cat (esp. one imported from China)
Archaic term, historically used for cats brought from China, possibly referring to a specific breed or simply foreign cats. Not used in modern Japanese.
The word 唐猫 appears in old documents.
Compound of 唐 (kara, 'China' or 'foreign') and 猫 (neko, 'cat'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; it likely referred to cats brought from China during periods of trade and cultural exchange.