1.
pet cat; domestic cat (that has an owner)
A cat that is kept as a pet, as opposed to a stray or feral cat. Formed from 飼う (to keep/raise an animal) + 猫 (cat).
うちの飼い猫は三歳です。
Our pet cat is three years old.
飼い猫は完全室内飼いがおすすめです。
It's recommended to keep pet cats entirely indoors.
首輪をしているので、飼い猫だとすぐにわかった。
Because it was wearing a collar, I could tell right away it was someone's pet cat.
飼い猫 means a cat that belongs to someone — a pet cat as opposed to a stray.
COMPOSITION:
飼い (from 飼う, to keep/raise an animal) + 猫 (cat).
CONTRAST:
- 飼い猫: pet cat (has an owner)
- 野良猫: stray cat (no owner)
- 地域猫: community cat (cared for by a neighborhood)
SIMILAR 飼い〜 COMPOUNDS:
- 飼い犬: pet dog
- 飼い鳥: pet bird
- 飼い主: pet owner
CULTURAL NOTE:
In Japan, 完全室内飼い (keeping cats entirely indoors) has become the norm, especially in urban areas, both for the cat's safety and to reduce impact on wildlife.