# herd cats

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/herd-cats
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To attempt to control the uncontrollable; to attempt to manage a great many unruly factors or people to a single end.

## Examples

- Trying to organize this group is like herding cats.
- The manager quit because trying to coordinate the disorganized volunteers felt like herding cats.
- Attempting to reach a consensus among the twenty independent committee members was an exercise in herding cats, as each person held a vastly different vision for the project.

## Origin

The idiom is a compound of herd and cat, likely referencing the animal’s solitary nature and its general lack of interest in instruction. The exact origin is uncertain, though the phrase became widely attested from the 1980s. A popular but unproven story traces the metaphor to the 1979 film Life of Brian. In the opening scene, Monty Python’s shepherds discuss their flock before the conversation strays to the logistical absurdity of felines. One shepherd asks if the others can imagine a herds of cats waiting to be sheared, followed by an imitation of the resulting noise. While the specific film dialogue provides a clear cultural precedent, the earliest usage of the full idiom remains unknown. It exists as a simple linguistic recognition that certain groups, like cats, do not naturally form a queue. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.