Cat state

A "cat state" typically refers to a concept from quantum mechanics, most famously illustrated by Erwin Schrödinger in his thought experiment known as "Schrödinger's cat." In this thought experiment, a cat is placed in a sealed box with a radioactive atom, a Geiger counter, a vial of poison, and a hammer. If the atom decays, the Geiger counter triggers the hammer to break the vial, releasing the poison and killing the cat.