Yep, it's cat.
Are cat people considered canon in the Star Trek universe?
Stimulate Your Senses.
Ode to Spot
Felis catus is your taxonomic nomenclature, An endothermic quadruped, carnivorous by nature; Your visual, olfactory, and auditory senses Contribute to your hunting skills and natural defenses.
I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations, A singular development of cat communications That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection For a rhythmic stroking of your fur to demonstrate affection.
A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents; You would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance. And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion, It often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.
O Spot, the complex levels of behavior you display Connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array. And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend, I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.
I've never seen Star Trek TOS so I don't know for sure if this is explained anywhere. Does anyone know why they made the switch from red shirts to yellow shirts between commanding officers and security between TOS and TNG?
The weird 6 layer chess they have is just as baffling.
Edit: I did find this page though that explains it in great detail. http://meder.spacechess.org/3dschach/chess3d.htm
I busted him up.
How could translators possibly know what is a proper noun and what isn't in an alien language?