It is already difficult to get one cat to do what you want, now imagine trying to organize several cats. This idiom can be used to highlight that organizing larger groups of people cannot be done, or at least not without requiring a great deal of effort – and patience.
How do you herd a kitten?
- Set an intention. Think of this as a direction you’d like to head in. …
- Start herding the cats in that direction. Intention is nothing without action. …
- Try to keep the cats going in the right direction. …
- When things go astray (they will), don’t get bothered by it.
What does it mean to herd cats?
herd cats. To attempt to coordinate or control subjects that are uncooperative. Often used as a point of comparison in the phrase “like herding cats.” Trying to get my two toddlers out the door these days is like herding cats! See also: cat, herd.
