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).
飼い猫 means a cat that belongs to someone — a pet cat as opposed to a stray.
Etymology
飼い (from 飼う, to keep/raise an animal) + 猫 (cat).
Similar words
- 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:
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.