I have always wondered about the saying "cats have nine lives". Where does it come from? What does it mean? Can anyone tell me?
2007-12-21 14:45:11 · 10 answers · asked by Valerie R 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
It comes from the fact that cats, in general, always seem to escape death in circumstances where normal human beings couldn't. For example, a cat can jump from relatively high heights and survive, whereas humans would just splat. You've probably heard the saying that cats always land on their feet, which is based on the same thing. Cats are usually quite agile and strong, almost acrobatic, and because they always seem to find a way to survive, it's as if they have more than one life.
The number nine has a significance in a lot of cultures, including the fact that it is the largest of the single digit numbers. Hence, no matter what the digit limit of a number is, one composed entirely of 9's will always be the greatest of them all i.e. 999,999,999 is the greatest 9 digit number. So the number 9 sums up the seemingly infinite number of lives that cats have.
You can read more about it here:
http://www.moggies.co.uk/html/9_lives.html
Hope this helps!
2007-12-21 14:59:02 · answer #1 · answered by chewy 2 · 233⤊ 13⤋
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!
2014-11-18 18:02:35 · answer #2 · answered by Dave 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, myself and my 4 cats, 1 dog and all the fish in my 55 gallon aquarium....
2016-04-10 12:19:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats have the ability to find themselves in a HEAP of trouble and still get out alive. It's not a literal saying. It just means they're lucky.
2007-12-21 14:54:24 · answer #4 · answered by RanaBanana 7 · 51⤊ 12⤋
Sorry, I don't know where the old saying comes from, but I just wanted to comment on the people who left you dumb comments.......people of course she doesn't believe that cats litterally have nine lives! Those of you that wrote "its just a myth, they dont litterally have nine lives" gee thanks. DUH.
2007-12-21 16:32:58 · answer #5 · answered by Erica G 3 · 79⤊ 10⤋
It is a myth. UNFORTUNATELY! I've had cats who died where I wished they had 9 lives :(
But there is a funny cartoon about a cat. Type in "The Cat Came Back" and look for a cartoon vid.
2007-12-21 15:25:13 · answer #6 · answered by Riflegirl 3 · 16⤊ 76⤋
They don't really have 9 lives obviously. you know how they always land on they're feet? well it just means that they can't get hurt easily, and also because they are quick and can jump over fences and stuff. Make sense?
2007-12-21 14:56:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 16⤊ 77⤋
cats are notorious for being able to evade and get out of sticky situations. for example if they fall from great heights they will flip around and land on their paws. they can get hurt and rebound pretty quickly (obviously depending on the situation.. if the cat gets run over by a car, then splat, there goes all 9 lives in one go).
2007-12-21 14:54:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 43⤊ 18⤋
that not really true is it
2007-12-21 14:53:51 · answer #9 · answered by Lola 1 · 3⤊ 103⤋
well its not really true.... i think it is just a myth to make people not so sad when the cats die or get hurt badly. but i am not sure. it means that cats are supoosed to be able to have 9 lives and until those lives are over then they cant die.
2007-12-21 14:50:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 83⤋