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

The use of animal intestines for strings dates back many, many centuries. These strings, particularly those for the lute or violin chanterelle made from young 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.  … [continue]