Why do cats have nine lives?

[jelly.belly]

I know, this looks stupid, but I was thinking about cats the other day and, does anyone know? Why do people say cats have nine lives? Just wondering! :D

[Flar's Freyja]

Hmm.....I don't know, but they probably need them with all of their death-defying leaps and jumps from high places....

Actually, someone told me a while ago but I don't remember. I'll be back when I have time to do some research :D

[Silver Venus]

Just foudn this :T
http://www.wondrak.com/devlin87/splives.html

and this link thats fun too
http://www.geocities.com/felinexpress/mythean.html

[Mnemosyne]

I have no idea why people say that cats have nine lives. All I know is that nine is special number in stories. For example, there are nine muses in Greek mythology, nine worlds in Norse mythology...etc.

I've been wondering about that question myself. I have a cat who is always finding trouble when he goes outdoors. He has already used up six of his lives. I was telling my cat's stories to my neighbor, and my neighbor said, "Wow! These are the lives that he has used up that you know about. What about the lives that he has used up that you don't know about?" Good point! I think that I will keep him indoors from now on. But he looks so sad indoors. :(

[jelly.belly]

Thanks everyone! :)

[Agaliha]

I read that the 9 lives were linked to the Kemetic view of the soul (9 parts) or something having to to with Kemet.

http://touregypt.net/magazine/mag05012001/magf3.htm

Khat, Ka, Ba, Khaibit, Akhu, Sahu, Sekhem, Ab, Ren