There are several hundred proverbs concerning cats which come from all around the world.

A Cat Has Nine Lives

One theory on the origin of this expression is that in ancient times nine was a lucky number because it is the Trinity of Trinities. As cats seem able to escape injury time and time again, this lucky number seemed suited to the cat. While in most countries the cat is said to have nine lives, in Arab, Turkish and Brazilian proverbs poor puss has a mere seven lucky lives and in Russia, is said to-survive nine deaths.

If you fling water over a cat,you will bring about rain. - Burmese Proverb

A cat is a lion in a jungle of small bushes. - Indian Saying

He's as quiet as a cat. - Japan

The cat who could not reach the meat declared he would not eat it, to honour his father. - Kurdistan

My soul feels as disturbed as if a cat were treading my heart. - China

The man who loves cats will love his wife. - Russia

If stretching made money, all cats would be wealthy - Ghana

After a time, even the dog begins to compromise with the cat. - Hungary

The cat wonders at its own tail. - Spain

The cat is a holy creature until the milk arrives. - India

When the cat's away, the mice will play. - England

A kind welcome is beloved by a cat. - Russia

When the cat winketh, little kens the mouse, what the cat thinketh. - Scotland

Women and cats are both black at night. - Bosnia

The cats dreams are all about mice. - Arab

A baited cat may grow as fierce as a lion. - England

When the cat is gone, out come the rats to stretch themselves. - China