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Walrus vs. Cat — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 17, 2023
A "Walrus" is a large marine mammal with tusks, native to Arctic seas, while a "Cat" is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal kept as a pet or for catching vermin.
Walrus vs. Cat — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Walrus and Cat

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Key Differences

A "Walrus" is a marine creature, often recognized for its large size and distinctive tusks, predominantly found in the Arctic seas. On the other hand, a "Cat" is a familiar domesticated animal, typically kept as a pet in households worldwide and is known for its agility and hunting prowess.
While the "Walrus" is adapted to cold oceanic environments, featuring a layer of blubber and flippers for swimming, the "Cat" is a versatile creature, comfortable in various habitats, from urban areas to rural countrysides.
One of the most distinguishing features of the "Walrus" is its long tusks, used for various purposes like breaking ice or defending against predators. Contrarily, a "Cat" possesses sharp retractable claws, aiding in hunting and climbing.
The vocalizations and behaviors between the two are distinct: a "Walrus" may bellow and grunt, often seen lounging on ice floes or beaches with its kin. In contrast, a "Cat" might purr, meow, or hiss and is more solitary, especially when hunting.

Comparison Chart

Habitat

Arctic seas and cold oceanic environments.
Domestic, urban to rural environments worldwide.
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Physical Features

Large size, tusks, blubber, flippers.
Small size, retractable claws, whiskers.

Diet

Primarily mollusks, some fish.
Carnivorous: small mammals, birds, insects.

Social Behavior

Social, gathers in large groups.
More solitary, especially when hunting.

Lifespan

Up to 40 years in the wild.
12-16 years on average for domestic cats.

Compare with Definitions

Walrus

Native to Arctic regions.
Tourists in the Arctic hoped to spot a walrus.

Cat

A domesticated feline pet.
The cat sat on the windowsill.

Walrus

A marine mammal with long tusks.
The walrus rested on the ice floe.

Cat

A mammal known for hunting prowess.
The cat pounced on the mouse.

Walrus

Member of the Odobenidae family.
A biologist studied the behavior of the walrus.

Cat

Communicates through purring, meowing.
The cat purred when I stroked her.

Walrus

Known for its distinctive whiskered face.
The child was fascinated by the walrus's whiskers.

Cat

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.

Walrus

The walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous distribution about the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living species in the family Odobenidae and genus Odobenus.

Cat

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

Walrus

A large marine mammal (Odobenus rosmarus) of Arctic regions, related to the seals and having two long tusks, tough wrinkled skin, and four flippers.

Cat

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

Walrus

A large Arctic marine mammal related to seals and having long tusks, tough, wrinkled skin, and four flippers, Odobenus rosmarus.

Cat

(Informal) A woman who is regarded as spiteful.

Walrus

A man with a walrus moustache.

Cat

A person, especially a man.

Walrus

To hunt walruses

Cat

A player or devotee of jazz music.

Walrus

To be like a walrus

Cat

A cat-o'-nine-tails.

Walrus

To move dragging one's belly along the floor

Cat

A catfish.

Walrus

To hang like a walrus's moustache

Cat

A cathead.

Walrus

To be prominent, like tusks

Cat

A device for raising an anchor to the cathead.

Walrus

A very large marine mammal (Trichecus rosmarus) of the Seal family, native of the Arctic Ocean. The male has long and powerful tusks descending from the upper jaw. It uses these in procuring food and in fighting. It is hunted for its oil, ivory, and skin. It feeds largely on mollusks. Called also morse.

Cat

A catboat.

Walrus

Either of two large northern marine mammals having ivory tusks and tough hide over thick blubber

Cat

A catamaran.

Walrus

Consumes mollusks as its primary diet.
The walrus dove deep to find mollusks.

Cat

To hoist an anchor to (the cathead).

Cat

To look for sexual partners; have an affair or affairs
"catting around with every lady in sight" (Gore Vidal).

Cat

An animal of the family Felidae:

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

A person:

Cat

(offensive) A spiteful or angry woman.

Cat

An enthusiast or player of jazz.

Cat

(slang) A person (usually male).

Cat

(slang) A prostitute.

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

A vagina, a vulva; the female external genitalia.

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

(slang) A street name of the drug methcathinone.

Cat

Abbreviation of catapult
A carrier's bow cats

Cat

Abbreviation of catalytic converter

Cat

Abbreviation of catamaran

Cat

Abbreviation of category

Cat

Abbreviation of catfish

Cat

Abbreviation of caterpillar

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

(slang) To vomit.

Cat

To go wandering at night.

Cat

To gossip in a catty manner.

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

Catastrophic; terrible, disastrous.
The weather was cat, so they returned home early.

Cat

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.
Laying aside their often rancorous debate over how best to preserve the Florida panther, state and federal wildlife officials, environmentalists, and independent scientists endorsed the proposal, and in 1995 the eight cats [female Texas cougars] were brought from Texas and released. . . . Uprooted from the arid hills of West Texas, three of the imports have died, but the remaining five adapted to swamp life and have each given birth to at least one litter of kittens.

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

An old game;

Cat

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

Cat

A catamaran.

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

An informal term for a youth or man;
A nice guy
The guy's only doing it for some doll

Cat

A spiteful woman gossip;
What a cat she is!

Cat

The leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant;
In Yemen kat is used daily by 85% of adults

Cat

A whip with nine knotted cords;
British sailors feared the cat

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

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

Cat

Beat with a cat-o'-nine-tails

Cat

Eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth;
After drinking too much, the students vomited
He purged continuously
The patient regurgitated the food we gave him last night

Cat

Member of the Felidae family.
Big cats and house cats belong to the Felidae family.

Cat

Possesses sharp retractable claws.
The cat extended its claws to climb.

Common Curiosities

Do cats have any similarities to big cats?

Yes, domestic cats and big cats both belong to the Felidae family.

How big can a walrus get?

A male walrus can weigh up to 1.5 tons.

Are walruses carnivorous like cats?

Yes, but while cats eat small mammals and birds, walruses primarily eat mollusks.

Is the walrus considered a type of seal?

No, though similar, walruses are a distinct species with unique features.

Are cats considered nocturnal animals?

Generally, yes. Cats often hunt and are active during the night.

Can a cat survive in the Arctic like a walrus?

No, cats are not adapted for Arctic conditions like walruses are.

Do walruses live in groups?

Yes, walruses are social and often gather in large groups or herds.

How do walruses use their tusks?

For various purposes, including breaking ice, defense, and establishing dominance.

What's the average lifespan of a walrus?

In the wild, a walrus can live up to 40 years.

Are cats good swimmers like walruses?

While cats can swim, they generally dislike water, unlike walruses who are adept swimmers.

What's the primary diet of a house cat?

Cats are carnivorous, usually consuming meats and specially prepared cat foods.

How do cats communicate?

Cats communicate through vocalizations like meowing, as well as body language.

Do cats have natural predators?

Yes, in the wild, cats can fall prey to larger predators.

Are walruses endangered?

They're vulnerable due to climate change and hunting, but not classified as endangered.

How do walruses navigate underwater?

Walruses use their whiskers, or vibrissae, to detect prey on the seafloor.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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