alley cat

American  

noun

1. a homeless, usually mongrel, cat that scavenges for food in alleys, streets, etc.

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alley cat British  

noun

1. a homeless cat that roams in back streets

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alley cat Idioms  

1. A promiscuous woman; also, a person of loose morals. For example, She's constantly picking up men in bars—a real alley cat. This idiom transfers a stray cat that frequents alleys in search of food to a woman of easy virtue, especially a prostitute seeking customers. [Slang; early 1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of alley cat

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Andrea Sachs for The Washington Post: A beloved alley cat now lives in the Watergate.

From Slate • May 23, 2024

And although he has his own sleeping space in a spare room, the former alley cat of late seems to have discovered that bedding down with humans clearly has its charms.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2022

“I thought ‘Well, that’s like one alley cat laughing at another alley cat — it’s all farm and dirt,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 12, 2021

Today Rampling lives with two cats – a huge Maine Coon called Joe and an alley cat called Felix.

From The Guardian • Mar. 27, 2021

Mommy ignored them all, unless the insults threatened her children, at which time she would turn and fight back like an alley cat, hissing, angry, and fearless.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride