domestic cat; cat (Felis catus)
Refers to the domestic cat as a species, often in contrast to wild cats. Used in scientific or general contexts.
Domestic cats are kept all over the world.
house cat; indoor cat
Specifically a cat that lives inside a house, as opposed to a stray or outdoor cat. Often implies a pet cat that stays indoors.
Our house cat doesn't want to go outside.
家猫 is a domesticated house cat, the opposite of 山猫, which lives wild or as a stray outside human care.
Standard kanji spelling for a domestic or house cat.
Katakana spelling often used in biological or encyclopedic contexts to refer to the domestic cat species.
Compound of 家 (いえ, 'house') and 猫 (ねこ, 'cat'). The reading is a straightforward kun'yomi combination.