This article was co-authored by Tristen Bonacci
and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman
. Tristen Bonacci is an English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas. She specializes in teaching in a secondary education environment and sharing wisdom with others, no matter the environment. Tristen holds a BA in English Literature from The University of Colorado and an MEd from The University of Phoenix.
This article has been viewed 22,070 times.
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.
Steps
What does “herding cats” mean?
-
“Herding cats” refers to an extremely difficult or impossible task of leading other people. 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] X Research source
- 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] X Research source
- Person 1:
“Tough day?”
How to Use “Herding Cats”
-
1Describe an incredibly difficult, group-oriented task you’re struggling with. 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] X Research source
- “Dealing with other attorneys is like herding cats.”
- “Managing a nursing home is about as easy as herding cats.”
-
2Use “herding cats” as an analogy. 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.”
Where does “herding cats” come from?
-
1Some believe the “herding cats” originated from a scene in Monty Python. 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.
-
2Many people attribute the idiom to a well-known quote by Dave Platt. 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] X Research source
-
3Some people link “herding cats” to the popular Super Bowl commercial in 2000. 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] X Research source