飼(か)い猫(ねこ)

かいねこ
noun
pet cat; domestic cat
animal-general
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(か)い猫(ねこ)は三歳(さんさい)です。
Our pet cat is three years old.
飼(か)い猫(ねこ)は完全(かんぜん)室内(しつない)飼(が)いがおすすめです。
It's recommended to keep pet cats entirely indoors.
首輪(くびわ)をしているので、飼(か)い猫(ねこ)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(か)い猫(ねこ) means a cat that belongs to someone — a pet cat as opposed to a stray.

Etymology

飼(か)い (from 飼(か)う, to keep/raise an animal) + 猫(ねこ) (cat).

Similar words

  • 野良猫(のらねこ): stray cat (no owner)
  • 地域猫(ちいきねこ): community cat (cared for by a neighborhood)

Related words

Other 飼(か)い〜 compounds:

Cultural note

In Japan, 完全(かんぜん)室内(しつない)飼(か)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.

Related Words

Antonym: 野良猫(のらねこ) (stray cat)
Related: 飼(か)う (to keep)
Related: 飼(か)い犬(いぬ) (pet dog)
Related: 飼(か)い主(ぬし) (pet owner)
general
Added 2026.3.22 12:11 · Revised 2026.10.18 9:52
18000/18489_kaineko