Lewis & Short

1. cătŭlus, i, m. dim. [2. catus], the young of animals, a whelp; cf. Non. p. 457, 8 sq.

  1. I. In gen., of swine, Plaut. Truc. 2, 2, 13; of a panther, Lucr. 5, 1036; of a lion, Verg. G. 3, 245; Hor. C. 3, 20, 2; Ov. M. 13, 547; of a tiger, Plin. 8, 4, 5, § 10; of a cat, Phaedr. 2, 4, 24; of a wolf, Verg. A. 2, 357; of a bear, Ov. M. 13, 836; 15, 379; of a serpent, Verg. G. 3, 438 al.; cf. in gen.: catulos ferae Celent inultae, Hor. C. 3, 3, 41.
  2. II. Esp., a young dog, a puppy (in this sense regarded by the ancients as dim. of canis, Varr. L. L. 9, § 74 Müll.; cf. id. ib. 5, § 99 ib.): omnia in perfectis et maturis esse meliora, ut in equo quam in equulo, in cane quam in catulo, Cic. N. D. 2, 14, 38: catulo meo Subblanditur, Plaut. As. 1, 3, 321; Lucr. 4, 997; 5, 1067; Verg. E. 1, 23; id. G. 3, 405; Plin. 29, 4, 14, § 57 et saep.
        1. b. Prov.: aliter catuli longe olent, aliter sues, Plaut. Ep. 4, 2, 9.
  3. III. A kind of fetter (cf. canis), Lucil. ap. Non. p. 36, 26; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 45 Müll.