Our Kitties
BooBoo (female)	Kat (male)	Kit (female)
1990-2006	1986-99	1986-2004
Skunky 2006	Sonny 2006	Sissy 2006
A Smile		A Wish
	My Backyard

Cat got your tongue - Why aren't you talking? The phrase probably comes from a custom in the Mideast hundreds of years ago, when it was common to punish a thief by cutting off their right hand, and a liar by ripping out their tongue.  These severed body parts were given to the king's pet cats as their daily food. 

Curiosity killed the cat - Be cautious when investigating situations. The saying originally was "care kills a cat," and began in the 16th century.  "Care" was a warning that worry is bad for your health and can lead to an early grave; the phrase was a recognition that cats seem to be very cautious and careful. Over time, the word "care" evolved into "curiosity."

Hellcat - A bad-tempered woman Refers to the hissing and spitting of an angry feline

Pussyfooting around - To tread or move warily or stealthily or to refrain from committing oneself This phrase started out as a comment that cats are stealthy and somewhat sneaky when hunting.

Rub someone's fur the wrong way - To irritate or upset someone Reference to the annoyance a cat displays if his fur is stroked backwards.

It's raining cats and dogs - It's raining very hard The dog, an attendant of the storm king Odin, was a symbol of wind. Cats came to symbolize down-pouring rain, and dogs to symbolize strong gusts of wind. A very heavy storm, therefore, indicated that both cats and dogs were involved.  Another explanation is that the phrase came about in early 17th-century London, when cats hunted mice on the rooftops - during a rainstorm, the cats were washed off the roofs and fell on passersby.

Look what the cat dragged in - A slightly derogatory comment on someone's arrival Origin unknown, but an obvious reference to cats' tendency to bring home its prey, tattered and torn after "playing" with it for a while.

Fat cat - A wealthy and privileged person Cats that are well-fed and cared for are seldom skinny; hence, a person living the good life is a fat cat.

Last updated 29-01-08