Dictionary

J-cat en · NOUN

Etymology

Short for J-Category (also Category-J), a former designation used for mentally ill prisoners in the California State Prison System.

Meanings

1. (US, slang) A mentally unstable inmate.
   • Fuckers never see the light of day. Nevada Fucking Prisneyland, O.G.! Homos, snitches, Chomos, straight-up J-Cats, and children all P.C.'d up together, scandalous shit, dawg! 2003, Jimmy Lerner, You Got Nothing Coming: Notes from a Prison Fish, page 77:
   • Some J-CATs didn't even take medication, meaning they white-knuckle this lifestyle, possibly unaware of their deviation from reality and normality. 2023, Justin Cook, Infectious Injustice:
2. (slang) One who behaves in an erratic or overly excited manner.

Forms