'''Carnivore''' has two different meanings. In ordinary language, it means an [[animal]] that only eats other animals<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation Through General Science''. Anderson: Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 2000</ref>, as contrasted with an ''[[herbivore]]'' ([[plant]]-eater) or ''[[omnivore]]'' (animal for whom both plants and animals are regular and important parts of the diet).
To a zoologist, ''carnivore'' usually means "a [[mammal]] belonging to the order ''carnivora.''" This includes [[cat]]s and "cat-like" families such as [[mongoose]]s and [[hyena]]s, and [[dog]]s and "dog-like" families such as [[bear]]s, [[skunk]]s, [[weasel]]s, [[raccoon]]s, and [[seal]]s. Most members of the order ''carnivora'' actually are carnivores in the sense of being [[meat]]-eaters, but there are many carnivorous animals that do ''not'' belong to the order "carnivora."
There have been many studies to show that most carnivorous animals still possess digestive systems to eat a plant-only diet. This is strong evidence to life in the [[Garden of Eden]] before the [[Fall of Man]]. Many zoos to this day feed their [[lion]]s and [[tiger]]s leafy greens due to environmentalists and to protect them against chemicals that are added in meat produce to help preserve them.