There is more than one way to skin a cat


What's the meaning of the phrase 'There is more than one way to skin a cat'?

The proverbial saying ‘There is more than one way to skin a cat’ means there is more than one way of achieving an aim.

What's the origin of the phrase 'There is more than one way to skin a cat'?

The earliest printed citation of this proverb that I can find is in a short story by the American humorist Seba Smith – The Money Diggers, 1840:

“There are more ways than one to skin a cat,” so are there more ways than one of digging for money.

Other versions of the phrase were in use in the 19th century, which specify the ‘other ways’ of felicide that might be employed. Charles Kingsley recorded the most common variant in the novel Westward Ho!, 1855. As befits a West Country gentleman, Kingsley opted for:

There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream.

Other forms of end that have been employed (and sometimes of a dog rather than a cat) are hanging, choking with butter and choking with pudding.

See also: the List of Proverbs.

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
There is more than one way to skin a cat

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