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Saltillo Tile with Paw Prints

Are the paw prints on Saltillo tile real or fake?

How can you find more Saltillo tiles with paw prints?

What do they mean?

paw print saltillo tile

These are all common questions we hear at Rustico Tile & Stone.  First, I must clarify one very important thing:  The paw prints are only natural IF your Saltillo tile is authentic and handmade from the clay found in riverbeds in Coahuila, Mexico.  If your Mexican tile is, in fact, “real,”… then your paw prints are most likely real.

⇒ Learn more about the authenticity of this Mexican tile by reading our Ultimate Guide to Saltillo Tile.

saltillo tile with paw print
Time for a Siesta

By real, we mean that the paw prints come from live animals.  Any producer who just stamps the clay with fabricated paw prints is taking away the good fortune of authentic rustic charm. Superstitious people consider the presence of these trademarks to be good luck.  Consider placing your tiles with paw prints in entryways or kitchens to spark a fun conversation! Plus, terracotta Saltillo tiles are a durable and stylish flooring option for your home.

So, what creatures do these prints belong to?  The most common animals roaming the grounds where Saltillo tiles are made are (but are not limited to): coyotes, dogs, cats, pigs, chickens, birds, and even wolves in rare circumstances.  Dog and coyote paw prints are the most common.  One of our customers found a single Saltillo tile with a dog and a cat paw print.  What a treat!

Want to know more paw-tastic facts?  Check out our Saltillo Tile FAQs!

This phenomenon occurs during the manufacturing process. When the wet clay tiles are laid in wide-open spaces where they semi-dry in the sun, critters roam around at night and leave their marks.  Once the tiles are dry enough to move to a kiln, they are removed from the ground and kiln-fired to harden fully. Learn more about the art behind the architecture of terracotta flooring.

We at Rustico Tile & Stone believe these paw prints are an added blessing to any home or business. If you’re superstitious, it’s rumored that Saltillo tile paw prints are the “protectors” of the home or business where they’re laid.

Not only do the paw prints show up in Mexican Saltillo tile, but check out the hundreds of year-old terracotta tile paw prints found on Florence’s medieval cathedral roof.

Learn why we love Mexican tiles!

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