Paw Prints Through the Ages: Cats Still Walk Wherever and Whenever They Want

January 9, 2017

By Adrea

roman cat prints lanarkshire — Prints left by cats on Roman Fort showing that, even way back when, cats were leaving their mark in history. Literally. (Photo: G.S. Maxwell)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

There are those folks who get a kick out of those paw prints that appear on the front windshield of the car first thing in the morning. Others, not so much, but perhaps it is a bit of solace for both those who appreciate and aggravate that this is not something unique to the modern day domestic cat. In fact, seems that kitties have been leaving behind their paw prints all over the ages. Although motorized conveyances are fairly new in the realm of history, no doubt that somewhere, there is a chariot or two that probably bore the muddy markings of a cat claiming it as his own.

Take for example ancient tiles that when recovered revealed a series of paw prints indicating that during the drying process no on was probably watching the cat. As it didn’t do anything to it, outside of the aesthetic and certainly there are those who would argue it adds much character and distinguishes these tiles among other artifacts, they were still used and, having survived the centuries, it seems they were none the worse for wear given the imprints.

cat print — This tile is displayed at the Gloucester City Museum and Art Gallery. (Photo: David Rice)

Then there is the fifteenth-century Balkan manuscript that includes a kitty’s inky prints. Though no one can say whether it is or isn’t a commentary on the material, it does indicate that cats most likely had fairly free roam…or at least thought they did.

inky cat on manuscript — 15th century manuscript from Dubrovnik, Croatia. (Both photos: Emir O. Filipovic)

Meagan Huff, museum technician at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, shows a brick made during the Roman Empire — with “Celtic kitty” paw prints visible on its upper corner. (Photo: The Columbian)

Prints were also left behind on villa in Germany, purportedly because the ancient Romans used a system of forced hot air to provide underfloor heating to heat houses. Now what cat would let that opportunity get away?

cat-print-germany — Artifacts from Rhineland Villa as shared and described in Feline Paws Through History article. (Photo: Strange History)

harrapan period cat — Ravilochanan Iyengar mentions cat remains as evidence of the animals existence during the Harappan period. (Photo: Indian Archaeology)

It seems cats attraction to mud, concrete, and anything that will leave a remnant behind has been fair game for centuries, from India to New York.

foundry — From the West Point Foundry Archaeology Project at Cold Spring, NY. (MichiganTech)

To further support the preponderance of evidence that cats have always liked to walk on things no matter how awkward, wet, dirty, or off-limits, here is some modern documentation.

On Aoshima (Cat Island). (Photo: Mark Liddell)

If you want to preserve your own cat’s paw prints, perhaps an ornament may be the perfect way to immortalize them. Or just put in a pool or new driveway. That will work, too.