What does a cat do in terminal?

I'm curious, could you please explain in simple terms what a cat has to do with a terminal? I'm familiar with the concept of a terminal in the context of computing, but I'm not sure how a feline creature like a cat could possibly be involved. Is this a metaphorical reference I'm missing, or is there some actual practical application of cats in terminal operations that I'm unaware of? I'd appreciate your clarification on this matter.