Cat o'nine tails or the cat, a painful whip

“Cat o'nine tails or the cat, a painful whip“ was written for BDSMforyou.nl by Mistress Moriah.

If you're looking for a fierce whip and don't want to reach straight for a bullwhip, the cat o'nine tails is a good option. A cat o'nine tails, abbreviated to 'cat', is a whip with 9 strands (the cat with nine tails). The name "cat o' nine tails" comes from the English word "cat", a reference to the "claws" of a cat. The "nine tails" refers to the nine cords of the whip. The exact origin of the weapon is not entirely clear. It was mainly used from the 17th to the 19th century in the English Royal Navy.

These punishments were often carried out in public to serve as a deterrent. By the end of the 19th century, its use had been abolished or severely restricted in many countries.

Instrument of punishment

The weapon was mainly used in the British Royal Navy and the British Army as an instrument of punishment. The aim was to maintain discipline and order on board ships and in military units. Drunkenness could be punished with a dozen lashes, which could be administered on the authority of the ship's captain. Heavier punishments were generally imposed after a formal court martial. The Royal Navy's records show some standard punishments of two hundred lashes for desertion, three hundred for mutiny and up to five hundred for theft.

The cat o' nine tails looks a bit like its innocent little brother, the flogger. But looks can be deceiving, because the cat with nine tails is a lot nastier than the flogger. Of course, it is the hand wielding it that determines the impact of the strokes. You can also stroke with it beautifully, of course. But when you really strike, it is a "vicious little devil". It absolutely belongs in the category: "punishment".

What does it look like?

The cat o' nine tails usually consisted of a handle made of wood or leather, to which nine cords or strands were attached. These strands were often made of sturdy material such as hemp or cotton. Sometimes they were fitted with knots or metal tips to make the punishment even more painful. The typical design consisted of a handle of about 45 cm long, with nine cords that were each about 60-75 cm long. The ends of these cords could be weighted or fitted with sharp objects. Nowadays they are mostly made of leather or rubber.

Names

There are equivalent terms in many languages, and also some analogous terms that refer to the number of tails (cord or leather) of a similar instrument, such as the Dutch zevenstaart and negenstaart , the Spanish gato de nueve colas or the Italian gatto a nove code .

Safety

Of course, the hand wielding the whip is what counts, but you can make some serious welts with this whip. Do I like it? Yes, of course I like it!

Mistress Moriah

Source

Text: Mistress Moriah
Photography: BDSMforyou