proverb · Words worth keeping
An old cat laps as much as a young kitten.
An old cat laps as much as a young kitten.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Age does not necessarily remove appetite or desire. The older cat drinking as much as the kitten challenges an expectation that wanting must diminish.
What the words are saying
The saying compares two ages doing the same ordinary thing. Its force lies in the older creature refusing the diminished appetite the observer expects. Applied figuratively, it can recognise that someone’s interests or wishes remain strong later in life. It is not a biological rule about cats or people, and it should not be used to demand equal capacity from individuals. A careful reading lets a person describe what they still enjoy rather than assuming that age settles the matter.
Everyday example
An older relative remains enthusiastic about a favourite outing and asks to be included rather than overlooked.
When to use it
Use it to challenge an unsupported assumption that someone’s interests have faded with age.
What it does not mean
Desire and capacity differ between individuals; age alone does not establish either.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1173 · Old cat
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English