01
die Katze
cat
A small predatory animal kept as a pet, with soft fur, belonging to the cat family.
example
Unsere Katze liegt am liebsten in der Sonne auf dem Fensterbrett.
Our cat likes lying in the sun on the windowsill best.
die Katze
cat
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Fixed expression
The expression 'die Katze im Sack kaufen' (to buy a pig in a poke) is a fixed idiom. It means that you accept something without having checked it beforehand and thereby take a risk.
EXAMPLE
Informiere dich gut über das Gebrauchtauto, damit du nicht die Katze im Sack kaufst.
Get good information about the used car so that you don't buy a pig in a poke.
Context clue
You can recognize the technical meaning of 'Katze' (trolley) as a hoist only from the context. It occurs only in technical language, usually together with words like 'Kran' (crane), 'Last' (load), 'Baustelle' (construction site), or 'Halle' (hall).
EXAMPLE
Der Kranführer bewegte die Katze, um die Palette anzuheben.
The crane operator moved the trolley in order to lift the pallet.
Typical verbs
In connection with a Katze (cat) as a pet, the verbs 'streicheln' (to pet), 'füttern' (to feed), and 'kraulen' (to scratch/stroke) are often used. The typical sounds are 'schnurren' (to purr) and 'miauen' (to meow).
EXAMPLE
Wenn man unsere Katze am Kinn krault, fängt sie sofort an zu schnurren.
When you scratch our cat under the chin, she immediately starts to purr.
Compare with
Katze vs Kater
tomcat / hangover
'die Katze' and 'der Kater' belong to the same animal category. 'die Katze' can mean the animal in general, regardless of whether it is male or female. But it can also specifically mean a female animal if the sex is known. 'der Kater', on the other hand, always means a male cat. Learners may confuse the words because both are often used for pets in everyday life. If the sex is not important, people usually say 'Katze'. If you want to clearly say that the animal is male, you say 'Kater'.
Katze
Unsere Katze schläft am liebsten auf dem Sofa.
Our cat likes sleeping on the sofa best.
Kater
Der Kater meiner Nachbarin ist sehr groß und hat schwarzes Fell.
My neighbor's tomcat is very large and has black fur.
In real life
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