Cat vs. Mouse — What's the Difference?

A domesticated carnivorous mammal with keen senses and a graceful physique.

Displays complex social behavior and lives in groups in the wild.

Known for their ability to hunt vermin, providing natural pest control.

A small rodent known for its quick breeding and adaptability to various environments.

Requires a diet rich in proteins to maintain health.

Despite its small size, it has a significant impact on ecosystems and human environments.

Exhibits a strong instinct for grooming, maintaining a clean coat.

Often considered a pest in homes and agriculture due to its diet and disease risk.

Possesses a wide range of vocalizations and body language for communication.

Omnivorous diet includes grains, fruits, and occasional insects.

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.

A mouse, plural mice, is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate.

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

A small rodent that typically has a pointed snout, relatively large ears and eyes, and a long tail.

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

A small handheld device which is moved across a mat or flat surface to move the cursor on a computer screen

(Informal) A woman who is regarded as spiteful.

A lump or bruise on or near the eye

A person, especially a man.

(of a cat or owl) hunt for or catch mice

A player or devotee of jazz music.

Use a mouse to move or position a cursor on a computer screen

A cat-o'-nine-tails.

Any of numerous small rodents of the families Muridae and Cricetidae, such as the house mouse, characteristically having a pointed snout, small rounded ears, and a long naked or almost hairless tail.

A catfish.

Any of various similar or related animals, such as the jumping mouse, the vole, or the jerboa.

A cathead.

A cowardly or timid person.

A device for raising an anchor to the cathead.

(Informal) A discolored swelling under the eye caused by a blow; a black eye.

A catboat.

Pl. mice or mous·es (mousĭz) Computers A handheld, button-activated input device that when rolled along a flat surface directs an indicator to move correspondingly about a computer screen, allowing the operator to move the indicator freely, as to select operations or manipulate text or graphics.

A catamaran.

To hunt mice.

To hoist an anchor to (the cathead).

To search furtively for something; prowl.

An animal of the family Felidae:

Any small rodent of the genus Mus.

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

(informal) A member of the many small rodent and marsupial species resembling such a rodent.

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

A quiet or shy person.

A person:

(computing) (plural mice or, rarely, mouses) An input device that is moved over a pad or other flat surface to produce a corresponding movement of a pointer on a graphical display.

(offensive) A spiteful or angry woman.

(computing) The cursor.

An enthusiast or player of jazz.

(boxing) A facial hematoma or black eye.

(slang) A person (usually male).

(nautical) A turn or lashing of spun yarn or small stuff, or a metallic clasp or fastening, uniting the point and shank of a hook to prevent its unhooking or straightening out.

(slang) A prostitute.

(obsolete) A familiar term of endearment.

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

A match used in firing guns or blasting.

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

(set theory) A small model of (a fragment of) Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with desirable properties (depending on the context).

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

(historical) A small cushion for a woman's hair.

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

Part of a hind leg of beef, next to the round.

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

(intransitive) To move cautiously or furtively, in the manner of a mouse (the rodent) (frequently used in the phrasal verb to mouse around).

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

(intransitive) To hunt or catch mice (the rodents), usually of cats. 12

A vagina, a vulva; the female external genitalia.

To close the mouth of a hook by a careful binding of marline or wire.

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

To navigate by means of a computer mouse.

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

To tear, as a cat devours a mouse.

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

Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus Mus and various related genera of the family Muridæ. The common house mouse (Mus musculus) is found in nearly all countries. The American white-footed mouse, or deer mouse (Peromyscus leucopus, formerly Hesperomys leucopus) sometimes lives in houses. See Dormouse, Meadow mouse, under Meadow, and Harvest mouse, under Harvest.

(slang) A street name of the drug methcathinone.

A knob made on a rope with spun yarn or parceling to prevent a running eye from slipping.

Abbreviation of catapult

A familiar term of endearment.

Abbreviation of catalytic converter

A dark-colored swelling caused by a blow.

Abbreviation of catamaran

A match used in firing guns or blasting.

Abbreviation of category

To watch for and catch mice.

Abbreviation of catfish

To watch for or pursue anything in a sly manner; to pry about, on the lookout for something.

Abbreviation of caterpillar

To tear, as a cat devours a mouse.

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

Any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails

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

A hand-operated electronic device that controls the coordinates of a cursor on your computer screen as you move it around on a pad; on the bottom of the mouse is a ball that rolls on the surface of the pad;

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

To go stealthily or furtively;

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

Manipulate the mouse of a computer

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

(slang) To vomit.

To go wandering at night.

To gossip in a catty manner.

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

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

Catastrophic; terrible, disastrous.

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.

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

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

An old game;

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;

Cats are valued as pets for their companionship, low maintenance compared to some pets, and natural pest control abilities.

Both are mammals and exhibit intelligence and adaptability to their environments, though their roles in ecosystems differ significantly.

Generally, cats have a natural instinct to hunt mice, making peaceful coexistence challenging in a natural setting.

While cats can be solitary, many exhibit social flexibility and can form close bonds with humans and other cats.

Mice are considered pests due to their habit of gnawing on materials, potential to spread diseases, and quick population growth.

Cats communicate through vocalizations like meowing and purring, as well as body language such as tail movements and ear positions.

Cats are predatory mammals with sharp senses and agility, whereas mice are small rodents known for their quick breeding and ability to thrive in various environments.

Mice are omnivorous, with diets including grains, fruits, seeds, and occasionally insects.

Mice play a crucial role in ecosystems as prey for various predators and as consumers of seeds and grains, impacting plant dispersion.

Common cat behaviors include hunting, grooming, sleeping for long periods, and playing.

Cats are meticulous groomers, often spending a significant portion of their day licking their fur to keep clean and reduce scent trails.

Cats are adaptable and can thrive in both indoor and outdoor environments, often seeking warm and comfortable spots.

Mice communicate through a variety of sounds, some ultrasonic, and through scent marking.

Mice have a high reproductive rate, with females capable of giving birth to multiple litters each year, each with several offspring.

Yes, certain species of mice are kept as pets, appreciated for their social nature and ease of care, distinct from wild mice considered pests.