When Shakespeare mentioned it in Romeo and Juliet it was already old. The proverb “a cat has nine lives, for three he plays, for three he strays, and for three he stays” is older than the USA. Nine is often seen as an magic/auspicious number in Anglo-Saxon culture, which the US is very influenced by.
The multiple lives thing goes back to the ancient Egyptians, who believed cats were divine creatures and were incarnations of the goddess Bastet (who had the power to reincarnate herself nine times). The Bastet link makes me think that nine is the “right” number of lives.
When Shakespeare mentioned it in Romeo and Juliet it was already old. The proverb “a cat has nine lives, for three he plays, for three he strays, and for three he stays” is older than the USA. Nine is often seen as an magic/auspicious number in Anglo-Saxon culture, which the US is very influenced by.
The multiple lives thing goes back to the ancient Egyptians, who believed cats were divine creatures and were incarnations of the goddess Bastet (who had the power to reincarnate herself nine times). The Bastet link makes me think that nine is the “right” number of lives.