10 Cat Proverbs From Around The World
Cats have been domesticated for nearly 12,000 years, beginning when their natural hunting skills drew them to protect our crops from mice and pests. They traveled in ships with Vikings. They walked across our ancient manuscripts. Cats have long been a part of human history - and human culture. Our beloved furry family members have woven their way not only into our hearts, but into our culture as well. Here are 10 proverbs from around the world that show just how much the world really loves cats!
1. "In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English Proverb
This proverb likely speaks to the fact that cats basically rule the world, and they know it.
2. "You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats." - Colonial Proverb
While a common belief about strange black cats crossing your path is seen as an ill omen in the United States, in the UK it is commonly believed that if you come across a strange cat, it will bring future wealth!
3. "Happy is the home with at least one cat." - Italian Proverb
This one is pretty self explanatory!
4. "The cat was created when the lion sneezed." - Arabian Proverb
According to Wikipedia, the medieval Egyptian zoologist Al-Damiri (1344–1405) wrote that the first cat was created when God caused a lion to sneeze after animals on Noah's Ark complained of mice.
5. "I gave an order to a cat, and the cat gave it to its tail." - Chinese Proverb
I'm honestly not sure what this one means. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
6. "The cat has nine lives - three for playing, three for straying, and three for staying." - English Proverb
The belief that cats have nine lives could stem from the fact that they always seem to land on their feet.
7. "The dog may be wonderful prose, but only the cat is poetry." - French Proverb
It's akin to saying that dogs are a work of art, but felines are a masterpiece.
8. "A cat may look at a king." - English Proverb
A proverb that means even someone of low status has rights by virtue of being alive.
9. "Beware of people who dislike cats." - Irish Proverb
If you don't like cats, you don't like me!
10. "The cat who frightens the mice away is as good as the cat who eats them." - German Proverb
If it gets the job done, the method may not always matter!
Japanese proverb “A smiling cat brings happiness.”
A cat’s presence or a happy cat is a source of joy and good luck. I love my kitten very much which i bought from mycatbreeds.com.
You are asking what this Cantonese proverb means: “I gave an order to a cat, and the cat gave it to its tail.”
扯貓尾 (in Cantonese it sound “ce maau mei”).
It means literally “to pull the cat’s tail”.
The detailed meaning is:
- to cover up, conspire or collude by putting on an act; be in cahoots;
- typically where somebody puts on a show to distract from someone else’s actions in the background;
- a double act
“purr-session is nine-tenths of the paw”
Instead of, “possession is nine-tenths of the law.”
Alex Cavalli
“I gave an order to a cat, and the cat gave it to its tail.”
We have the same in Turkey featuring dogs instead of cats. It is used to point out the tendency of people to avoid doing a job or an errand and getting someone else to do it instead.
“Not so walk the cat do the mouse.”
This is a proverb from Saint Croix in the Virgin IslandsA woman had worked with a family as a cook for twenty five years six days a week from the breakfast hour through the dinner hour.
The cat rules the house while it walks its rooms. The mouse most be observant and quick if t is to surviveShe was such a strong figure that she helped raise the three children
One day she wasn’t there and was an hour and a half late. She had never been late or missed a day. When the lady of the house asked her why she was late she said that she had a gentleman friend over and that she had cooked him breakfast before he left.
Then she said, “Not so walk the cat do the mouse!”
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