What kind of animal is sitting in the hearth in the Duchess's house in Chapter 6 in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?

A cat

Even the Duchess sneezed occasionally; and as for the baby, it was sneezing and howling alternately without a moment's pause. The only things in the kitchen that did not sneeze, were the cook, and a large cat which was sitting on the hearth and grinning from ear to ear.