Where did the phrase "there is more than one way to skin a cat" originate?

Question

I mean, who skins cats? And even if anyone did, I'm thinking everyone who does it goes about it exactly the same way, those cat skinners.

Answer 1

There's more than one way to skin a cat - There is more than one way to accomplish a task.
The reference is to preparing a catfish (named as such because of its long whiskers) for cooking, which must be skinned because the skin is tough.

Answer 2

No way, there are so many different and wonderful ways to skin cats, why would you stick to just one technique? If you had to skin cats all day, every day, you would probably invent several techniques also. I mean there is the Bic razor route, the slice down the belly and bleed out route, the start at the points of the mouth and skin backwards technique, then you have the European Grip, this is when you use your non-dominant hand, and the stranger technique, where you sneak up on the cat. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

its an old term referring to the "cat o nine tails" or a whip - it means that there is more than one way for the lash to have its cover removed and used - also applies to "no room to swing a cat" and "thats let the cat out of the bag"

Answer 4

In a cat house

Answer 5

who knows

Answer 6

wall street