2006-09-21 08:56:25 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
your all full of rubbish. it comes from a British naval saying relating to the 'cat-o-nine tails' which was a type of whip used to 'flog' (whip) anyone found guilty of a crime (if execution was not to be used). The 'cat' was said to have nine lives because it had nine ends. Some times one would break off during punishment but the 'cat' had nine lives because even if one broke off horrific gashes were still left by the remainder. So in answer to your question that's where it came from and has nothing to do with a cat! Also the phrase 'to let the cat out of the bag' is another naval phrase which means to get the 'cat' out of a piece of sacking so to be used for punishment.
Hope that helps....
2006-09-22 08:06:49 · answer #1 · answered by zeroo2 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people believe in the superstition that cats have nine lives, because cats can survive falls from high places with few, if any injuries. This gives the appearance that the cats return to life after sustaining a fatal accidents. Granted, they may sustain minor injuries, such as bloody noses, cracked teeth, or a few broken ribs, but they live to recover.
The ability of the cat to survive these accidents that would kill humans or other animals is not due to multiple lives, but to several advantages they possess. Their small size and low body weight soften the impact as they make contact with the ground after falling from great heights.
Not sure why 9 but I think it just means they're robust little creatures.
2006-09-21 16:01:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This comes from the ancient Egyptians! Cats were worshipped in Egyptian times (Bast was the cat god, daughter of the sun god Ra) for ridding plagues of rats and mice. The Egyptians also thought that the number three was special; three times three was extra-special! So this was how cats were thought to have nine lives.
2006-09-21 16:14:51 · answer #3 · answered by ReBecca_Oraya 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It comes from the egyptians who worshiped the cats as gods.
I found this passage on the web.
"The Sphinx for example is a representation of a lion, and is one of the earliest works of Egyptian art. The sphinx has the head of the pharaoh, and the body of a lion, showing the pharaoh's power and importance. According to Allbritton, Sekhmet, the lion-headed goddess of fate, controls the Tablets of Destiny; therefore, the fate of humanity lies in her hands, or rather her paws . Her statue is covered in gold, and includes an elaborate headdress and a golden throne. Sekhmet symbolizes the burning sun in Egyptian religion. She is the goddess of fertility, protector of the young and weak, and the deity of war and destruction. Legend has it that one day she was seized with a desire to slaughter all humanity; so killed and drank the blood of many. The god of the sun, Ra, finally put an end to the massacre by mixing beer and pomegranate juice, to appear as blood. Sekhmet then drank herself into oblivion (Allbritton, 1998). Cats were treated extremely well during the time of the pharaohs"
Hope this helps
2006-09-21 16:12:06 · answer #4 · answered by flibertyjib 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What myth? Cats really do have 9 lives!
2006-09-21 16:03:50 · answer #5 · answered by Raych C 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
from the cat of nine tails,they used to wear out having beat the sh*t out of so many sailors,if u wre lucky u got a knackered cat
2006-09-22 16:53:43 · answer #6 · answered by carboncook 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Egyptians
2006-09-21 15:59:34 · answer #7 · answered by macleod709 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cats just have a natural ability to get out of tough fixes. they're not immortal tho. and they don't even always land on their feet
2006-09-21 16:05:22 · answer #8 · answered by kapute2 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think it was made up by Edgar Allen Poe
2006-09-23 08:28:33 · answer #9 · answered by no nonsence 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not a myth. It is factual.
2006-09-21 16:04:18 · answer #10 · answered by 6th Finger 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋