More Than One Way to Skin a Cat

There’s more than one way to skin a cat is a well-known American saying meaning there’s more than one way to accomplish something. Folksy and colorful, it fits right in with Southern talk, though it didn’t start there. An authentic phrase similar in idea (though maybe not in tone): Make Do or Do Without

#Southernish #Animals

synonyms: different ways to do something, many solutions, more than one way to do it

Hillbilly Dude Says...

My Momma would often say, 'there’s more than one way to skin a cat,' and it gave me the heebie jeebies once it registered.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

My Momma would often say, 'there’s more than one way to skin a cat,' and it gave me the heebie jeebies once it registered.

Pronunciation

[THAIRZ more than
wun WAY tuh SKIN uh CAT]
/ðɛɹz mɔːɹ ðən wʌn weɪ tə skɪn ə kæt/

Meaning & Usage

- There’s more than one solution to a problem (proverb)

Hazel:

That garden hose won’t reach the shed.

Roy:

We’ll figure somethin’ out-there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

variations: more than one way to skin a catfish, more’n one way to skin a cat

Origin

The expression dates back to at least the early 1800s and appears in both British and American writing long before it took root in Southern speech. The "cat" has nothing to do with a real animal-it’s a metaphor for any tough job that has more than one fix. Its humor and plainspoken rhythm made it a natural fit in Southern conversation.

Verdict: Southernish. Old and widespread across English, not uniquely Southern, though it sounds perfectly at home in Southern talk.

Notes

Used to mean "there’s more than one way to solve a problem."
Common in both American and British English since the 1800s.
Often shortened in rural speech ("more’n one way to skin a cat").
Fits comfortably in Southern and Appalachian humor and storytelling.

Kin Topics

Animals

Common Questions

What does "There’s more than one way to skin a cat" mean?

It means there’s more than one way to do something or reach a goal.

Is it a Southern saying?

Not originally-it’s an old English and American proverb, though Southerners use it naturally in speech.

Why a cat?

It’s just a vivid old metaphor for doing a task in different ways, not meant to be taken literally.

How old is it?

It’s been around since at least the early 19th century, long before it became common in Southern talk.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 18). More Than One Way to Skin a Cat. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/more-than-one-way-to-skin-a-cat
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "More Than One Way to Skin a Cat." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/more-than-one-way-to-skin-a-cat.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "More Than One Way to Skin a Cat." HillbillySlang.com. October 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/more-than-one-way-to-skin-a-cat.