Mary Allen
Whether it’s “the cat bites its tail” or “the dog bites its tail” doesn’t matter. The idiom exists with both animals. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a dog or a cat – we say both when a certain situation seems pretty hopeless to us.
What Does “The Cat is Biting Its Own Tail” Mean?
The meaning of “the cat bites its tail” always refers to a thing or a situation that goes in a circle, so to speak. It can also be a paradoxical situation that starts all over again. A thing or situation that is described as “cat bites its own tail” could also be synonymously referred to as vicious circle or circular reasoning. Most of the time, cause and effect are mutually dependent.
Example of the Idiom
An example of the proverb’s application is the following: A man has a problem: his internet connection at home is down. However, his Internet provider can only be contacted via e-mail or the Internet. Since he can’t access the internet, he can’t reach the internet service provider either, and they can’t fix the problem. “The cat is biting its own tail!” the man could then shout mockingly.
Do Cats Really Bite Their Tails?
In fact, cats, especially kittens, occasionally bite their own tails. This can happen, among other things, out of the urge to play or because they don’t always recognize that the tail really belongs to them. It’s no different with dogs, by the way. Dogs sometimes even bite their own tail as a result of a skipping action – so the saying makes sense even with a dog. In the video below you can see a funny cat trying to catch its own tail.
The symbol of the cat spinning in a circle is therefore analogous to the thing or situation that is also spinning in circles and where a solution seems far away. By the way: The idiom is closely related to the saying: ” The mouse won’t bite off a thread “.