Nekomimi vs. Catgirl — What's the Difference?

Cat ears.

A catgirl (猫娘, nekomusume) is a female kemonomimi character with feline traits, such as cat ears (猫耳, nekomimi), a cat tail, or other feline characteristics on an otherwise human body. Catgirls are found in various fiction genres and in particular Japanese anime and manga.

(by metonymy, coming from meronymy) A fictional character who has cat ears on an otherwise human body, and possibly other feline characteristics such as a tail.

A female fictional character who has a cat's ears, tail, or other feline characteristics on an otherwise humanoid body.

A girl or woman who wears a cat costume.