Raining Cats and Dogs

Right now, early Saturday morning, I am listening to the downpour of a noisy rain. My first thought was, “It’s raining cats and dogs!” I’m sure most of you have heard that funny little saying. I’ve heard it all my life. We all know that small animals don’t fall from the sky during a rainstorm.  So where did this come from? There is a theory that cats and dogs were washed from the thatched roofs in England during heavy rain. It was thought that in the 1500’s dogs and cats slept on the roofs to keep warm by snuggling in the thatch, and during heavy rains they were washed off the roof. This is a widely repeated tale. But how did dogs get up on the roof; and no self respecting cat is going to hang around on a roof if it begins to rain.

There is another theory which some think explains the saying.

“Jonathan Swift described the streets being awash with the dead bodies of animals in his satirical poem 'A Description of a City Shower', first published in the 1710 collection of the Tatler magazine”: Sweeping from Butchers Stalls, Dung, Guts, and Blood, Drown'd Puppies, stinking Sprats, all drench'd in Mud, Dead Cats and Turnip-Tops come tumbling down the Flood.” That’s pretty gross. I tend to think that this theory fails to explain why someone said, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” But if would be nice to keep it going so that our children and grandchildren can wonder about such a thing happening.

If you think about, it isn’t it amazing that water falls from the sky? In just a few minutes the harsh summer heat is washed away, and the grass and plants and trees get a respite from the burning sun. The lakes and streams are replenished. We welcome a good soaking rain that breaks a dry spell. I love to sit on the porch and listen to the rain, watch the lightning and hear the thunder. Rain on a tin roof is calming and even therapidic it seems. Water from the sky; another blessing from God for us to appreciate and be thankful.

No cats or dogs were injured in this word rambling.