Gato vs. felino
In Portuguese, while both gato and felino can refer to a cat, they are used in very different contexts. Gato is the common, everyday word for a domestic cat, while felino is a broader, more scientific term encompassing the entire cat family.
Gato
A1Gato is the standard, everyday word for a domestic cat. It is the term you would use for a pet cat or a stray you see on the street. It can also be used as informal slang for a handsome man.
Meu gato adora dormir no sofá.
(My cat loves to sleep on the sofa.)
Eu vi um gato preto atravessando a rua.
(I saw a black cat crossing the street.)
A tigela de comida do gato está vazia.
(The cat's food bowl is empty.)
Aquele ator de novela é um gato.
(That soap opera actor is a hottie.)
Felino
B2Felino is a more formal and scientific term. It refers to any member of the Felidae family, which includes not only domestic cats but also lions, tigers, jaguars, and other wild cats. It is often used in biology, documentaries, or to sound more sophisticated.
O leão é o maior felino da África.
(The lion is the largest feline in Africa.)
O documentário mostrava os hábitos de caça de vários felinos selvagens.
(The documentary showed the hunting habits of various wild felines.)
A onça-pintada é um felino ameaçado de extinção.
(The jaguar is an endangered feline.)
Com sua agilidade, ele se move como um felino.
(With his agility, he moves like a feline.)
Summary
In summary, use gato for your pet or any common domestic cat in daily conversation. Use felino when you are speaking in a scientific or formal context, or when referring to the entire family of cat-like animals, including lions, tigers, and cheetahs. While every gato is a felino, not every felino is a gato.