It's Raining Cats and Dogs

Ever wonder where the expression "It's raining cats and dogs" came from? Here are a few theories that we found online:

- It is possible that the word cat is derived from the Greek word 'catadupe' meaning 'waterfall.' Or it could be raining 'cata doxas,' which is Latin for 'contrary to experience,' or an unusual fall of rain.

- Animals have been associated with weather for centuries. Cats stand for rain, and dogs for wind.

- In old England, it was said that cats and dogs would sleep on the thatched roofs. When it rained, the roofs got slippery and the cats and dogs would slide off, making it look as though it were raining cats and dogs.

- The 17th-century sewage and drainage systems were poor in Europe and it's possible that if a strong enough rain came through, it would flood the gutters and alleys to the point where all the dead cats and dogs would begin to float down the streets.

- There have been many mentions in history of raining wildlife. There are several accounts of frogs, fish, and grasshoppers falling from the sky, usually as a result of tornado-like whirlwinds. It's possible that the saying is somehow derived from this, although there haven't been any accounts of cats and dogs falling from the sky.