Dear Sinéad and Siouxsie:
What is the origin of the phrase "The cat's pajamas?" It seems odd
considering that I've never know a cat who wore pajamas.
--Mike
Sinéad: Well, I have to say that I've never known a cat who wore pajamas, either!
Siouxsie: Why should we? All that clothing would mess up our beautiful fur.
Sinéad: Besides, people know better than to dress cats up in ridiculous outfits. That dubious privilege is reserved for those froofy little toy dog things we see on Animal Planet sometimes.
Siouxsie: Yeah, sure. They air all kinds of dog shows, but do you ever see a cat show? Noooooooooooo! Of course not! Those felophobes!
JaneA: Ladies, the correct word for a person who fears and hates cats is "ailurophobe." But back to the subject at hand...
Sinéad: Oh yes. The cat's pajamas. We didn't know the origin of the phrase, either, so we asked Mama to research the subject online.
Siouxsie: It turns out that "the cat's pajamas" was a very popular expression during the 1920s in America, particularly among the daring and exceedingly hip jazz-age flappers.
Sinéad: Flappers were women on the cutting edge of coolness during that time. Condemned by religious leaders as immoral and immortalized in classics like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, jazz-age and flapper culture has left a lasting impact on American society.
Siouxsie: You've been reading Mama's old college term papers again, haven't you?
Sinéad: Whatever! You're just jealous because I'm the smart one.
Siouxsie: Oh yeah? Well, get this: According to Mama's research, the term "the cat's pajamas" may have had its origins in an even earlier time. There's an authenticated report that the term was being used at Wellesley College in 1918, and other vague reports about its use in the mid-19th century as well.
Sinéad: There's lots of "cat" slang--the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers, and so on--that basically means "cool" or otherwise odd and superlative. This is probably because we cats are so amazingly excellent, and perhaps a bit odd. And of course we're always very, very fashionable!
Siouxsie: There are slang terms for just about any combination of an animal, fish, or fowl with a part of the body or article of clothing that was inappropriate for it. "The bee's knees" is another such term.
Sinéad: The thing we don't understand is why some people use "cat" slang for negative things. Women who are two-faced or who make insults disguised as compliments are called "catty." A fight between women is called a "cat fight," and so on.
Siouxsie: We cats say exactly what we mean, and if we don't like you, you know it.
Sinéad: Yeah! It's ridiculous to call a disempowered woman who knows no other way to make herself look better than to hurt others' feelings or stab people in the back "catty."
Siouxsie: Those people aren't "catty" at all. They're just nuts!
JaneA: I think that's enough for today. If you have any other questions about cat terms and where they came from, please ask. I'm a geek and I love looking this stuff up! And if you want to find out more about slang on your own, here are a couple of online sources:
Siouxsie: Have fun hunting for words! It's almost as much fun as hunting for mousies.
Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail Sinéad and Siouxsie at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the advice in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.
