Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - cat

~ n 1 »ANIMAL« a) a small animal with four legs that is often kept as a pet or used for catching mice (mouse (1)) b) a large animal that is related to this, such as a lion or tiger 2 let the cat out of the bag to tell a secret, especially without intending to 3 put/set the cat among the pigeons to cause trouble by doing or saying something that upsets people, causes arguments etc 4 play cat and mouse with to let someone think they are getting or doing what they want, then prevent them from getting or doing it 5 like a cat on hot bricks BrE, like a cat on a hot tin roof AmE so nervous or anxious that you cannot keep still or keep your attention on one thing 6 »WOMAN« old-fashioned an insulting word for a woman who you think is unkind or unpleasant  (- see also catty, raining cats and dogs rain2 (4), no room to swing a cat room1 (2))