キャットフード
kyattofūdo[kʲa̠t̚to̞ɸɯ̟ːdo̞]
The English phrase "cat food" is translated into Japanese as キャットフード (kyattofūdo).
The term refers to food specifically formulated for feeding cats.
Meaning: type of food formulated for the feeding of cats (noun)
Which one should you use?
While キャットフード is a direct loanword from English, the more standard and descriptive way to refer to cat food in everyday Japanese is 猫の餌 (neko no esa).
How do you pronounce it?
kyattofūdo
Did you know?
- The word 餌 (esa) is also used as a slang term in Japanese gaming and internet culture to describe low-level enemies that exist only to provide experience points.
- Japanese pet owners often use the term ごはん (gohan), which means 'cooked rice' or 'meal', instead of 餌 (esa) to treat their cats as members of the family.
- While キャットフード is used in advertising, the word 餌 (esa) is also the term used for 'bait' used in fishing. This makes the term for animal food feel quite functional and raw to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- 「ねえねえ、知ってる？あなたが買ってきてくれた缶詰って、人間用じゃなくて猫用だって」「マジで？あれ、キャットフード？」「そうね」"Hey, you know, the canned food you bought is meant for cats, not for humans." "Really? This is cat food?" "Yup."This sentence is useful for seeing how to use キャットフード when discussing canned food meant for cats rather than humans.Tatoeba #10627279 by small_snow, translation #10629700 by verdantyuu
- すみません、ネコのエサを探しています。Excuse me, I'm looking for cat food.
- キャットフード買ってきたよ。I bought cat food.
- このキャットフードはとても高いです。Kono kyattofuudo wa totemo takai desu.This cat food is very expensive.
- キャットフードを買い忘れてしまいました。Kyattofuudo o kaiwasurete shimaimashita.I forgot to buy the cat food.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are in the kitchen checking their supplies.
- 結衣 Yui健太、キャットフードはまだありますか？Kenta, kyattofuudo wa mada arimasu ka?Kenta, is there any cat food left?
- 健太 Kentaいいえ、もうすぐ無くなります。Iie, mou sugu nakunarimasu.No, it is almost gone.
- 結衣 Yuiじゃあ、今日買ってきましょうか？Jaa, kyou katte kimashou ka?Then, shall I go buy some today?
- 健太 Kentaお願いします、助かります。Onegaishimasu, tasukarimasu.Please, that would be a help.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cat food” translations and entries キャットフード, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
