What Is A Female Cat Called?

There are three different terms that can be used when talking about a female cat.

These are Molly, Queen and Dam. These are not as well-known as the male counterparts but these are all names for female cats.

While you can generally refer to your female cat as a Molly, there are a few key differences regarding when you can call a female cat each of these names.

Let’s take a closer look and find out whether your cat is a Molly, a Queen or a Dam:

1. Molly

This is a general term that can be used to refer to any female cat. Molly is the female version of tomcat.

Although, unlike male cats which are referred to as tomcats, a female would simply be referred to as a Molly rather than a molly cat. The origin of the term Molly is not fully known but generally speaking, if you have a female cat then she is a Molly.

If your cat happens to be pregnant or has kittens, she is called a Queen rather than a Molly.

2. Queen

Queen is such a fitting name for a female cat, isn’t it? This is a term used to describe a cat that is of breeding age, pregnant or nursing kittens. So, if your molly gets pregnant she becomes a queen.

The name queen is certainly well-suited to the female cat’s personality and importance but the term is derived from the word “queening” which is the process of giving birth in cats.

Queen is also a very fitting term because free-ranging domestic cats have been observed to have a matriarchal structure meaning the female is in charge.

3. Dam

The final term you may come across when talking about a female cat is Dam but this is a lesser-used term that is rarely heard in general conversation.

Instead, dam is used in a more technical sense. If you are interested in cat breeding or have friends involved in cat breeding there is a chance you have heard the term dam at some point or another.

This is because Dam is used for a rare or purebred female cat and is used exclusively for recording or maintaining records of cat breeding.

It is not the kind of term that comes up in day to day chat but if you happen to be talking about cat breeding or you are talking to someone passionate about cat breeding you may hear them refer to a female cat as a dam.

Female Cats Summary

To summarize; all female cats can be called molly and this is the female equivalent to a tomcat.

If the cat is pregnant or has kittens then she can be called a queen. Dam is an older term that is used for purebred females in the context of breeding records only.