cathouse

What it means

1. USslangA brothel.

   Do you know how he spent years watching the droopy chicks in cathouses, listening to his cellmates moaning low behind the bars […]?

   1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Don’t Cry, Ma”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 1 (1899–1923: A Nothin’ but a Child), page 5

   Synonyms: academy, bagnio, bawdy house, bawdy-house, bawdyhouse, bordello, brothel, brothel house

2. literallyrareAny small house, structure or fold used to house a cat.

   Alot^([sic]) of great work is being done all throughout blog land in terms of raising the money to build a cathouse for homeless kitties here at the daily dose.

   2012, Chrystal Parker, Daily Dose of Dogs (Aka Cats with Your Coffee), page 490

In a sentence

Do you know how he spent years watching the droopy chicks in cathouses, listening to his cellmates moaning low behind the bars […]?

1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Don’t Cry, Ma”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 1 (1899–1923: A Nothin’ but a Child), page 5

Where it comes from

Compound of cat + house.