Couple discovers tiny kitten paw prints in their home’s stonework —uncovering a 19th-century mystery

What’s the oldest cat print you’ve ever seen? One Montreal brick holds paw marks from the 1860s.

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(L) Couple in their new apartment; (R) A Pawprints in the brick. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Fancy/Veer/Corbis; (R) Pollyana Ventura)

Homes often hold hidden stories woven into their walls and foundations, telling tales of the past that go unseen by most. From faded photographs to architectural quirks, these subtle details connect us to previous generations. In a recent discovery, a Montreal homeowner found tiny cat paw prints preserved in a 160-year-old brick, offering a surprising glimpse into history.

Pawprint on the brick floor. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Wirestock)

When Reddit user u/SmashAngle and his wife moved into their 160-year-old loft in Old Montreal, they were greeted by more than just historic architecture. Embedded in one of the red bricks of their new home, they found a set of small, distinct cat paw prints impressed into the clay, likely dating back to the 1860s. Sharing their discovery on Reddit with the caption, “moved into a 160-year-old loft and found kitty paw prints in the masonry,” they never expected the image to go viral. The post drew over 107,000 upvotes and sparked widespread surprise, nostalgia, and delight from viewers who admired this touching link to the past.

Cat walking along a wall. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Richard Newstead)

Reflecting on the experience, the 48-year-old told Newsweek, "I love that this anonymous kitty from the 1860s is being rediscovered and touching so many people." Their story attracted interest from fellow Montrealers, with the homeowner speculating that other historic buildings may also hide similar prints from cats roaming old brickyards. “We've found a few more prints since, and I've received comments from a few Reddit users who have asked if I'm in Montreal, so I suspect a few buildings from that era had cats visiting their brickwork yards,” the occupant said. Their charming find might not be unique, opening up a conversation about how architecture can quietly preserve moments of everyday life.

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The paw prints were most likely made when the clay was still soft, capturing an ordinary walk by a city cat and turning it into a permanent mark. For the loft’s residents, these prints add a personal and historical dimension to their home. "It's really something to think a small animal from that long ago left a mark that's now part of our home," the man reflected. Details like these prompt us to imagine daily city life in the 19th century, with cats roaming freely and leaving traces that, by chance, became part of the local landscape.

The viral post has stirred a swirl of reactions from the Reddit users. u/WorldofJedi727 commented, “That kitty just made history with those two 160-year-old paw prints.” “Cat paw prints on bricks and tiles are considered a sign of good fortune in many cultures, going as far back as Mesopotamia," added u/DroidLord. Meanwhile, u/tchea wrote, “This is so sweet, it makes me want to cry. I would love for my kitties to be saved for decades like this. How lovely.”

Cat relaxing, stretching its paw. (Representative Image Source: Fracesca25) — Cat relaxing, stretching its paw. (Representative Image Source: Francesca25)

What began as a small surprise in a brick wall has now become a celebrated symbol of the enduring connection between people, animals, and their homes. The story has inspired others to search for hidden details in their own houses, proving that old buildings hold not only architectural history but also small echoes of everyday life waiting to be discovered.