21 Mischievous Cats Caught Stealing Food In Historical Paintings

A tale as old as time.

If you’ve ever caught your cat red-pawed in the act of stealing a snack, you’re not alone. Apparently, this feline food thievery has been going on for centuries, and instead of snapping a quick photo like we do now, people used to paint these moments. Yes, someone actually spent hours—maybe even days—immortalizing their cat swiping a piece of fish or snagging a loaf of bread.

These paintings show that cats have always been, and will always be, the sneakiest little furballs in the room. While we might have a camera roll full of these antics, these folks had full-on masterpieces. It’s the same vibe, just with a lot more oil paint and patience. So check out these historical gems and see just how long cats have been perfecting the art of stealing food.

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Chris Wahl

Chris, co-owner of WorldWideInterweb, is a true aficionado of all things internet and meme-y. When he’s not curating the best of the web, you’ll likely find him on the golf courses of Florida.