U heard " Curiosity kill cats"? Why it is CATs not DOGs, BIRDs, TURTLEs or MOUSEs?

Question

So why why why? Waht does this phrase come from anyway?
(Well explained answer gets 10 pts!)

Answer 1

Well, I think the answer is extremely simple... especially for any one who has ever owned a cat. Go buy yourself one, and you will find out what I mean. They are independent, brave, curious, playful, quick, and full of mischief.
The best explanation coming from my experience is that one time while growing up, in the early mornings, when the house would be cold, we would turn on the oven, open up the oven door, and close the room door to hold in heat, so that while we ate breakfast and did a few last minute things before school, we would stay warm.
Anyways... lo and behold, our cat (being curious or stupid, lol) would walk right up to the door, and actually jump up high enough to put his nose nearly in the oven. Instead of saving him from his own demise, we all just shook our heads, and kept saying... "Well, I guess here is proof of how curiosity kills the cat".
Amazingly, he didn't actually jump into the oven and catch fire, and lived to a ripe age. But they are curious for sure. They do all sorts of things out of curiosity, that could easily harm or kill them, but they do it anyway. One of our cats used to like to kill baby garter snakes. If they would have been rattle snakes, he wouldn't have survived long. They also do things like jump off of roofs, out of trees, climb under the hoods of vehicles, love watching fire, tease dogs, nonchalantly walk out in front of cars coming in THEIR driveway, etc.
Enough examples?
lol

Answer 2

"Curiosity Killed the Cat"
Curiosity killed the cat reminds us that being too curious can be dangerous. Example: "What do you think is down that dark street?" Reply: "I would rather not find out. Curiosity killed the cat."

Curiosity killed the cat recalls a story in which "the cat" was killed because he was too curious and followed "curiosity" too far. Example: "That reporter has been asking a lot of questions and the boss doesn't like it." Reply: "Curiosity killed the cat."

Cats are curious animals that like to investigate, but their curiosity can take them places where they might get hurt. Children especially, like cats, are curious and like to test to find out what is dangerous. Example: "My son stuck his finger into the electrical outlet and got a huge shock! He said he wanted to find out how it would feel." Reply: "It's a good thing he wasn't hurt! Curiosity killed the cat."

Answer 3

Everyone always seems to forget the fact that even though curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought him back. It's an old proverb. But don't feel bad for the cat because in the end he lives!

Answer 4

Curiosity killed the cat is a well-known proverb to warn against being too inquisitive lest you come to harm.

The earliest printed reference to the origin of this proverb is attributed to British playwright Ben Jonson in his 1598 play, Every Man in His Humour (performed first by British playwright William Shakespeare).

...Helter skelter, hang sorrow, care will kill a cat, up-tails all, and a pox on the hangman.

In this instance, "care" was defined as "worry" or "sorrow."

Shakespeare used a similar quote in his circa 1599 play, Much Ado About Nothing:

What, courage man! what though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care.

The proverb apparently remained the same until at least 1898. E. Cobham Brewer included this definition in his Dictionary of Phrase and Fable:

Care killed the Cat. It is said that "a cat has nine lives," yet care would wear them all out.

Answer 5

cats would be the an animal wherein it compares for curiosity, since cats is very agressive, wnts to lerns something, as a person itself, for being agressive it can make someone crazy

Answer 6

b/c curiosity kill the cat rolls off the tongue but curiosity killed the rabbit?? not as catchy

Answer 7

because cats are naturally curious...