Chat (and its feminine form, chatte) is the most common way to say “cat” in French. But there are several other options.

As you learn French, you might encounter these adorable felines, or want to talk about your own beloved pet!

Let’s look at 9 common ways to say “cat” (and, sometimes, more than “cat”) in French!

The standard 'cat' – chat/chatte

Chat(te) is the most basic, common word for 'cat' in French, referring to the domestic feline.

This word has to agree with the cat or cats it’s referring to, so you’ll see it either as:chat - a male catchatte - a female catchats - more than one male cat or a group of male and female catschattes - more than one female cat

It can be used in formal or informal situations, making it the universally accepted term for 'cat' in French.

While primarily referring to domestic cats, chat can also be used in some idiomatic expressions or to broadly refer to a feline, though specific terms exist for wild cats (e.g., lion, tigre).

The gender of chat or chatte is determined by the actual sex of the animal. If you don't know the sex, chat is the default masculine form. When referring to a group of cats, chats is used if there's at least one male, and chattes only if all cats in the group are female.

For instance, J'ai un beau chat noir (I have a beautiful black cat) would typically refer to a male cat, while Ma chatte aime jouer avec la balle (My female cat loves to play with the ball) clearly indicates a female.

Beyond literal cats, chat appears in common French idioms. For example, avoir un chat dans la gorge means 'to have a frog in one's throat' (literally, 'to have a cat in the throat'), and donner sa langue au chat means 'to give up' or 'to throw in the towel' (literally, 'to give one's tongue to the cat').

Fortunately, understanding whether chat refers to a domestic cat or is part of an idiom is usually easy to discern from the context. The presence of articles like un, une, le, la or possessive pronouns will generally point to a literal animal.

Cats hold a special place in French culture, often seen as independent and elegant. Many French households have cats, and they feature in literature and art. Common French cat names often reflect their appearance or personality, like Minou (a generic affectionate term), Gribouille (scribble, often for playful cats), or Nala.

💡 * J'ai deux chats à la maison. (I have two cats at home.)* La chatte de ma voisine est très douce. (My neighbor's female cat is very gentle.)* Mon chat dort souvent sur le canapé. (My cat often sleeps on the sofa.)* Regardez ces petits chats qui jouent ! (Look at these little kittens playing!)* Elle a adopté une chatte errante. (She adopted a stray female cat.)

The 'kitten' – chaton

The “kitten” – chaton

The French word for “kitten” is chaton (pronounced shah-TOHN). It’s a charming and widely recognized term.

Its primary and most straightforward meaning is a young cat. Just like in English, if you see a tiny, playful feline, you call it a chaton.

Beyond its literal meaning, chaton is also frequently used as a sweet term of endearment, similar to how one might say “sweetie” or “honey” in English, often directed towards a romantic partner or a child.

When used as an endearment, chaton carries a connotation of cuteness, tenderness, and affection. It evokes a sense of softness and vulnerability, making it a very loving term.

You might hear a partner affectionately call their significant other mon chaton (my kitten), or a parent use it for their child. It’s a versatile term that expresses warmth and fondness.

💡 *Regarde ce petit chaton qui joue avec la pelote de laine. (Look at that little kitten playing with the ball of yarn.)*Bonjour, mon chaton, comment vas-tu aujourd'hui? (Hello, my kitten/sweetheart, how are you today?)*Elle a adopté un chaton noir et blanc. (She adopted a black and white kitten.)*Viens ici, chaton, je t'ai préparé ton plat préféré. (Come here, kitten/darling, I've prepared your favorite dish.)*Ces chatons sont adorables! (These kittens are adorable!)

The 'tomcat' – matou

While chat is the general term for 'cat' in French, when referring specifically to a male cat, especially one that is large or unneutered, the word to use is matou.

Unlike chat which can refer to a male cat (un chat) or a female cat (une chatte), matou is exclusively masculine. Its feminine equivalent, though less commonly used in this specific context, would be chatte for a female cat.

A matou often evokes the image of a strong, independent, and sometimes rather wild or imposing male cat, often with a robust build. It's frequently used to describe a tomcat, particularly one that roams freely.

The plural form of matou is matous (pronounced the same as the singular, with the 's' being silent).

💡 *Mon voisin a un énorme matou noir. (My neighbor has a huge black tomcat.)
*Le matou du quartier est très territorial. (The neighborhood tomcat is very territorial.)
*Attention, ce matou a l'air un peu sauvage. (Careful, this tomcat looks a bit wild.)
*Les matous se battent souvent pour le territoire. (Tomcats often fight for territory.)

The affectionate 'kitty' – minou/minette

In French, minou and minette are common affectionate terms for a 'kitty' or 'pussycat'.

Minou is grammatically masculine and typically refers to a male cat, or is used as a general, gender-neutral affectionate term for any cat. Minette is feminine and specifically refers to a female cat.

Beyond pets, both can serve as terms of endearment for people. Minou can be used playfully for a loved one (often male), while minette is frequently used for a young girl or woman, similar to 'sweetie' or 'honey'.

💡 * Regarde ce petit minou ! Il est trop mignon. (Look at this little kitty! He's too cute.)

Ma minette adore les câlins. (My kitty loves cuddles.)

Viens ici, minou, il est l'heure de manger. (Come here, kitty, it's time to eat.)

Bonjour, ma belle minette ! Comment vas-tu ? (Hello, my beautiful sweetie! How are you doing?)

Mon minou, tu me manques. (My darling, I miss you.)

The general 'feline' – félin

The French word félin directly translates to 'feline' in English. It's the overarching term used to describe any animal belonging to the Felidae family, which includes both domestic and wild cats.

Félin functions as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it means 'cat-like' or 'of a cat', while as a noun, un félin refers to a 'feline' animal.

When used as an adjective, félin describes characteristics commonly associated with cats, such as grace, agility, or a predatory gaze. For instance, une souplesse féline means 'a feline suppleness'.

As a noun, un félin (masculine) is used to denote any member of the cat family, from a tiny house cat to a majestic tiger or lion. This usage is more formal or scientific than the everyday chat.

It's important to differentiate félin from chat. While chat is the common, informal word for a domestic cat, félin refers to the broader biological classification of felines, encompassing all cat species.

As an adjective, félin agrees in gender and number: félin (m.sg), féline (f.sg), félins (m.pl), félines (f.pl). As a noun, un félin (m.sg) and des félins (m.pl) are used.

💡 * Le tigre est un grand félin. (The tiger is a big feline.)

Elle a une démarche féline. (She has a cat-like gait.)

Les félins sont des prédateurs agiles. (Felines are agile predators.)

Son regard félin était perçant. (His feline gaze was piercing.)

L'exposition présentait divers félins du monde entier. (The exhibition featured various felines from around the world.)

The 'house tiger' (humorous) – tigre de salon

The French phrase tigre de salon literally translates to “house tiger.” It’s a humorous and often affectionate term used to describe something or someone that appears fierce but is, in reality, quite harmless or domesticated.

Most commonly, tigre de salon is used to refer to a domestic cat. It playfully highlights the cat’s natural predatory instincts (like a tiger) while acknowledging its pampered, indoor existence. It’s a way of saying, "Look at this fierce hunter... who actually just naps on the couch all day."

Beyond felines, the term can also be applied figuratively to a person. It describes someone who might seem intimidating or outwardly aggressive in certain situations but is actually quite gentle, timid, or domesticated in their private life or when confronted with real challenges. It implies a 'bark worse than their bite' scenario.

The humor in tigre de salon comes from the contrast between the grand, wild image of a tiger and the mundane, often lazy reality of a house pet or a person's mild-mannered true nature. It’s a gentle tease, not an insult, emphasizing the gap between appearance and reality.

💡 *Mon chat, il se prend pour un tigre de salon quand il chasse une mouche. (My cat fancies himself a house tiger when he hunts a fly.)
*Ne t'inquiète pas pour lui, c'est juste un tigre de salon. Il fait beaucoup de bruit mais il est inoffensif. (Don't worry about him, he's just a house tiger. He makes a lot of noise but he's harmless.)
*Elle a l'air très stricte au travail, mais à la maison, c'est un vrai tigre de salon. (She seems very strict at work, but at home, she's a real house tiger.)

The affectionate 'furball' – la boule de poils

While literally meaning "ball of hair" or "furball," la boule de poils is a common and affectionate term used in French to refer to a beloved pet, usually a cat or a dog. It's a sweet way to describe a furry companion.

This phrase conveys warmth and endearment, highlighting the pet's soft, furry nature. It's often used by owners to express deep affection for their furry companions, similar to how one might say "my little rascal" or "my sweetie" in English.

💡 * Mon chat est une vraie boule de poils, je l'adore! (My cat is a real furball, I love him!)

Regarde cette petite boule de poils, elle est trop mignonne. (Look at this little furball, she's too cute.)

Après une longue journée, j'aime retrouver ma boule de poils à la maison. (After a long day, I love coming home to my furball.)

Tu as vu la nouvelle boule de poils de mes voisins? C'est un chiot adorable. (Have you seen my neighbors' new furball? It's an adorable puppy.)

The old-fashioned or literary 'cat' – greffier

The old-fashioned or literary 'cat' – greffier. This term offers a glimpse into the historical and poetic nuances of the French language.

While greffier primarily means 'clerk' or 'registrar' in modern French, it also has an archaic or literary usage referring to a 'cat'. This connection may stem from the quiet, observant nature often attributed to both a clerk and a feline, or from the presence of cats in historical settings where clerks worked.

You'll rarely hear greffier used for a cat in everyday conversation today. It is almost exclusively found in older texts, classic literature, or specific regional dialects, where it lends a quaint, poetic, or even whimsical tone to the narration.

For contemporary French, the standard and universally understood word for 'cat' is chat (masculine) or chatte (feminine). Using greffier for a cat in modern speech would sound highly unusual and antiquated to a native speaker, unless it's for a deliberate stylistic or humorous effect.

💡 * Dans ce vieux conte, le greffier veillait sur la maison endormie. (In this old tale, the cat watched over the sleeping house.)

Le vieux poète caressait son greffier noir, son unique compagnie. (The old poet stroked his black cat, his only companion.)

Autrefois, on appelait parfois les chats des 'greffiers' pour leur discrétion. (In the past, cats were sometimes called 'greffiers' for their discretion.)

A common cat name often used generally – Mistigri

In French culture, Mistigri stands out as a classic and widely recognized name for a cat. It's a charming and traditional choice, often evoking a sense of familiarity and affection for feline companions.

What makes Mistigri particularly interesting is its dual usage. While it serves as a specific proper name, it can also be employed more generally as a slightly informal, affectionate term for 'a cat' or 'a kitty,' much like 'puss' in English. This versatility highlights its deep integration into everyday French language.

The term Mistigri carries a playful, sometimes mischievous connotation. Its origins are debated, with some linking it to a card game of the same name, while others suggest a connection to gris (grey), a common cat color. Regardless of its exact etymology, its widespread use in children's stories and popular culture solidifies its place as an iconic French cat identifier.

Although Mistigri is often associated with female cats, it can be applied to male cats as well, reflecting its broad, generic appeal. It remains singular in form when used as a name, but can sometimes imply 'cats' in a general, affectionate sense, depending on context. This flexibility makes it a beloved and enduring choice for French pet owners.

💡 * Notre petite chatte s'appelle Mistigri. (Our little female cat is called Mistigri.)

Où est passé Mistigri ? Je ne le vois nulle part. (Where has Mistigri gone? I don't see him anywhere.)

Regarde ce joli Mistigri qui dort sur le canapé. (Look at that pretty cat sleeping on the sofa.)

Les Mistigris du quartier se battent souvent la nuit. (The neighborhood cats often fight at night.)

Viens ici, mon petit Mistigri, il est l'heure de manger ! (Come here, my little kitty, it's time to eat!)

Are there other ways to say 'cat' in French?

Are there other ways to say “cat” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “cat” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire chat en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for chat on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about cats.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of cats, or words about felines in French, the WordReference entry for chat is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Hippolyte Taine: J'ai beaucoup étudié les philosophes et les chats. La sagesse des chats est infiniment supérieure. (I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.)

9 ways to say "cat" in French