What made people think that a cat has nine lives?

Answer 1

The saying "cats have nine lives" is an old folklore myth, a saying that has been passed down for generations along with other superstititions like throwing salt over your left shoulder if you spill it. The saying originated when people noticed cats lived through situations that would kill a dog or a human, such as falling from a couple stories up out of a tree or escaping the reach of a predator about to kill it. It was assumed by people that the cat had actually died when it fell from the tree (anything else would have broken its neck), but because it had "extra" lives it could get back up and walk on. The real answer is cats are extremely flexible and agile and are able to arrange themselves to take the least amount of hurt from things like falls from height, and are able to escape through very small openings such as a hole in a fence.

Answer 2

According to a myth in many cultures, cats have multiple lives. In many countries, they are believed to have nine lives, but in Italy, Germany, Greece, and some Spanish-speaking regions, they are said to have seven lives, while in Turkish and Arabic traditions, the number of lives is six. The myth is attributed to the natural suppleness and swiftness cats exhibit to escape life-threatening situations.