This is the 1252nd most frequent French word.
apparition
The appearance or arrival of something or someone, often unexpected.
Here, 'apparition' is used to describe the unexpected physical emergence of something, specifically the cat.
L'apparition soudaine du chat dans la pièce nous a surpris.
The sudden appearance of the cat in the room surprised us.
In this context, 'apparition' refers to the act of someone showing themselves publicly, often in media.
Son apparition à la télévision a provoqué de nombreuses réactions.
Her appearance on television provoked many reactions.
Here, 'apparition' is used to denote the occurrence or visibility of something unusual or mysterious.