Why are catfish called catfish

Question

besides the fact the have whisker things

are there any other similarities

Answer 1

well yeah they have whiskers but all mammals have whiskers so that not why its called a catfish it could be called a dogfish or a cowfish or a personfish

but if you catch one it kinda purrs or meows

Answer 2

They have barbels above there mouth that give them a whisker like look. Because of the whisker look people aptly named them catfish.

Answer 3

it's because of the whiskers but i believe the correct term is barbels

Answer 4

no other similarities they are solely called catfish because of the whiskers

Answer 5

because of there whiskers.

Answer 6

Mike's right. It's the whiskers.

Answer 7

obviously the whiskers! :D

Answer 8

FISHY FISH WITH WHISKERS. THATS SIMPLY IT

Answer 9

nope it's just the whiskers

Answer 10

if u listen really closely , they will meow and scratch you with their claws.  

Answer 11

They have whiskers, and nine lives.

.

Answer 12

well besides the wiskers if you have ever caught a channel cat fish or other large cat fish they do make a purring type of sound weather this had anything to do with them getting their name I have no idea

Answer 13

MEOOWWWWW.

*twitch* ===== - . - ====

Answer 14

I was going to say whiskers but someone beat me to the punch. Then I thought , why not say whiskers anyway, who cares. So what if everybody anticipated my thought. After all its' common knowledge that cats have whiskers and catFISH do too--hence, the name, "catfish". It would be pretty crazy to call them to call them Whiskerfish or Pussyfish.  No one would even consider catching and eating them then,surely.

Answer 15

the have whiskers that makes them look like cats

Answer 16

the whiskers on them look like a cat's whiskers  

Answer 17

There is no reason aside from the whisker like things on their face.  Watermelons are called that because they are filled mostly water.  Hmmm, I wonder why kumquats are called kumquat's.

Answer 18

Because cats eat fish, so a fish who eats a fish is called a catfish

OBVIOUS!

Answer 19

Catfish (order Siluriformes) are a very diverse group of bony fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which give the image of cat-like whiskers.

Read more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catfish

Answer 20

Nope, the whiskers are sufficient.

Go noodling some time.  You'll learn more about catfish that you ever wanted to know.

Answer 21

Becuase catfish came to exist by a cat s******g it's dinner.

Why are trout called trout?

Answer 22

Catfish make a sound similar to a kitten in distress when being taken from the hook.

Answer 23

they use to walk on land. they like to eat fish (like cats) they actually hate water as ironic that they live in water.

Answer 24

i think thts pretty much it, the way that they have whiskers.

Answer 25

they have whiskers!

hooray whiskers.

also they have fur and shed and have hairballs

(kidding)

Answer 26

WHISKERS!

best answer, duhh!

Answer 27

no thats why

At my ranch we have a small pond the size my house it has about 50 cat fish in it bout 18 inches long. We feed them dog food they love it. And I feed the babies cat fish mushed up cheetos but they prefer dog food but it takes them a while to eat it cuz its too big for them to put in their mouth so they wait till its all mushy and all of them take little bites out of it

and 2 horses and 5 turkeys and 1 cat 2 if u count the one that came with the ranch but he hides under the trailer and he never comes out

Answer 28

Catfish have prominent barbels -  slender, whisker-like tactile organs near the mouth - which look like a cat's whiskers.  

Answer 29

bahahah they're so cute. they have little whiskers. and uhh. meow. underwater.

Answer 30

because they eat mousefish...... idk. Maybe the whiskers.

Answer 31

catfish is called catfish it is just because they have long hair near their mouth i guess.