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A group of cats is called a clowder. For kittens born to the same mother, litter is the familiar term; outdoor groups of feral or community cats may be described as colonies. Merriam-Webster defines clowder as a group of cats.
The short answer: a clowder of cats
The standard dictionary-backed answer is a clowder of cats. For example:
- A clowder of cats gathered beneath the porch.
- The animal shelter cared for a large clowder of cats.
- Several clowders lived in separate parts of the property.
The plural is clowders. However, you do not have to use this specialized collective noun in everyday conversation. A group of cats, several cats, or a pair of cats will often sound more natural, depending on the situation.
How do you pronounce clowder?
Merriam-Webster gives the pronunciation as /ˈklaʊdər/. A useful approximation is KLOW-der: the first syllable sounds like the beginning of cloud. It may remind you of chowder, but the opening sound is /kl/, not the /tʃ/ sound in chowder.
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Which word should you use?
These terms are not interchangeable in every context. The most accurate choice depends on whether you are describing cats generally, kittens born together, or outdoor cats living in a particular place.
| Term | Best use | How common or specific is it? |
|---|---|---|
| Clowder | A general group of cats | The standard dictionary term |
| Litter | Kittens born to the same mother at one birth | The familiar modern term |
| Kindle | A group of young cats or kittens | A genuine but rare or historical term |
| Colony | Outdoor community, feral, or unowned cats living together in a defined area | Context-specific; it describes a living situation as well as a group |
| Glaring | A group of cats that are staring at one another | Rare and playful, not the usual general answer |
Clowder, litter, and kindle: what is the difference?
Clowder: cats generally
Clowder means a group or cluster of cats. The core dictionary definition does not limit the word to adult cats, friendly cats, related cats, or cats that are sleeping together. It also does not establish a required minimum number. Claims that a clowder must contain three or four cats are conventions found in some secondary articles, not a dependable general rule.
That means clowder can describe cats in a household, shelter, garden, or other setting when the main point is simply that there is a group. Still, a more ordinary phrase may be clearer for a very small number: a pair of cats is usually more natural than forcing a collective noun onto two animals.
Litter: kittens born together
Litter is the ordinary term for kittens born to the same mother at the same time. Cambridge defines a litter as a group of animals born at the same time and having the same mother, while Merriam-Webster describes it as offspring produced at one birth by an animal capable of bearing several young.
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Kindle: a rare traditional word for kittens
Kindle is an attested collective noun for young cats or kittens, but it is uncommon in modern everyday speech. It is most useful in historical discussions, word games, or deliberately old-fashioned writing.
The 1486 Boke of Saint Albans includes the phrase a Kyndyƚƚ of yong Cattis
—a kindle of young cats. This historical entry supports kindle as a traditional term, not the claim that the book originated clowder. Nor does the evidence establish that a kindle means a particular number of litters. In normal modern prose, litter is the better choice.
What about a group of feral cats?
A group of outdoor, unowned cats living together in a particular area is often called a colony. Alley Cat Allies uses colony for community cats that are bonded to one another and live together in a specific outdoor area. In this context, community cats can include both feral cats and stray cats.
Colony is therefore not simply a replacement for clowder every time several cats are seen together:
- A clowder of cats crossed the road is a general description.
- A feral cat colony lives behind the warehouse describes an established outdoor group and its habitat.
- The colony has a caretaker fits a community-cat, rescue, or trap-neuter-return context.
Not every feral cat belongs to a colony. Cats Protection notes that some feral cats live alone, and colony size and stability depend heavily on resources such as food, shelter, and safety. A cat seen near a colony may also be a socialized stray or a roaming owned cat rather than a feral colony member. Feral and stray describe different relationships with people, so those labels should not be treated as synonyms.
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- INTELLIGENT INTERACTION AND FUN: This automatic cat toy is your pet's new playmate. It has two modes: ① Normal mode (green light), which runs for five minutes and then automatically shuts off. ② Intelligent mode (blue light), after running for five minutes the exercise ball automatically enters the dormant mode, when your cat touches it again, the exerciser will interact with your cat again. So whether it's a long game or a short interaction, this interactive cat ball meets the needs of both you and your pet, allowing your pet to entertain itself while you're busy
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Does calling them a clowder mean cats are pack animals?
No. A collective noun is a language label, not a scientific description of social organization. Cats are generally territorial and solitary in the wild, although reliable food, shelter, and protection can allow groups to form.
In outdoor colonies, related females and their offspring may live near one another, while other cats may join or remain on the edges of the group. Likewise, a home with several cats may contain more than one bonded social group. Some cats may merely tolerate one another rather than forming one cohesive unit. Cats Protection discusses this distinction between territorial behavior, multi-cat homes, and genuine social groups.
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Glaring is an uncommon, expressive alternative sometimes used for a group of cats—especially cats that are all staring at one another. The image is memorable, but it should not be treated as the primary or equally common answer.
Some cat-reference pages use glaring for cats that appear tense, unfamiliar, suspicious, or hostile. However, the available evidence does not establish a universally enforced rule that a group must be called a glaring only when the cats are behaving aggressively. In ordinary writing, use clowder for a general group and reserve glaring for playful wording when the cats’ mutual staring matters.
Other collective-noun lists may offer words such as clutter, cluster, pounce, or nuisance. These should not be presented as equally established modern synonyms. Collins’ animal collective-noun list and the record for glaring illustrate why these alternatives are best treated cautiously.
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Where did the word clowder come from?
The exact history of clowder is not completely certain. Merriam-Webster says it is probably a variant of clutter. Collins dates its first recorded use to 1795–1805 and connects it with dialectal clodder, a word associated with a clotted or clustered mass. Dictionary.com likewise discusses connections with clodder, clotter, and clutter.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What about lions, cheetahs, and other wild cats?
Clowder is the answer for domestic cats in the ordinary vocabulary question. Wild felids may have species-specific group terms. For example, a group of lions is commonly called a pride, while male cheetahs—particularly related males—may live in small groups called coalitions. San Diego Zoo describes cheetah coalitions.
Because many specialized names for wild-cat groups circulate in animal-word lists, it is wise to check the species and context rather than automatically applying clowder to every member of the cat family.
Choosing the right term: quick examples
- Two household cats sitting by a window
- Use a pair of cats or two cats. Clowder is not ruled out by a fixed minimum, but it may sound unnecessarily ornate.
- Four kittens born to one mother
- Use a litter of kittens.
- Several unrelated kittens at a rescue center
- Use a group of kittens. Kindle is possible as a rare traditional term, but it may confuse readers.
- Unowned cats living around a feeding station
- Use a colony if they form an established group in that area; otherwise, a group of community cats is safer.
- Cats staring silently at a visitor
- Use a glaring of cats only for a playful or literary effect. A clowder of cats remains the general term.
- A shelter room containing many adult cats
- A group of cats is clearest; a clowder also works if you want the specialized collective noun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a group of cats really called a clowder?
Yes. Clowder is the standard dictionary-backed collective noun for a group of cats. “A group of cats” is also completely correct and is often more natural in everyday speech.
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How many cats make a clowder?
There is no reliable general minimum in the major dictionary definitions. Rather than imposing a rule of three or four cats, choose the phrase that sounds clearest: “a pair of cats” for two, or “a clowder” for a larger or more literary description.
What is a group of kittens called?
A group of kittens born to the same mother at the same time is a litter. Kindle is an attested but rare or historical term for young cats.
Is a group of feral cats called a colony?
Often, yes. Colony is appropriate for outdoor community or feral cats living together in a defined area, especially where they share resources. Not every feral cat lives in a colony, and a cat near one is not necessarily a colony member.
Is “glaring” the correct term for cats that stare at each other?
Glaring is a rare, playful collective noun sometimes used for staring or tense-looking cats. It is not a stricter or more generally accepted replacement for clowder.
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Can you call lions or cheetahs a clowder?
Domestic cats are the usual subject when people ask about a clowder. Wild felids often have species-specific terms: lions are commonly called a pride, and groups of cheetahs—especially related males—are called coalitions.
The Bottom Line
Use clowder for a general group of cats. Use litter for kittens born together, kindle for a rare traditional kitten term, colony for an established outdoor group, and glaring only as an uncommon playful alternative.
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