Even if you believe in karma and reincarnation, to come back nine times is stretching anyone’s luck quite a bit. Of course, part of the idea is that we come back until we GET IT RIGHT, but still the rule doesn’t seem to apply to felines. Cats maintain their cool in whatever skin they possess at the time, and we humans could learn a lot from them, particularly about relaxing, establishing relaxing priorities and well, relaxing some more. Where did this idiomatic expression come from and what does it really mean?
Generally speaking, the phrase has to do with the fact the cat in general is very careful and can land on its feet without injury. Its feet and toes are very well padded and in most cases it is not unusual for a cat to land on its feet after a fall. (One of my cats, a black Persian named Nero, who passed out of his ninth life about four years ago), once jumped from my second floor balcony to the yard below. The distance of at least 30 feet was nothing to him, as the bad old boy landed straight up and proceeded to give me a merry chase until I caught up with him in the flowerbeds and hauled his sorry cat behind inside.
One theory about this expression dates back to ancient times when nine was considered as the trinity of trinities a lucky number. Such a fortunate number seemed suited to the enigmatic cat that seemed to escape serous injury time after time. Shakespeare employed the expression in his classic love story, Romeo and Juliet. Consider the following:
“What wouldst thou have of me? Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine.”
Whatever its origins, its truth is evident.
Do YOU have a cat that has lived up to this expression? Please share.
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