Herding Cats

[achtung_circus]

Poll question: Herding Cats

On Saturday I had words with a man who was using excessive force to move hogs.

One of the points I made was that moving hogs was like herding cats. He didn't know what I was talking about. I conducted a small poll yesterday and the only people I asked who had heard of the expression were those who had lived for periods of time in Western Canada. Several people got my drift from the context, but had not heard the expression.

So, I'm looking for a wider sample. I've used the 100th meridian as a cut-off because a graphic is readily available. Pay no attention to the zebra nussel distribution.



And if you've stuck with me this far, here's what it's about, although the expression pre-dates the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UAwZKL4_0w

[China_cat]

1. I've heard it. Lots of times

I've even said it.

I live in SC.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. I've heard it (today). I've said it (yesterday).

I have three boys. 'Nuff said.

I was born in Georgia but as an Army brat I've lived east and west of the 100 meridian. Can't tell you where I got it. It's a favorite of my sister's though.

[I Have A Dream]

3. I had not heard it until I read it on DU. I voted no since we don't say it in my...

area of the US. (At least that I've ever heard.)

[Qanisqineq]

5. Ditto for me too

I had never heard the phrase until I saw it on DU.

[huskerlaw]

4. I have heard it many times

I live west of the 100th meridian now, but I heard it often growing up in east-of-the-100th Nebraska.

[KitchenWitch]

6. Other: I have lived both east and west of the 100th meridian and I have heard the expression.

[Bullwinkle925]

7. I'm with KitchenWitch .....

Lived on both sides of the meridian and have heard it on both sides.

[achtung_circus]

8. Kick for a bigger sample. nt.

[One_Life_To_Give]

9. 72W Heard and used nt

[jobycom]

10. Use it frequently. Rarely if ever had anyone not know what I meant. East, btw.

[mikeytherat]

11. Heard of it? Hell, here's the VIDEO of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8

mikey_the_rat

[Kali]

16. oops read the other posts first, Kali

[SteppingRazor]

12. I thought everyone had heard this ... it was even a Super Bowl commercial, fer chrissake

:shrug:

[GoneOffShore]

13. I first heard it in the 1970's when I lived in the UK.

[undeterred]

14. Actually, I thought of it as something quite literal

I used to have a border collie. And while my border collie didn't have any cats to herd, I have known of some border collies, that will herd cats into a room if given the chance.

[Kali]

15. ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8


Try driving a mixed herd of spoiled Herefords, Longhorns and trotty Brahmas. Same effect.

[Critters2]

17. Heard of it! Hell, I try doing it on a regular basis.

I have three cats. Every once in a while, I'd like them to be in the same place. Like when the plumber was at the bouse last week. I tried to get them in the part of the house away from him, out of the kitchen. But alas, Shadow ran behind the kitchen radiator and stayed there for the duration.

Herding cats. Everybody talks about it. No one does it.

Oh, and it looks like I've got zebra mussels for neighbors!

[unpossibles]

18. questions:

what does herding cats have to do with Zebra mussels?

And have you tried to herd said cats using a can of tuna, a slice of turkey, and/or catnip? It's much easier that way.


:)

This is one of my favorite phrases, tied with "it's funny and sad like a trainwreck full of clowns"

[Kali]

19. that's not herding

it's leading or bribing and it works on kids too :rofl:

[achtung_circus]

27. It's baiting and it works. nt

[uppityperson]

20. Heard it and used it lots.

Teenagers, open minded librul groups working against varied wars.

[1gobluedem]

21. I have heard it for years

And I live it every day trying to work with 15 jazz types.

[BarenakedLady]

22. I'm a NE girl

I've heard that saying many times

[SPKrazy]

23. I Use It All The Time

I have a job where it is very much like herding cats


it's a common expression here in Arkansas

:shrug:

[AwakeAtLast]

24. We use that phrase when talking about our Kindergarten students

Bless their hearts! ;)

[Kutjara]

25. Although I now live west of the 100th meridian...

...I first heard the phrase in the UK. I'm not sure if it was a Brit or an American who said it, though.

[trof]

26. First heard it a few years ago and immediately knew what it meant.

Anybody who's ever been around cats would.
Or should.

[achtung_circus]

28. So apparently

my initial sample, most of whom work for a Humane Society BTW was not representative. Or is the expression more common in the States than it is in Canada?

[PVnRT]

29. Well, it was a Super Bowl ad...

So I imagine that the distribution is going to be spread quite well across the United States.

[kedrys]

30. I'm an IT project manager and I'm staff to 7 cats

Every damn day, comin' and goin'. :rofl: