A cat (Felis sylvestris catus or Felis domesticus) is a small animal lifeform native to the planet Earth. A mammal, cats were felines that were domesticated by Humans thousands of years ago, and since that time have been kept as pets by Humans both on and off their homeworld.
Sometimes called "housecats", that term fell out of use by the 23rd century, to avoid confusion with the Meridian housecat, a large animal that hosted smaller symbiotic organisms. (TOS novel: Prime Directive)
- See also: felinoid
- Spot, Lieutenant Commander Data's pet cat. After Data's death in 2379, ownership of Spot passed to Commander Worf. (TNG episode: "Data's Day", TNG movie: Star Trek Nemesis)
- Neelix, Lieutenant Reginald Barclay's pet cat, named after the Talaxian Neelix. (VOY episodes: "Pathfinder", "Life Line")
- Komack, Fitzpatrick and Nogura; cats owned by Anne Gauvreau of the SS Ian Shelton. They were named after Starfleet admirals James Komack, Fitzpatrick and Heihachiro Nogura. (TOS novel: Prime Directive)
- Odo, the pet cat of Jake Sisko in the early 25th century, named after Odo, the former chief of security on Deep Space 9. (ENT novel: The Good That Men Do)