native cat

American  

noun

1. any of several catlike dasyures of the genus Dasyurus, of Australia and Tasmania: most populations are now rare.

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native cat British  

noun

1. any of various Australian catlike carnivorous marsupials of the genus Dasyurus

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Etymology

Origin of native cat

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

But when you’re trying to nab Washington’s most endangered native cat, a little stink is the least of your challenges.

From Seattle Times • May 12, 2023

Being an alien, Bowie has to insert lenses over his native cat eyes — y'know, other atmospheres and all that — to appear human.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2016

And yet, while many logged forests have been hard-hit ecologically, they still show pockets of remarkable biodiversity, including all five of the native cat species.

From Nature • Apr. 17, 2013

We saw that the Australian moon-myth of Mityan was of a native cat.

From Moon Lore by Harley, Timothy

The so-called native cat is not a cat at all, but a marsupial which resembles a very large rat or weasel, with rather a bushy tail.

From Austral English A dictionary of Australasian words, phrases and usages with those aboriginal-Australian and Maori words which have become incorporated in the language, and the commoner scientific words that have had their origin in Australasia by Morris, Edward Ellis