Meanings
- uncountableThe killing of a cat, the slaughter of cats.
The woman was suing the fire service for catslaughter.
2010, Michael Lawrence, Jiggy McCue: Kid Swap, Hachette UK, →ISBN4 more examples
After a long and patient investigation of facts, the Coroner returned a verdict of wilful catslaughter against a party or parties unknown.
1862, Mrs. Alfred Gatty, Aunt Judy's Letters, page 93Bill intends to file a charge of "catslaughter" against the villian when caught.
1929, Southern Pacific Bulletin'... And then he committed — catslaughter.' Caleb, although sensible that his leg had been pulled, roared with laughter.
1934, Horace Annesley Vachell, Nether Applewhite: A Story of Strange Lives in an English VillageHad Barkley done in the Topeka cat, it may have been manslaughter, or catslaughter, I guess, but not murder.
2006, Al Martinez, Barkley: A Dog's Journey, →ISBNSynonyms: ailurocide, caticide, felicide, felinicide
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe killing of a cat, the slaughter of cats.
Origin
From cat + slaughter. Compare manslaughter.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch katmoord
- katmoordkilling of cats
French félicide
- félicidekilling of cats
Latvian kaķa slepkava
- kaķa slepkavakilling of cats
Polish kotobójstwo
- kotobójstwokilling of cats
Spanish felicidio
- felicidiokilling of cats
Swedish kattmord
- kattmordkilling of cats
Cite this entry
catslaughter. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catslaughter
“catslaughter.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catslaughter. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “catslaughter,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catslaughter.
Source: catslaughter on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.