Do cats really have 9 lives?

Yes I heard about it before as some people believe in superstition that cats have nine lives because cats can take more risks and survive falls from high places. They are so flexible, their small size and low body weight soften the impact as they make contact with ground after falling from height. Inner ears of cats enable them with unusually keen sense of balance which is critical to their landing on their feet. I am curious to know about this number 9 it could have easily been 99. But I do not get the logic. May be somebody here will put light to this number "9" thing.

no, its just a metaphor for their ability to jump from high places or run fast or do anything coz they have 230-245 bones in their body, and they can't be easily hurt. =)

They may not have nine lives, but they certainly have a few! Those frisky fellows seem to be able to get themselves into a lot of trouble and escape unharmed. I wonder why it's "nine" lives and not eight or ten?

I don't think they literally have 9 lives, it's simly that they are curious creatures so often end up getting into sticky situations, but forunately are also very agile and have a way of narrowly escaping those sticky situations, so it seems that they have 9 lives!

No I dont think cats really have nine lives. I think it just means that they are able to get themselves into anf out of trouble alot.