# How many kitty cats would it take to kill a person? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 26, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-kitty-cats-would-it-take-to-kill-a-person/1023418 "2025-09-26T16:45:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-kitty-cats-would-it-take-to-kill-a-person/1023418/61 "2025-09-29T12:03:43Z")
It like in that computer game, Nethack: you don’t want to mess with no cat before you have gained a few levels. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-kitty-cats-would-it-take-to-kill-a-person/1023418/62 "2025-09-29T12:58:34Z")
I just hope it’s more than 16 or I might be in deeeeep trouble! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-kitty-cats-would-it-take-to-kill-a-person/1023418/63 "2025-09-29T14:38:09Z")
> [@solost](#): > > For now…? Exactly! It’s wise not to get overconfident. Just keep treating them like royalty and you’ll be fine. LOL ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-kitty-cats-would-it-take-to-kill-a-person/1023418/64 "2025-09-29T15:03:55Z")
I know tripping over a cat and dying isn’t what the OP had in mind, but I have to share that this is how actress Beulah Bondi died, at the age of 92. She is probably best remembered for playing Jimmy Stewart’s mother in four different films including _It’s a Wonderful Life_ and _Mr. Smith Goes to Washington_. In the rumor I heard many years ago, she tripped over her cat and died instantly, but her body wasn’t discovered for several days, during which time the hungry kitty snacked on her body. That story turns out to be false. The real story is that she tripped over her cat and broke several ribs. She was taken to a hospital right away but died several days later of complications. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-kitty-cats-would-it-take-to-kill-a-person/1023418/65 "2025-09-29T15:43:02Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > complications The cat snuck into ICU and smothered her with a pillow ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-kitty-cats-would-it-take-to-kill-a-person/1023418/66 "2025-09-30T01:13:36Z")
Naw, no need to bother with a pillow, it just lay over her nose and mouth and went to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-kitty-cats-would-it-take-to-kill-a-person/1023418/67 "2025-09-30T22:08:32Z")
Cause of death is on a knead-to-nose basis? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-kitty-cats-would-it-take-to-kill-a-person/1023418/68 "2025-10-02T01:18:29Z")
The thing you’re all missing is assuming the cat means you harm but you’re not willing to respond in kind. If it bites your hand and you crush its head you win. Every time. Humans are the apex predators on this rock. Never forget your role. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-kitty-cats-would-it-take-to-kill-a-person/1023418.md?page=3)