Does anyone know where the phrase '' there's more than one way to skin a cat ''?

Question

Came from? Why was it used in the first place? Who would want to skin a cat? Just another weird poser folks?

I agree with the cat answers. I cannot fathom someone skinning a cat, but the catfish answers are neat and good to know. Still learning interesting tidbits!!!

Answer 1

This was an interesting little research piece...seems the original reference to this was in 1678 in John Ray's Collection of English proverbs.

It is said it may have originated from the skinning of catfish...and the processes of turning the skin inside out to remove it... Frankly I had never thought of it! lol Just one of those phrases I always 'accepted' :-)

Answer 2

I read where the original phrase was actually "there's more than one way to skin a catfish" and later the "fish" part was dropped. Catfish skin is so tough that fishermen were having a hard time leaving the flesh intact while still skinning the fish. I don't know if it's true, but I like the idea a whole lot better than skinning a cat! Eewwwww!!!

Answer 3

Methinks an old violin company that processed cats for the cat gut strings, and secondarily fishing leaders.Sometimes they were skinned diagonally but more often on the bias. Each buyer required a specialized cut hence one had to learn the many ways of skinning a cat.

Answer 4

Might have something to do with polecats? As proof that the offender (literally) had met its demise?

I say it all the time, but after our kitten died six years ago (at the hands of an SUV), it was quite a long time before I could say it without getting weepy.

Answer 5

My dad was a heavy equipment operator when I was a little girl and he ran big bull dozers. He was referred to as a cat skinner. the first big dozers were by catapillar. They skinned back the earth to form roads, bases for power towers etc.

Answer 6

it goes back to the construction industry when the cats was first introduced in the dirt clearing work and was used by the cat opeators on the various ways they could make their equipment work!!! most opeators are fondly refer to as cat cleaners!!! good question and deserves a star!!!

Answer 7

if a cat has 9 lives, then you have to be creative and find 9 different ways to skin one.

Answer 8

Same place the" curiosity killed the cat" came from. I dont know.

Answer 9

My old daddy of course. Not really. I don't know, but I never liked the sound of it. I like cats.

Answer 10

It came from a kitchen in China.