A tomcat is a male cat, especially one that hasn't been neutered and roams around looking for female cats.

Tomcats who roam freely often get into fights with other males over territory, which is why they sometimes come home with scratched ears or torn fur. They're known for being independent and scrappy. You might hear someone say a neighborhood tomcat prowls around at night, meaning it wanders its territory looking for food or other cats.

The word can also describe certain behaviors: when a male cat tomcats around, he's roaming and exploring, often getting into minor trouble.

A female cat is called a queen, though that term isn't used nearly as often as tomcat. Most people just say “male cat” or “female cat” in everyday conversation, but tomcat has remained popular, probably because it sounds more colorful than just saying “male cat.”