In the world of musical strings, the term "catgut" is a misnomer; it does not actually involve cats.

Historically, strings for musical instruments were indeed made from the intestines of various animals, including sheep, cows, and goats. The term "catgut" likely originated from the word "kitgut" or "kitstring," where "kit" refers to a pocket fiddle, or Pochette — a small violin-like instrument.

The use of animal intestines for strings dates back many centuries. These strings, particularly those made from sheep intestines, were valued for their warm and rich tone. The term "catgut" persisted despite not having any direct association with cats, and it became a colloquial and somewhat confusing name for these strings.