Python Scatter Plot with Multiple Y values for each X

I am trying to use Python to create a scatter plot that contains two X categories “cat1” “cat2” and each category has multiple Y values. I can get this to work if the number of Y values for each X value is the same by using this following code:

    import numpy as np
    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

    y = [(1,1,2,3),(1,1,2,4)]
    x = [1,2]
    py.plot(x,y)
    plot.show()

but as soon as the number of Y values for each X value is not the same, I get an error. For example this does not work:

    import numpy as np
    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

    y = [(1,1,2,3,9),(1,1,2,4)] 
    x = [1,2]
    plt.plot(x,y)
    plot.show()
    #note now there are five values for x=1 and only four for x=2. error

How can I plot different numbers of Y values for each X value and how can I change the X axis from being the numbers 1 and 2 to text categories “cat1” and “cat2”. I would greatly appreciate any help on this!

Here is a sample image of the type of plot I am trying to make:

http://s12.postimg.org/fa417oqt9/pic.png

Answer

How can I plot different numbers of Y values for each X value

Just plot each group separately:

for xe, ye in zip(x, y):
    plt.scatter([xe] * len(ye), ye)

and how can I change the X axis from being the numbers 1 and 2 to text categories “cat1” and “cat2”.

Set ticks and tick labels manually:

plt.xticks([1, 2])
plt.axes().set_xticklabels(['cat1', 'cat2'])

Full code:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

y = [(1,1,2,3,9),(1,1,2,4)]
x = [1,2]

for xe, ye in zip(x, y):
    plt.scatter([xe] * len(ye), ye)

plt.xticks([1, 2])
plt.axes().set_xticklabels(['cat1', 'cat2'])

plt.savefig('t.png')