Why do they say "Cats have nine lives"?

Answer 1

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.

The highly developed inner ears of cats equip them with an unusually keen sense of balance, which is critical to their landing on their feet. This sense of balance allows a cat falling upside down to right himself by rapidly determining his position, repositioning himself, and making any adjustments necessary to ensure that he lands on all fours.

Since cats land on all four paws, the impact from landing on the ground is absorbed by all four. Additionally, cats bend their legs when they land, which cushions the impact by spreading the impact, not only through bones that could easily break, but through the joints and muscles as well.

Most are surprised to learn that a cat stands a greater chance of survival if it falls from a higher place than from a lower place. New York veterinarians gathered data from their feline patients, which clearly supports this fact. Ten percent of their patients died after falling from 2-6 stories, while only five percent of the fatalities occurred when their patients fell from 7-32 stories

Laws of physics explain why these survival rates vary. All falling bodies, regardless or their masses, accelerate by 22 miles per hour per second of their falls. The falling object, after traveling a certain distance through the air reaches a final speed, or "terminal velocity," because the object’s friction with the air slows the fall. The smaller the object’s mass, and the greater its area, the more it will slow.

A cat falling from a higher floor, after it stops accelerating, spreads its legs into an umbrella shape, which increases the area against which the air must push and increases the friction, thus slowing the cat’s fall. Through the cats highly developed sense of balance, he buys more time to maneuver his body in preparation for landing on all fours. A cat falling from a lower height does not have the opportunity to increase its body’s area, slow its fall, or position his body to land on all four feet.

Answer 2

It just really a myth that cat have 9 lives, But some people believe the nine lives myth is related to cats ability to always land on their feet. Cats are also known for their dexterity and agility. But in my views cat can jump from high heights and they never hurts easily so they can survive for long!

Answer 3

One theory on the origin of this expression is that in ancient times nine was a lucky number because it is the Trinity of Trinities. As cats seem able to escape injury time and time again, this lucky number seemed suited to the cat. While in most countries the cat is said to have nine lives, in Arab and Turkish proverbs poor puss has a mere seven lucky lives and in Russia, is said to-survive nine deaths."

Answer 4

People used to believe cats had nine lives,due to their ability to survive incidents like falls, road accidents, fights and other things. The real reason for this is the intelligence, agility and hardiness of cats.

Answer 5

Because whenever a cat gets into trouble, he survives it with all limbs intact. And the fact that when he falls from a high place, he always manages to land on his feet.
It could also be from the times when Ancient Egyptians worshipped cats and cast them as guardians to obviously guard from evil in the after-life.
Make any sense?

Answer 6

because of their ability to land on their feet from a long fall. because they can chew through the cord for the christmas tree lights and not die (will hide all frazzled for a couple of days, but not die). because they can eat a poisonous plant at 2 and live to be 18. because cats have nine lives.

Answer 7

its an old wifes tale just like saying a cat always lands on its feet it does not some cats do some dont just like saying a cat sucks the breath out of babies if that was the case me and my brothers or our children would not be here today just wifes tales and silly superstitions

Answer 8

Cats are very intelligent and they have the ability to twist their bodies so that they land on their feet.

A cat can fall from a very high place and twist around to land on its feet. People have always thought that gives cats aditional lives.

Take care,
Troy

Answer 9

Because they are very astute! My grandmother had a cat who has fell down from the third floor and after 4-5 minutes, she began playing very happily.

Answer 10

They got some magical powa