What Is a Female Cat Called? Molly, Queen, and Dam Explained

A female cat is called a molly or a queen. A spayed female cat is usually called a molly, while an unspayed female who can still have kittens is called a queen. Breeders also use "dam" for a mother cat in a pedigree, and male cats are called toms.

What Is a Female Cat Called?

There's more than one right answer, because the name depends on whether your cat is spayed and whether she's had kittens. Here's a quick guide to every term, for girls and boys:

If you're talking about your spayed house cat, "molly" is the best fit. "Queen" is the more precise word for a female who hasn't been spayed, and vets use it that way. VCA Animal Hospitals defines a queen as "an intact female cat."¹

What Is an Unspayed Female Cat Called?

An unspayed female cat is called a queen. The name usually comes into play once she's old enough to go into heat and have kittens.

Female cats mature fast. According to VCA, puberty happens at about six months of age on average. Each heat lasts about seven days, but it can range from 1 to 21 days, and if she doesn't mate, the full cycle repeats about every three weeks.¹ International Cat Care notes that kittens can reach sexual maturity from around four months old.²

A queen's world also has its own vocabulary. When a queen gives birth, breeders call it "queening." A pregnant or nursing cat is almost always called a queen, whatever her age. If you think your girl is in heat, our guide to how long a cat stays in heat explains what to expect.

What Is a Spayed Female Cat Called?

A spayed female cat is usually called a molly. Many people use "molly" for any female cat, but in cat circles it most often means a female who can't have kittens.

The origin of "molly" isn't well documented. You may see claims that it comes from Latin, but there's no solid dictionary evidence for that, so it's best treated as a friendly nickname rather than a word with a proven history.

Most pet cats become mollies early. International Cat Care advises neutering at around four months of age, before cats reach sexual maturity.² If you're planning ahead, learn more about spaying your female cat, from timing to recovery.

What Is a Mother Cat Called?

A mother cat is called a queen while she's pregnant or nursing. In the breeding world, she's also called a dam. You'll see "dam" and "sire" (the father) on pedigree and registration papers, the same terms used for horses and dogs.

Does a Female Cat's Behavior Change?

Every cat has her own personality, but hormones make a real difference. Here's what you might notice at each stage:

Are Female Cats More Affectionate Than Male Cats?

Not necessarily. According to Cats.com, there's no scientific evidence that male cats are always more affectionate than female cats, or the other way around.³ Spay or neuter status, early socialization, and your cat's own personality matter more than sex.

Curious about other girl-cat facts? Find out whether all calico cats are female and why that orange-black-and-white coat is so special.

What Is a Male Cat Called?

A male cat is called a tom or tomcat. A neutered male is sometimes called a gib, and an unneutered male used for breeding is called a stud.

The word "tomcat" has a fun backstory. Etymonline traces it to 1809 and says it was probably influenced by Tom the Cat, a character in a popular 1760 children's book called The Life and Adventures of a Cat. Before that, the everyday name for a male cat was "gib-cat," from Gib, a short form of Gilbert.⁴ That's why "gib" still pops up today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a female cat called a queen?

A female cat is called a queen when she's unspayed and able to have kittens. The word is tied to breeding: giving birth is known as "queening," and a pregnant or nursing cat is almost always called a queen. Once a female cat is spayed, most people switch to calling her a molly instead.

What is a young female cat called?

A young female cat is simply called a kitten, the same as a young male. Cats are usually considered kittens until they're about a year old. A female kitten can start being called a queen once she reaches sexual maturity, which can happen from around four months old, or a molly once she's spayed.²

Is "molly" or "queen" more common?

For pet cats, "molly" is more common, because most house cats are spayed. "Queen" is used more by vets and breeders, since it describes an unspayed female who can go into heat and have kittens. Both are correct. Pick the one that matches your cat's spay status.

What is a group of cats called?

A group of cats is called a clowder, and a group of kittens is called a kindle. You may also hear a group of cats called a "glaring." These terms are more playful than practical, but they're fun to know if you share your home with more than one feline friend.

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