The nickname comes from a feat of a brave soldier of the troops of Alfonso VI. After several unsuccessful attempts by previous Spanish kings to conquer Mayrit (present-day Madrid), in 1085 luck changed.
Christian troops stood in front of the walled Muslim city, quietly so as not to attract attention.
A soldier, using only a dagger, began to scale the wall with surprising agility.
Once upstairs he removed the Arab flag and put the Christian one. Thanks to him the Spanish troops were able to reconquer the city. They began to nickname the soldier who climbed the wall “Gato”, and later his family as well.
Over the years, it became one of the most illustrious surnames in the city, and later it was used to refer to anyone who had been born in Madrid.
