The story has many roots, this is just one version: It is said that during the Irish rebellion of 1798 when Ireland's smallest city - Kilkenny, was occupied by soldiers, some troopers tied two cats together by their tails then proceeded to throw them over a clothes-line to fight. Upon seeing an officer approaching one of the soldiers cut off both cats tails with his sword, thus allowing the terrified animals to escape. When asked to explain the two tails, the officer was told that both cats had been fighting and totally devoured each other except for their tails.

The poor cats must have fought with complete and utter determination to get free; hence the familiar phrase: "To fight like Kilkenny cats"

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