Housecat - Revision history

Ray Chason: Felines have infravision

2026-05-14T03:07:04Z

Felines have infravision

Ray Chason: Include the female tile

2026-05-10T19:29:28Z

Include the female tile

Umbire the Phantom: upcoming

2025-12-31T22:30:07Z

upcoming

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants / dnh

2025-12-31T22:22:57Z

‎Variants: *dnh

Umbire the Phantom: formatting pass

2025-12-31T21:40:19Z

formatting pass

Umbire the Phantom: /* Origin */ spacing

2024-08-06T18:49:08Z

‎Origin: spacing

Umbire the Phantom: origin + var + reorg

2024-08-06T18:48:32Z

origin + var + reorg

Umbire the Phantom: name

2024-08-06T17:59:44Z

name

Furey: /* Strategy */ add melons to splattable food list

2024-06-02T14:22:14Z

‎Strategy: add melons to splattable food list

Umbire the Phantom: expand + copyedit

2024-06-02T10:26:29Z

expand + copyedit

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
   |resistances=None
   |resistances conveyed=Intrinsic [[aggravate monster]]
-  |attributes={{attributes|A housecat|animal=1|nohands=1|carnivore=1|domestic=1|infravisible=1}}
+  |attributes={{attributes|A housecat|animal=1|nohands=1|carnivore=1|domestic=1|infravisible=1|infravision=1}}
   |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L355 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 355]
 }}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{monster
   |difficulty=5
   |level=4

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:30, 31 December 2025
Line 25:		Line 25:

	[[Chatting]] to a housecat will give [[#Messages\|various responses]], depending on its [[tameness]] and condition.		[[Chatting]] to a housecat will give [[#Messages\|various responses]], depending on its [[tameness]] and condition.
		+
		+	{{upcoming\|NetHack 3.7.0\|Per {{commit\|7817e69c41a145cb9426ec96e0feee2aed6f0be6}}, housecats and other felines have infravision.}}

	==Generation==		==Generation==

@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 ===UnNetHack===
 In [[UnNetHack]], housecats appear among the random {{white|f}} that are part of the second [[quest]] monster class for [[Cavepeople]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} (3%) of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Caveman quest]].
 ===SlashTHEM===

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
   |frequency=1
   |genocidable=Yes
-  |attacks=Bite 1d6
+  |attacks=[[Bite attack|Bite]] 1d6 [[Physical damage|physical]]
   |weight=200
   |nutr=200
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
   |resistances conveyed=Intrinsic [[aggravate monster]]
   |attributes={{attributes|A housecat|animal=1|nohands=1|carnivore=1|domestic=1|infravisible=1}}
-  |reference=[[monst.c#line351]]
+  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L355 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 355]
 }}
-A '''housecat''', {{monsym|housecat}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a small and [[carnivorous]] [[domestic]] [[feline]] that can be seen via [[infravision]]. Housecats can be tamed by throwing them any type of meat or [[ration]]s that they can eat, and can be pacified by throwing veggy food at them.
+A housecat has a single [[bite attack]].
-A housecat has a single bite attack.
+A hero [[eating]] a housecat [[corpse]] or [[tin]] will gain the [[aggravate monster]] intrinsic upon finishing the meal, unless they are an [[Orc (starting race)|orc]] or a [[Caveperson]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|703|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 [[Chatting]] to a housecat will give [[#Messages|various responses]], depending on its [[tameness]] and condition.
 ==Generation==
-Randomly generated housecats may generate as peaceful towards [[neutral]] characters. A [[kitten]] can [[grow up]] into a housecat, and a housecat can grow up into a [[large cat]].
+Randomly generated housecats may be created as peaceful towards [[neutral]] heroes. A [[kitten]] can [[grow up]] into a housecat, and a housecat can grow up into a [[large cat]].
-A [[quantum mechanic]] has a {{frac|20}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a [[large box]]:{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|744|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=this applies to the entire monster class, but the quantum mechanic is currently the sole monster}} the box has a {{frac|2}} chance of generating a peaceful [[housecat]] with the [[name]] "[[Schroedinger's Cat]]" upon opening it if there is room on the level, and will otherwise contain a housecat corpse named "Schroedinger's Cat". The state of the cat within the box is not determined until the box is opened, and both the cat and corpse are otherwise completely normal - see the article for more specific information.
+A [[quantum mechanic]] has a {{frac|20}} chance of being [[generated with]] a [[large box]] that contains "[[Schroedinger's Cat]]":{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|744|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=this applies to the entire monster class, but the quantum mechanic is currently the sole monster}} opening the box has an equal probability of revealing either a live peaceful housecat [[named]] "Schroedinger's Cat", which will be placed near the box if there is room on the level, and otherwise reveals a housecat corpse named "Schroedinger's Cat". The state of the cat within the box is not determined until the box is opened, and both the cat and corpse are otherwise completely normal&mdash;see the article on Schroedinger's Cat for more specific information.
 ==Strategy==
-As hostile monsters, housecats can be annoying or even threatening to early characters that lack suitable spare food item to pacify them with: remember that [[cream pie]]s, [[egg]]s and [[melon]]s will splatter on their face. Veggy food such as [[lichen]] corpses will reliably pacify a hostile housecat without giving up a food source.
+As hostile monsters, housecats can be annoying or even threatening to early characters that lack suitable spare food item to pacify them with: remember that [[cream pie]]s, [[egg]]s and [[melon]]s will splatter on their face. Veggy food such as [[lichen]] corpses will reliably pacify a hostile housecat without giving up a food source. Running across a named housecat is one of many signs that you might be on a [[bones]] level&mdash;taming them can help with sorting through bones items and even assist with the [[ghost]] of their former owner and, in certain cases, the monster that killed them.
-Once a character finds their footing and establishes a basic kit, they may want to keep a veggy food item such as an [[apple]] or [[pear]] around to pacify housecats and other domestic carnivores they do not want to fight or keep as pets - a named housecat is a likely sign that a [[bones]] level is present. Housecats may also be sought out to [[polymorph]] by players interested in exotic pets.
+Once a hero finds their footing and establishes a basic kit, they may want to keep a veggy food item such as an [[apple]] or [[pear]] around to pacify housecats and other domestic carnivores they do not want to fight or keep as pets. Housecats may also be sought out to [[polymorph]] by players interested in exotic pets.
 ===As pets===
 Chatting with a tamed housecat [[#Messages|can provide an idea]] of how it is feeling.
-Below is a table describing how much [[weight]] in objects a domestic carnivore at a particular stage of growth can carry, which is generally applicable for [[credit cloning]] and otherwise ripping off [[shopkeeper]]s - remember that cats and dogs can only pick up a single object at a time:
+Below is a table describing how much [[weight]] in objects a domestic carnivore at a particular stage of growth can carry, which is generally applicable for [[credit cloning]] and otherwise ripping off [[shopkeeper]]s&mdash;remember that cats and dogs can only pick up a single object at a time:
 {|class="prettytable"
 ! Pet type
@@ Line 50: / Line 49: @@
 |[[kitten]]/[[little dog]]     ||    150 ||    51 || 72 || 144
 |-
-|housecat/[[dog]]     ||    200 / 400 ||    68 / 137 || 106 / 244 || 212 / 488
+|'''housecat'''/[[dog]]     ||    200 / 400 ||    68 / 137 || 106 / 244 || 212 / 488
 |-
 |[[large cat]]/[[large dog]]     ||    250 / 800 || 1000 || 1970 || 3940
@@ Line 67: / Line 66: @@
 ==Messages==
-{{message|<The housecat> yowls.|You chatted to a tame housecat that is caught in a [[trap]], [[confused]], [[scared]], or at low tameness.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|657|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
+{{message|<The housecat> yowls.|Your tame housecat is caught in a [[trap]], [[confused]], [[scared]], or at low tameness.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|657|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 {{message|<The housecat> whimpers.|A leashed tame housecat is near a square with a trap.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|432|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
-{{message|<The housecat> meows.|You chatted to a tame housecat that is currently hungry.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|660|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
+{{message|<The housecat> meows.|A tame housecat is currently hungry.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|660|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
-{{message|<The housecat> purrs.|You chatted to a tame housecat that will become hungry in 1000 turns or less.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|662|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
+{{message|<The housecat> mews.|A tame housecat will become hungry in 1000 turns or less.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|664|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 {{message|<The housecat> snarls.|You chatted to a peaceful housecat.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|668|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 {{message|<The housecat> growls!|You chatted to a hostile housecat.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|670|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 ===UnNetHack===
-In [[UnNetHack]], housecats appear among the random {{white|f}} that are part of the second [[quest]] monster class for [[Cavepeople]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Caveman quest]].
+In [[UnNetHack]], housecats appear among the random {{white|f}} that are part of the second [[quest]] monster class for [[Cavepeople]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} (3%) of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Caveman quest]].
 ===SlashTHEM===
@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], housecats and their other growth stages that can generate randomly (i.e. excluding the [[fat cat]]) have their frequency raised to 3 rather than 7, and can randomly generate in Gehennom - all other SLASH'EM details apply.
+In [[Hack'EM]], housecats and their other growth stages that can generate randomly (i.e. excluding the [[fat cat]]) have their frequency raised to 3 rather than 7, and can randomly generate in Gehennom.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 ==Origin==
 {{wikipedia}}
-The cat (''Felis catus''), commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is a small carnivorous mammal that is the only domesticated species of the family
+The cat (''Felis catus''), commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is a small carnivorous mammal that is the only domesticated species of the family ''Felidae''. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the domestication of cats date as far back as around 7500 BC in the Near East. Cats are commonly kept as house pets and farm animals, but feral cats that avoid human contact can also be found. The cat's retractable claws are adapted to killing small prey like mice and rats, and it has a strong and flexible body, quick reflexes, and sharp teeth, along with a well-developed sense of smell and night vision. Valued by humans for companionship and its ability to kill vermin, the cat is a social species, but a solitary hunter.
 Cat communication includes vocalizations like meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting as well as cat body language. It can hear sounds too faint or too high in frequency for human ears, such as those made by small mammals. Domestic cats are bred and shown at events as registered pedigreed cats, a hobby known as cat fancy. Animal population control of cats may be achieved by spaying and neutering, but their proliferation and the abandonment of pets has resulted in large numbers of feral cats worldwide, contributing to the extinction of bird, mammal, and reptile species.

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 Randomly generated housecats may generate as peaceful towards [[neutral]] characters. A [[kitten]] can [[grow up]] into a housecat, and a housecat can grow up into a [[large cat]].
-A [[quantum mechanic]] has a {{frac|20}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a [[large box]] that has a {{frac|2}} chance of generating a peaceful [[housecat]] with the [[name]] "[[Schroedinger's Cat]]" upon opening it if there is room on the level, and will otherwise contain a housecat corpse named "Schroedinger's Cat".{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|744|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=this applies to the entire monster class, but the quantum mechanic is currently the sole monster}} The state of the cat within the box is not determined until the box is opened - see the article for more specific information.
+A [[quantum mechanic]] has a {{frac|20}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a [[large box]]:{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|744|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=this applies to the entire monster class, but the quantum mechanic is currently the sole monster}} the box has a {{frac|2}} chance of generating a peaceful [[housecat]] with the [[name]] "[[Schroedinger's Cat]]" upon opening it if there is room on the level, and will otherwise contain a housecat corpse named "Schroedinger's Cat". The state of the cat within the box is not determined until the box is opened, and both the cat and corpse are otherwise completely normal - see the article for more specific information.
 ==History==
 The housecat first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]].
 ==Messages==