The female of which animal is known as either a "Queen" or a "Molly"?

Many of us know a female dog is called a bitch, but very few of us know what female cats are called. We also know that male cats are called Toms but the female’s name is hardly ever talked about.

A female cat is known as Molly. However, the origin of this name is largely unclear. When pregnant and about to give birth to kittens, female cats are called Queens. Apart from the title "Queen" being suitable for a finicky creature like the female feline, the name is actually derived from the cat’s birthing process known as “queening”.

The word “queen” has its origins in the old English “cwen” which means a female ruler, a wife, or an honored woman. Female cats are not only finicky but also matriarchal, so it made sense that the breeders referred jokingly to the female cats as "Queens". Plus, in feral cat colonies or multi-cat households, older female cats were usually more dominant compared to the males (Toms) of the same age. Also, males naturally tend to give way to females, allowing them more access to food.