One of the most common is that the cat was tricked by a mouse, and didn't make it to the great animal competition on time. Another contends that the cat is supplanted by the tiger, which is, after all, simply a big cat.
其中最耳熟能詳的，一是遭鼠背叛未及時參加動物競走大賽；二是「貓」、「虎」同類，虎就是大貓。