What Does Herding Cats Mean?

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

You’ve probably “herd” of herding sheep and cattle, but what about herding cats? This popular idiom doesn’t make a whole lot of sense at first, especially if you have a cat of your own at home. No worries, though—you’ve come to the right article. We’ve taken a deep dive into the definition and history of this idiom, so you can understand it and use it on your own.

Section 1 of 3:

What does “herding cats” mean?

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3e\/Herding-Cats-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Herding-Cats-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3e\/Herding-Cats-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Herding-Cats-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Cats are very independent animals—they do what they want, when they want. They definitely can’t be herded into a unified group/flock. So, when someone is managing an uncooperative and independent group of people, they compare the experience to “herding cats.” [1]
    • Person 1: “Tough day?”
      Person 2: “You bet. Handling my students is about as easy as herding cats!”
    • The popular Discovery Channel series MythBusters actually tested the “herding cats” myth by trying (unsuccessfully) to herd 8 cats into a smaller pen. Needless to say, they proved that the “herding cats” idiom is very accurate! [2]
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

How to Use “Herding Cats”

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Herding-Cats-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Herding-Cats-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8d\/Herding-Cats-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Herding-Cats-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Maybe your co-workers are refusing to work together on a group project, or your students aren’t willing to stay seated. While you’re venting to a friend or loved one about the tough situation, you can use the idiom “herding cats” to show how difficult things are. [3]
    • “Dealing with other attorneys is like herding cats.”
    • “Managing a nursing home is about as easy as herding cats.”
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Herding-Cats-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Herding-Cats-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Herding-Cats-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Herding-Cats-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    People use the word “like” or “as” to compare a difficult group task to the prospect of “herding cats.” For example:
    • “Rounding up the toddlers at daycare is like herding cats.”
    • “Being a field trip chaperone is exhausting. It’s like herding cats!”
    • “Getting my family in one room is about as easy as herding cats.”
    3. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

Where does “herding cats” come from?

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Herding-Cats-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Herding-Cats-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Herding-Cats-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Herding-Cats-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    During the TV episode, a group of shepherds is chatting about their flocks. They eventually start talking about “herds of cats” instead, and what they would be like.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Herding-Cats-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Herding-Cats-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Herding-Cats-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Herding-Cats-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    IT professional Platt famously said that “Managing senior programmers is like herding cats,” since programmers are so independent. That quote might have inspired other people to use the idiom more frequently. [4]
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Herding-Cats-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Herding-Cats-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Herding-Cats-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Herding-Cats-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The commercial (titled “Cat Herding”) featured a group of cowboys on horseback herding a large group of cats. This well-televised commercial might have inspired more people to use the phrase “herding cats” in their day-to-day conversations. [5]
    4. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Start a Text Conversation with a Girl
      How to
      Compliment a Girl's Picture
      150+ Things to Talk About With Your Crush: Deep, Flirty, & Funny Topics
      How to
      Respond to "What's Up?"
      How to
      Ask for a Sick Day over Text
      How to
      Start a Conversation with a Girl on Instagram: 10+ Tips to Get Her Chatting
      15+ Things to Say to Someone Before Surgery
      How to
      Start a Conversation on Hinge
      What’s the Difference Between “How Are You Doing?” and “How are You?”
      151 Funny Questions to Ask a Guy Over Text & In Person
      How to
      Respond to a "How Was Your Weekend?" Text
      The Real Meaning of "How Was Your Night?" (Plus the Best Answers to Give)
      How to
      Get Someone Annoying to Stop Talking
      How to
      Stop Laughing at Inappropriate Times
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.lexico.com/definition/like_herding_cats
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNfLcXPc0ZY&t=1m35s
      3. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/like-herding-cats
      4. ↑ https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cat-herders-day/
      5. ↑ https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cat-herders-day/

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 21,420 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement