What is the origin of cats having nine lives?

During the seventh plague in Exodus, the Egyptians who listened to what God was telling the Israelites to do were being spared as well.

¹⁸ Behold, about this time tomorrow, I will send a very heavy hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. ¹⁹ Now therefore send, bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home, when the hail comes down on them, will die.”’” ²⁰ The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses; ²¹ but he who paid no regard to the word of the LORD left his servants and his livestock in the field. (Exodus 9:18-21)

During the last plague, protection over the house was resolved by spreading the blood of the Passover lamb over the lintel of the doorway.

¹² For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the LORD. ¹³ The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12-13)

It can be assumed that some of the Egyptians did this as well, as the following morning when they were being forced to leave in a hurry, it says some of the Egyptians came with them.

³³ The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We will all be dead.” ³⁴ So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.

³⁵ Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; ³⁶ and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

³⁷ Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. ³⁸ A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. (Exodus 12:33-38)

As it says, God was executing judgment on their gods as well. Light cannot walk with darkness, and I believe one of the gods may have been allowed to accompany them due to their submission. During the report of the promised land, the scouts give a bad review of the land discouraging the Israelites from entering. God then says how they have tested him these ten times and now because of this they will all die in the wilderness. Joshua, however, has a “different spirit in him” and so he was allowed to enter along with Caleb. The Egyptians had different animal type gods that they worshipped. The one that was responsible for protection over the house resembled a cat. The cat had nine lives but died on the tenth time testing God.

References

Exodus 9:18-21

Exodus 12:12-13

Exodus 12:33-38

 2 Corinthians 6:14

Amos 5:25-26

Numbers 13:32

Numbers 14:22-24

1 Corinthians 15:33