tiger cat

noun

1. any of several felines, as the ocelot or margay, that resemble the tiger in coloration or ferocity but are smaller.
2. a spotted marsupial cat, Dasyurus ( Dasyurops ) maculatus.
3. a domestic cat having a striped coat resembling that of a tiger.

tiger cat

noun

1. a medium-sized feline mammal, Felis tigrina, of Central and South America, having a dark-striped coat
2. any similar feline with tiger-like markings, such as the margay

Word History and Origins

Origin of tiger cat¹

First recorded in 1690–1700

Example Sentences

The watchful beggar tenderly holding an alert gray tiger cat in his lap has been bestowed with an attribute of clever endurance.

From Los Angeles Times

The guiña is known variously as the little tiger cat, little spotted cat or Chilean cat.

From BBC

Buster is what is commonly called a “tiger cat,” meaning only that he has stripes.

From Washington Post

Right in the middle of the bed, curled up like a cushion, was a tiger cat with a white bib.

From Literature

This oncilla, otherwise known as a little spotted cat or tiger cat, gazes from the bars of a cage after being rescued from poachers in Peru in 2009.

From National Geographic