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Cats are known to survive close calls and falls. They have highly developed inner ears that give them exceptional balance, allowing them to adjust their fall so that they land on all four paws. They also have finely-honed reflexes that allow them to narrowly avoid severe or fatal injuries in any number of dangerous situations, such as collisions, collapses, and fires.
Some people believe in the superstition that cats have nine lives because cats may survive falls from high places with few, if any injuries. This gives the appearance that some cats return to life after sustaining a fatal accident. Granted, they may sustain minor injuries, such as bloody noses, cracked teeth, or a few broken ribs, but they live to recover.
The ability of the cat to survive these accidents that would kill humans or other animals is not due to multiple lives, but to several advantages they possess. Their small size and low body weight soften the impact as they make contact with the ground after falling from great heights.
One Possible Origin for the Expression
"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; in Russia, a cat is said to survive nine deaths."
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Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoSome people believe in the superstition that cats have nine lives, because cats can survive falls from high places with few, if any injuries. This gives the appearance that the cats return to life after sustaining a fatal accidents. Granted, they may sustain minor injuries, such as bloody noses, cracked teeth, or a few broken ribs, but they live to recover.
The ability of the cat to survive these accidents that would kill humans or other animals is not due to multiple lives, but to several advantages they possess. Their small size and low body weight soften the impact as they make contact with the ground after falling from great heights.
A shorter way of saying this is just because they can land very easily and don't get hurt very badly when they land from a very big fall.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agono one knows its a myth
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Where does the phrase nine lives come from?
I'm pretty sure they use that expression because a cat they say has nine lives, but I can't be sure.
Some people say cats have nine of these?
Nine lives.
How many brains does a shark have?
A cat actualy has nine brians. That is way people say cats have nine lives.
Some people say cats have nine of these what is it?
lives
Which animal has nine life?
none but people say cat..
Cat has nine lives?
No, cats do not have nine lives. It is an old myth that people told as jokes and stories. Cats only have one life, just like we humans do.
Does a cat have 9 lives?
It is a matter of opinion and belief if cats have nine lives, some say they have proof they don't and it is just a myth, others, like me, say it could very well be true.
Is it possible a cat to be alive after its nine lives?
First of all, cats do not even live 9 lives, it is just an old saying due to the fact that they can manuver and balance so well at times that. Do you ever see a picture of a cat travelling from one appartment balcony to the other and they seem like they know what their totally doing. Well that is why people say that cats have nine lives because they can practically die from doing a dangerous stunt like that and then be their the next day.
How many lives does a cat have to live?
Cats have one life like all other living creatures. The saying nine lives is not true, people say that because cats are good at always landing on their feet and are lucky at surviving things that could be deadly. The statement nine lives just simply states that cats get lucky; they don't actually live nine lives, or times.
Why does cats have 9 lives?
People say that because sometimes when cats get hit they don't die! It usually takes about nine times for them to die! It's amazing that this animal is so small and I can almost get hit nine times and still live. Also, some cats are not lucky enough to be born with nine lives, but a majority of them are.
How does cat got your tongue refer to the cat of nine tails?
The "cat of nine tails" was a whip used on sailing ships. If you were whipped, you hurt so bad you couldn't talk, so they might say "cat got your tongue?"
What will happen if a cat lands on its back?
nothing happens , Cats are with 7 lives , we say in Arabic "القطط بسبع ارواح " We say in American Cats have nine lives. Usually, cats land on their feet, and if they don't they can hurt their back, especially if they fall from a long ways. You should check on it and if it seems hurt, take it to the vet.
