" and "clod," which makes sense if you've ever seen a group of cats piled together in a sunbeam, looking like a multicolored furry blob.
The term "glaring," on the other hand, is pretty self-explanatory if you've ever locked eyes with a group of unamused cats. It's like they're collectively thinking, "Human, you dare disturb our important business of napping and judging you?" The origin of using "glaring" for cats is less clear, but it perfectly captures that uniquely feline blend of disdain and intense focus.
So there you have it, folks! Next time you see a group of cats lounging in a garden or plotting world domination in an alley, you can impress (or confuse) your friends by correctly identifying them as a clowder or a glaring. Just be prepared for the cats to give you a collective eye-roll for daring to label them. After all, cats don't abide by our puny human classifications – they're far too cool for that.
