A typical misconception we’ve all heard is that cats have 9 lives. Well, plainly they don’t—however where did this expression originated from and why has it belonged of cat tradition for so long? Let’s discover!
What Is the Origin of Cats Have Nine Lives Phrase?
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It ends up the concept that cats have 9 lives has actually been around for a while, although it’s difficult to identify precisely from where it stemmed.
Some state the expression originated from an ancient English saying that says, “A cat has nine lives. For three he plays, for three he strays, and for the last three he stays.” Others indicate William Shakespeare as the coiner of the term in Romeo and Juliet when he composed the line, “Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives.”
Others avert from England towards Egypt for the origin. Cats were revered in ancient Egypt and were thought to have magnificent energy. In Ancient Egyptian culture, the sun god, Atum-Ra, who brought to life the other 8 gods, took the form of a cat. The nine-lives connection might have originated from this significance—Ra plus 8 gods equivalent 9.
Still, other cultures have actually had this misconception around for a very long time too. For instance, in China, cats are also believed to have actually nine lives, although there the number nine itself is what’s considered lucky. Other countries, such as Germany and Greece, toss around the notion that cats have seven lives, while some Arabic traditions indicate that they have six.
When it comes to the origin of cats having nine lives, things are still a mystery, but it’s likely a blend of mythologies coming together and making it into a global cultural lexicon.
Why Has the Phrase Stuck Around?
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Cats’ heightened senses are truly incredible. They have excellent eyesight in both light and dark areas as well as a keen sense of hearing and touch. They have every ability to sense danger before it arrives, which gives them extra time to evade life-threatening situations.
The phrase “cats always land on their feet” may also play a role in the furtherance of this misconception. While cats don’t always land on their feet, they are extremely agile and able to recover from situations that could very well be fatal to less flexible animals. All of these characteristics, while not enough to grant them extra lives, certainly help cats get the most out of their current ones.
While we might not be able to totally nail down where this old phrase comes from (and as cat owners, we wish it were true), what seems most likely is that cats’ impressive senses and physical abilities coupled with mythologies have led to this old wives’ tale’s continuation.
