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Glite Dictionary
native cat

native cat

9.2
A small Australian animal that looks like a cat and carries its babies in a pouch
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : gato nativo
  • The native cat is now rarely seen in its former habitats due to deforestation.

Examples

  • Some farmers consider the native cat a pest, but it plays a crucial role in the ecosystem.

  • Researchers observed a native cat hunting insects and small mammals at night.

  • The native cat is a unique species found in Australia.

  • Many native cats are endangered due to habitat loss.

  • Researchers observed a native cat hunting insects and small mammals at night.

  • Some farmers consider the native cat a pest, but it plays a crucial role in the ecosystem.

  • Many native cats are endangered due to habitat loss.

Synonyms

Dasyurus viverrinus
vsnative cat
  • Specialized
9.9

A small cat-like, meat-eating animal from Australia and Tasmania that carries its young in a pouch

is the general common name for that animal type, not only one species
quoll
vsnative cat
  • Australian
9.9

A small meat-eating animal from Australia and New Guinea with a pointed nose and spotted fur

focuses on the Australian and Tasmanian animal and its arboreal nature
Dasyurus
vsnative cat
  • Specialized
9.9

A meat-eating mammal from Australia and New Guinea that carries young in a pouch, like a quoll

is a common name used for the animals rather than the scientific genus

Surface Forms

native cat singular
native cats plural

Morphology

native + cat

The phrase is compositionally built from 'native' (indigenous) + 'cat' (feline), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer it refers to a cat-like animal native to a place. However, the specific zoological nuance — that it denotes a cat-like marsupial (e.g. the quoll) rather than a true feline — is not predictable from the parts, making the expression only partially transparent.

Etymology

The compound noun native cat comes from early settlers who used native and cat together to name a small wild animal that looked like a cat but lived only in Australia. So today native cat means 'a cat-like animal from Australia', often the quoll.