From where - and why - do we get the phrase "a cat has nine lives" ??

Question

Question asked me by one of my pupils : I need the answer for tomorrow !! Thanks !
Is it anything to do with mythology, eg Greek or Egyptian ?

Answer 1

what i know is that it comes from an Egyptian myth, and the number nine was chosen because it is the Trinity of Trinities (3 x 3) it was a lucky number.
However, i'm Egyptian and here in Egypt and Turkey we have this proverb " a cat with SEVEN lives" i know nothing about the two missing lives:) but this is all i know about that matter.

Answer 2

My understanding is that it has nothing to do with felines seeming to have incredible survival capabilities. Rather it is to do with the "cat o'nine tails" which was a short whip or flail used as a punishment for sailors a couple of centuries ago. The phrase was used as a sort-of threat, along the lines of (think "Pirates of the Caribbean" here) - "Aha - ye may be strong, young Will, but this cat has nine lives...". Usually the tails (made of leather) were knotted at the end too. Ouch!

Answer 3

Cats are said to have 9 lives because they seemingly fall from huge distances only to not be damaged at all.

The saying could also evolve from being able to move very quickly through their surroundings and balance well on seemingly precarious surfaces.

There is no known myth linking the 9 life theory to the cat.

Answer 4

"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 5

As I understand it it comes from the cats ability to land on it's feet when dropped. I dont think that the 9 is specific just a way of saying how that is so good for their survival. Dogs cant do it.

Answer 6

it is because they always are curious, hey take risks to find things out

try this from google

Why do they say that a cat has 9 lives?
Question:

Answers:
A) Sounds pretty catchy. :-)

B) Cats can land on their padded feet, and nine is the "perfect" number of lives.

Nine is commonly used as a mystical number for perfection (more in source 1).

"A cat is more tenacious of life than other animals, because it generally lights upon its feet without injury, the foot and toes being padded so as to break the fall." (source 2)

Other Answers:
Because they always do stupid stuff that would kill other animals, or even humans, such as peeing on a live electrical socket, but somehow they survive. But after the ninth time of doing this, it's goodbye kitty.


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THAY SAY THAT BECAUSE CATS HAVE THE BEST SEANES OF DANGER SO THAY SAY THAY HAVE 9 LIVES

Answer 7

It's cos they are always getting into trouble and because they are very agile creatures, when they fall or something they land on their feet, they are jsut bloody lucky, unless they don't make it across the road :( Poor kitty cats RIP

Answer 8

not sure about this one but don't think its related to Greek or Egypt ..think it was a punishment on ships if you did wrong you were wiped with 9 tongs and if you survived so be it ..sure its something to do with that try navel punishments

Answer 9

their built of tough stuff, always land on their feet. probs has summin to do with black cats.

Answer 10

god knows