Is the following sentence correct, eat cats?

Question

There must be an expression somewhere in the following sentence that I don't understand or maybe they did eat cats in Mexico on ranches in the thirties?

Mientras en los grandes ranchos el ganado está pastando, algunos campesinos no tienen más remedio que comer gatos.

My translation: While on large ranches cattle are grazing, some farmers have no other choice than to eat cats.

This has nothing to do with your question, but everytime I hear the English idiom "there is more than one way to skin a cat", I wonder why they wanted to skin the poor cats in the first place. - Stadt, Nov 1, 2011

algunos campesinos no tieneN?? - macapi, Nov 1, 2011

Gracias macapi, a typo error. - foxluv, Nov 1, 2011

Stadt, cats have lovely sking, makes soft , warm clothing. First catch the cat! - annierats, Nov 4, 2011

Answer 1

They were eaten during world war two in Europe too. Apparently they are tasty, if you're hungry enough.

Well, dogs are pretty much tastier! - LuisCache, Nov 3, 2011

Answer 2

Mientras en los grandes ranchos el ganado está pastando, algunos campesinos no tienen más remedio que comer gatos.

Si el ganado está pastando en los grandes ranchos, ¿por qué habrían de comer gatos?

They were eaten during world war two in Europe too. Apparently they are tasty, if you're hungry enough.

In fact, dogs are much more tastier.

link text

The ganado were owned by the rich while the campesinos were poor. It's a comment not only on hard times but also on social disparities. - samdie, Nov 3, 2011

Dogs are very popular in the Far East and also on Polar Expeditions. Perhaps the campesinos were out of dogs already? - annierats, Nov 4, 2011

Maybe, why would you eat cats when you have dogs? - LuisCache, Nov 4, 2011

Answer 3

As 50% of the population know, women tend to carry more fat than men. This is because during famines it's in the interest of the human species that women ( especially fit and pregnant ones), survive.

This also makes a nice , slightly fatty wife a very valuable property in poor countries. Not only is she a good doer, but a walking larder.

However, womenn are quite good at making the spare ribs of men do, if the worst comes to the worst.

Uh, ick! - Leatha, Nov 1, 2011

Maybe tastier than cat? - annierats, Nov 2, 2011

jajajaja. - LuisCache, Nov 3, 2011

Answer 4

You are correct! It is just an expression, an idiom. It is similar like "Eat my dust!"

If you are correct, then how does it work into the sentence? - foxluv, Nov 1, 2011

I don't think it's an expression at all. Given the context, it is not at all unheard of that people eat animals otherwise considered as pets during times of great duress. - Gekkosan, Nov 1, 2011

Sadly true#, Gekkosan. I love my dog, but if he was the last morsel on earth? - annierats, Nov 1, 2011

It is still not unusual to eat horses is some countries in the world, and just a few weeks ago there was a big controversy in China because of a traditional dog-eating festival which some pople still wish to carry on, even though it is now frowned upon. - Gekkosan, Nov 1, 2011

Gracias Gekkosan...the thirties were during the depression so you are probably correct. The book I am reading has usually been so light hearted it just seemed a little strange to get off the beated path. - foxluv, Nov 1, 2011

Answer 5

I have never heard this as an idiom in Mexico; from the context it sounds verbatim.

Also,

algunos campesinos no tiene

should be ...... tienen