Cat vs. Rat — What's the Difference?

A cat that lives outdoors and has had little to no human contact.

A small gnawing mammal of the order Rodentia, which includes rats.

A small, domesticated, carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractable claws.

A rat kept as a pet, known for its intelligence and social behavior.

In their role as hunters, cats often catch mice and birds.

Rats are frequently used in scientific research due to their physiological similarities to humans.

Many people keep cats as pets for companionship.

Rats are known for their remarkable ability to survive in various environments.

Often referred to as the "king of cats," symbolizing strength and majesty.

Viewed as a nuisance or pest in many societies due to their tendency to damage property and spread diseases.

The cat (Felis catus) is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is often referred to as the domestic cat to distinguish it from the wild members of the family.

Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus Rattus.

A small domesticated carnivorous mammal (Felis catus), kept as a pet and as catcher of vermin, and existing in a variety of breeds.

A rodent that resembles a large mouse, typically having a pointed snout and a long tail. Some kinds have become cosmopolitan and are sometimes responsible for transmitting diseases.

Any of various other carnivorous mammals of the family Felidae, including the lion, tiger, leopard, and lynx.

A despicable person, especially a man who has been deceitful or disloyal

(Informal) A woman who is regarded as spiteful.

A person who is associated with or frequents a specified place

A person, especially a man.

A pad used to give shape and fullness to a woman's hair.

A player or devotee of jazz music.

Used to express mild annoyance or irritation.

A cat-o'-nine-tails.

Hunt or kill rats

A catfish.

Desert one's party, side, or cause

A cathead.

Shape (hair) with a rat.

A device for raising an anchor to the cathead.

Any of various long-tailed rodents resembling mice but larger, especially one of the genus Rattus.

A catboat.

Any of various animals similar to one of these long-tailed rodents.

A catamaran.

A despicable person, especially one who betrays or informs upon associates.

To hoist an anchor to (the cathead).

A scab laborer.

An animal of the family Felidae:

A pad of material, typically hair, worn as part of a woman's coiffure to puff out her own hair.

A domesticated species (Felis catus) of feline animal, commonly kept as a house pet.

(Slang) A person who frequently passes time at a particular place. Often used in combination

Any similar animal of the family Felidae, which includes lions, tigers, bobcats, leopards, cougars, cheetahs, caracals, lynxes, and other such non-domesticated species.

To hunt for or catch rats, especially with the aid of dogs.

A person:

(Slang) To reveal incriminating or embarrassing information about someone, especially to a person in authority

(offensive) A spiteful or angry woman.

(Slang) To work as a scab laborer.

An enthusiast or player of jazz.

To puff out (the hair) with or as if with a pad of material.

(slang) A person (usually male).

(zoology) A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus.

(slang) A prostitute.

(informal) Any of the numerous members of several rodent families (e.g. voles and mice) that resemble true rats in appearance, usually having a pointy snout, a long, bare tail, and body length greater than about 12 cm, or 5 inches.

(nautical) A strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship.

(informal) A person who is known for betrayal; a scoundrel; a quisling.

Short form of cat-o'-nine-tails.

(informal) An informant or snitch.

(archaic) A sturdy merchant sailing vessel now only in "catboat".

(informal) A scab: a worker who acts against trade union policies.

The game of "trap and ball" (also called "cat and dog").

(slang) A person who routinely spends time at a particular location.

The trap of the game of "trap and ball".

A wad of shed hair used as part of a hairstyle.

(archaic) The pointed piece of wood that is struck in the game of tipcat.

A roll of material used to puff out the hair, which is turned over it.

A vagina, a vulva; the female external genitalia.

Vagina.

A double tripod (for holding a plate, etc.) with six feet, of which three rest on the ground, in whatever position it is placed.

(regional) A scratch or a score.

(historical) A wheeled shelter, used in the Middle Ages as a siege weapon to allow assailants to approach enemy defences.

A place in the sea with rapid currents and crags where a ship is likely to be torn apart in stormy weather.

(computing) A program and command in Unix that reads one or more files and directs their content to the standard output.

(usually with “on” or “out”) To betray a person or party, especially by telling their secret to an authority or an enemy; to turn someone in.

(slang) A street name of the drug methcathinone.

To work as a scab, going against trade union policies.

Abbreviation of catapult

(of a dog, etc.) To kill rats.

Abbreviation of catalytic converter

(regional) To scratch or score.

Abbreviation of catamaran

To tear, rip, rend.

Abbreviation of category

Damn, drat, blast; used in oaths.

Abbreviation of catfish

One of several species of small rodents of the genus Rattus (formerly included in Mus) and allied genera, of the family Muridae, distinguished from mice primarily by being larger. They infest houses, stores, and ships, especially the Norway rat, also called brown rat, (Rattus norvegicus formerly Mus decumanus), the black rat (Rattus rattus formerly Mus rattus), and the roof rat (formerly Mus Alexandrinus, now included in Rattus rattus). These were introduced into America from the Old World. The white rat used most commonly in laboratories is primarily a strain derived from Rattus rattus.

Abbreviation of caterpillar

A round and tapering mass of hair, or similar material, used by women to support the puffs and rolls of their natural hair.

(slang) Any of a variety of earth-moving machines. (from their manufacturer Caterpillar Inc.)

One who deserts his party or associates; hence, in the trades, one who works for lower wages than those prescribed by a trades union.

A ground vehicle which uses caterpillar tracks, especially tractors, trucks, minibuses, and snow groomers.

In English politics, to desert one's party from interested motives; to forsake one's associates for one's own advantage; in the trades, to work for less wages, or on other conditions, than those established by a trades union.

Abbreviation of computed axial tomographyOften used attributively, as in “CAT scan” or “CT scan”.

To catch or kill rats.

To hoist (the anchor) by its ring so that it hangs at the cathead.

To be an informer (against an associate); to inform (on an associate); to squeal; - used commonly in the phrase to rat on.

To flog with a cat-o'-nine-tails.

Any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

(slang) To vomit.

Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike

To go wandering at night.

A person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible;

To gossip in a catty manner.

One who reveals confidential information in return for money

To apply the cat command to (one or more files).

A pad (usually made of hair) worn as part of a woman's coiffure

To dump large amounts of data on (an unprepared target), usually with no intention of browsing it carefully.

Desert one's party or group of friends, for example, for one's personal advantage

Catastrophic; terrible, disastrous.

Employ scabs or strike breakers in

Any animal belonging to the natural family Felidae, and in particular to the various species of the genera Felis, Panthera, and Lynx. The domestic cat is Felis domestica. The European wild cat (Felis catus) is much larger than the domestic cat. In the United States the name wild cat is commonly applied to the bay lynx (Lynx rufus). The larger felines, such as the lion, tiger, leopard, and cougar, are often referred to as cats, and sometimes as big cats. See Wild cat, and Tiger cat.

Take the place of work of someone on strike

A strong vessel with a narrow stern, projecting quarters, and deep waist. It is employed in the coal and timber trade.

Give (hair) the appearance of being fuller by using a rat

A double tripod (for holding a plate, etc.), having six feet, of which three rest on the ground, in whatever position it is placed.

Catch rats, especially with dogs

An old game;

Give away information about somebody;

Same as cat o' nine tails; as, British sailors feared the cat.

A catamaran.

To bring to the cathead; as, to cat an anchor. See Anchor.

Feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and being unable to roar; domestic cats; wildcats

An informal term for a youth or man;

A spiteful woman gossip;

A whip with nine knotted cords;

A large vehicle that is driven by caterpillar tracks; frequently used for moving earth in construction and farm work

Any of several large cats typically able to roar and living in the wild

A method of examining body organs by scanning them with X rays and using a computer to construct a series of cross-sectional scans along a single axis

Beat with a cat-o'-nine-tails

Eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth;

Yes, cats generally have a longer lifespan, living up to 12-15 years, compared to rats' 2-3 years.

No, while often viewed as pests, rats can also be beloved pets or valuable research animals.

With proper introduction and supervision, some cats and rats can coexist peacefully, but their natural instincts may pose challenges.

Cats are carnivores and primarily eat meat.

Yes, many people keep rats as pets due to their intelligence and sociable nature.

Rats communicate through high-frequency sounds, body language, and scent marking.

Yes, all cats are obligate carnivores, requiring a diet primarily of meat.

Yes, rats are highly intelligent and can be trained to perform tricks and tasks.

Rats are omnivores and have a varied diet, including seeds, fruits, and proteins.

Cats communicate through vocalizations, body language, and scent marking.

Not all rats carry diseases, but they can transmit certain diseases to humans.

Yes, cats possess a natural predator instinct, often displayed in their play and hunting behaviors.

Rats are appreciated for their intelligence, social bonds with humans, and ability to learn tricks.

Yes, cats that live outdoors with little human contact are considered feral.

Cats are valued for their companionship, affectionate nature, and low-maintenance care.