英语国家的人相信，猫这种动物命大，福大，造化大。2001年，美洲动物医疗协会杂志刊登过一份研究报告，研究人员调查了132起猫从高空坠地的事件，坠地的平均高度是六层楼，结果百分之九十的猫坠地后都存活下来了。它们在空中灵活地翻转身体，四肢着地，爪子上的肉垫大大缓解了坠地时的冲力。古人对此肯定也有所了解，认为"猫有九条命"（A cat has nine lives.）。下面这段故事讲一条名叫"船长"的小猎狗如何命大，就以"猫有九条命"做对照：
Mischief was Captain's middle name. One time, I remember he decided to take a look at the roof of the conservatory. Portly little Captain found his way out on to the roof much to Mr Woolley's dismay. He then followed in the Captain's foot-step, or should I say paw prints, in order to rescue his poor hound. Unfortunately Mr Woolley slipped and spent the next a few days unconscious in hospital. But Captain was fine. Talk about a cat's nine lives!