An idiom meaning 'extremely busy' or 'desperately short-handed' (literally, 'would even borrow a cat's paw').
期末で仕事が山積みだから、今日は猫の手も借りたいくらいだ。
With the end of term and a mountain of work, I'm so busy I'd even welcome a cat's help today.
店がオープンしてからずっと予定外の来客で猫の手も借りたい状況だ。
Since opening the store we've had unexpected customers non-stop — we're desperate for help.
引っ越しの手伝いが足りず、猫の手も借りたい気分だった。
We didn't have enough people to help with the move — we felt like we'd take help from anyone, even a cat.