# Cats have been walking on your paper since at least the 15th century **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 19, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842 "2013-02-19T23:32:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/1 "2013-02-19T23:32:46Z")
[![](https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/7077063168/h8B7B5CBE/) ](https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/7077063168/h8B7B5CBE/) I feel certain that there must be a papyrus somewher with catprints on it. Or a Babylonian tablet. Or something. > [@](#): > > Turns Out Cats Have Been Walking on Important Stuff for Basically Forever > Check out this 15th Century manuscript. Notice anything familiar? In totally-non-shocking-news-of-the-day, it turns out cats have been walking on whatever you’re writing since the dawn of time. Emir O. Filipovic of the University of Sarajevo’s History Department discovered the medieval kitty prints. > > We can only assume that, somewhere beyond the reach of time, in a small ancient monastery in the mountains, the muffled sounds of "SNOWBALL, OFF. OFF. DOWN. GET DOWN, SNOWBALL. BAD KITTY. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/2 "2013-02-19T23:37:12Z")
I love this. Thank you for posting it. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/3 "2013-02-20T01:59:33Z")
How do we know that he didn’t force poor Mittens to step in ink and walk on his book, just to fool us all 500-600 years later??? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/4 "2013-02-20T04:20:10Z")
So…just how do you make a cat do pennance for sin? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/5 "2013-02-20T04:33:01Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > So…just how do you make a cat do pennance for sin? By definition, gods cannot do penance. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/6 "2013-02-20T04:51:12Z")
Right answer! To the OP, thank you for sharing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/7 "2013-02-20T05:44:40Z")
I am dubious. If that was a “Real” cat then why isn’t there a kitty butt print and self-satisfied tail sweep smear in the ink? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/8 "2013-02-20T06:08:04Z")
Because there was a more-interesting writing beyond the book. That one is the one which got the buttprint. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/9 "2013-02-20T09:43:06Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > So…just how do you make a cat do pennance for sin? It isn’t just about the kitty - monks take vows of poverty, obedience and **chastity**. So there shouldn’t be any pussy at all in that monastery. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/10 "2013-02-20T13:30:34Z")
When I was a kid I left a not-yet-dry oil painting sitting on my desk. I came back to find cat prints on the paintingh, and multi-colored oil psaint prints on my desk blotter and the hood of my jacket that was thrown over the nearby chair. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/11 "2013-02-20T13:58:10Z")
Great timing! The night you posted this, I was alerted by a yell from my wife. Responding, I discovered her firmly carrying a paint-footed kitty toward the bathroom. She’d been painting a wall, and the cat had strolled through the paint tray and proceeded to _saunter across the new piece of IKEA furniture_ we were still putting together. Kitty spent the rest of the evening closed in a bedroom. 😛 But he was only carrying on a centuries-old tradition! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/12 "2013-02-20T14:05:27Z")
They’re just trying to help - I know my cat “helps” me with pretty much everything I do. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/13 "2013-02-20T14:53:17Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > How do we know that he didn’t force poor Mittens to step in ink and walk on his book, just to fool us all 500-600 years later??? This was my very first thought as well. Though when we were painting kitchen cabinets, we laid them down to dry, and one of the cats walked through, leaving prints. We left 'em, as they were very aesthetically pleasing. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/14 "2013-02-20T16:00:15Z")
[Pangur Ban](http://www.fisheaters.com/pangurban.html) - a 5th century Irish monk’s cat. I’m hoping it’s okay to post in its entirety since it’s 1200 years old. > [@](#): > > Pangur Ban > > I and Pangur Ban my cat, > Tis a like task we are at: > Hunting mice is his delight, > Hunting words I sit all night. > > Better far than praise of men > Tis to sit with book and pen; > Pangur bears me no ill will, > He too plies his simple skill. > > Tis a merry thing to see > At our tasks how glad are we, > When at home we sit and find > Entertainment to our mind. > > Oftentimes a mouse will stray > In the hero Pangur’s way; > Oftentimes my keen thought set > Takes a meaning in its net. > > 'Gainst the wall he sets his eye > Full and fierce and sharp and sly; > 'Gainst the wall of knowledge I > All my little wisdom try. > > When a mouse darts from its den > O how glad is Pangur then! > O what gladness do I prove > When I solve the doubts I love! > > So in peace our tasks we ply, > Pangur Ban, my cat, and I; > In our arts we find our bliss, > I have mine and he has his. > > Practice every day has made > Pangur perfect in his trade; > I get wisdom day and night > Turning darkness into light. StG ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/15 "2013-02-20T16:25:18Z")
Im in Ur Skriptoryum, walkin on Ur Books ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/16 "2013-02-20T18:11:16Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > When I was a kid I left a not-yet-dry oil painting sitting on my desk. I came back to find cat prints on the paintingh, and multi-colored oil psaint prints on my desk blotter and the hood of my jacket that was thrown over the nearby chair. Same for me, except it was an acrylic painting on the kitchen table. Since there were three possible culprits, it did not good to throw a temper tantrum. ---
**Author:** ![Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diver)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/17 "2013-02-21T20:38:42Z")
At one year old Katie has finally learned to not walk on my keyboard - most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/18 "2013-02-21T21:29:48Z")
> [@Diver](#): > > At one year old Katie has finally learned to not walk on my keyboard - most of the time. I’ve finally trained my cat to not walk on pkokasefp[ovpjcwm [ej f ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/19 "2013-02-22T00:57:03Z")
When I was a kid my parents built a room addition onto our house. Mom wanted built in bookshelves in the new room. We painted the walls one color, and the shelves another. Mom made the mistake of leaving the paint tray unattended. Mitten the cat walked through the off-white paint in the tray and jumped up on the dark brown bookshelf. She left perfect little footprints before Mom grabbed her. We decided to leave the prints. Mitten was a polydactyl, and you could clearly see the extra toes on each foot. The prints were still there when we sold that house, I wonder what the new owners thought? ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842/20 "2013-02-22T02:18:47Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’ve finally trained my cat to not walk on pkokasefp[ovpjcwm [ej f ha, I see what you did there! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-have-been-walking-on-your-paper-since-at-least-the-15th-century/650842.md?page=2)