Momento: Here's Exactly How to Pet Basil the Cat

To pet Basil the cat in Momento, you must first acquire the 'Faded Collar' and 'Clockwork Mouse' items, then wait for the 'Crimson Rain' weather event and find him in the Alabaster Athenaeum's main reading room before initiating the final interaction. This guide provides a complete, step-by-step walkthrough for what is arguably the game's most elusive and meaningful secret.

This isn't just about a cute animation or a simple achievement. Successfully petting Basil is a critical flag for unlocking the game's True Ending, revealing a vital piece of lore that re-contextualizes the entire narrative. For completionists and lore hunters, this is a mandatory task.

01

Why This Interaction is So Well Hiddentag

Unlike most collectibles or side-quests in Momento, petting Basil is an emergent task with no formal quest log entry. The game never tells you it's possible. Players are expected to piece together disparate clues: the description of the Faded Collar Memento, the existence of a seemingly useless Clockwork Mouse toy, and Basil's recurring, silent appearances. The entire sequence is a test of observation and empathy, themes central to the game's psychological narrative.

Petting the cat isn't a mechanical challenge but a narrative one. It requires you to understand a fragment of a story—the bond between Basil and his long-lost owner, Lily—and then act on it. Completing this interaction proves you're not just clearing objectives; you're paying attention to the soul of the rain-slicked city of Nocturne. It's a quiet, poignant moment that stands in stark contrast to the game's oppressive horror.

02

The Prerequisite Checklist: Four Steps to Successtag

Before you can even attempt the interaction, you need to gather two key items and wait for a specific world state. Rushing to the location will do nothing; Basil will either not be there or will vanish if you approach. Follow these steps precisely.

Step 1: Find the "Faded Collar" Mementotag

The first piece of the puzzle is the Faded Collar. This Memento is located deep within the Veridian Clock Tower in the city's old district, an area that becomes accessible in Chapter 3.

• Location: In the belfry, at the very top of the Clock Tower. You'll need to solve the temporal gear puzzle to reactivate the clock's lift.
• The Puzzle: The gears must be arranged to reflect the time 3:42, a number seen on a faded photograph earlier in the level. Once the lift is active, ride it to the top.
• Acquisition: The collar is not in a chest. It's resting on the edge of the bell's housing, easily missed. You'll see a faint shimmer indicating a Memento.

Once you collect the collar, you must attune to its memory. This is crucial. Doing so reveals a short, hazy vision of a young girl, Lily, fastening the collar around a small black cat's neck. This memory is the narrative trigger for the rest of the sequence.

Step 2: Secure the "Clockwork Mouse" Toytag

Next, you need a specific item to earn Basil's trust. This is the Clockwork Mouse, a unique gadget found in the dreaded Sunken Orphanage in Chapter 4.

• Location: The orphanage's infirmary, on the third floor. This area is patrolled by "The Matron," a dangerous enemy that requires a stealthy approach.
• The Challenge: You cannot fight The Matron directly. You must use sound-based distractions (throwing bottles, activating old radios) to lure her away from the infirmary door.
• Acquisition: The Clockwork Mouse is locked inside a medicine cabinet. The key is on a hook in the adjacent records room, hidden behind a child's drawing of a mouse.

Unlike Mementos, the mouse has no memory to attune to. Its item description simply reads, "A simple toy. Its winding key is worn smooth." This is your only clue to its purpose.

Step 3: Wait for the "Crimson Rain"tag

This is the most unpredictable step. The interaction with Basil can only occur during a specific, rare weather event known as the Crimson Rain. This is when the perpetual downpour in Nocturne takes on a deep red hue.

• Trigger Condition: The Crimson Rain will not happen until you have defeated the main story boss of Chapter 4, "The Archivist," who resides in the Alabaster Athenaeum.
• Occurrence: After this point, the Crimson Rain has a roughly 10% chance of replacing the standard rain each time you transition between major city districts. There is no way to force it. You simply have to play, traveling between areas like the Clock Tower district and the industrial zone, until the skies turn red.
• Duration: A Crimson Rain event typically lasts for about 15-20 minutes of real-world playtime. You have a limited window.

Step 4: Locate Basil in the Alabaster Athenaeumtag

Once the Crimson Rain begins, you must immediately head to the Alabaster Athenaeum. Basil will appear in a single, specific spot.

• Location: The main reading room on the ground floor—the large, circular chamber where you previously fought The Archivist.
• Exact Spot: He will be sitting perfectly still on the northernmost windowsill, the one overlooking the half-flooded courtyard. If you have the prerequisites met and the Crimson Rain is active, he will be there, waiting.

03

The Final Interaction: A Step-by-Step Guidetag

With all four prerequisites met, you have one chance per Crimson Rain to perform the interaction correctly. Approaching him the wrong way will cause him to disappear, and you'll have to wait for the next weather cycle.

1. Stop and Prepare: As soon as you enter the main reading room and spot Basil on the windowsill, do not approach him directly. Stay near the entrance.
2. Equip the Toy: Open your inventory and equip the Clockwork Mouse to your gadget slot.
3. Approach Slowly: Walk, don't run, to about 15 feet from the window. Any closer and you risk scaring him off.
4. Place the Mouse: Use the interact button (E on PC, X/Square on console) to place the Clockwork Mouse on the floor. Your character will wind it up and set it down, where it will begin to skitter in a small circle.
5. Wait for Basil: Do not move. After a few moments, Basil will hop down from the windowsill and cautiously approach the toy, batting at it playfully.
6. The Prompt Appears: Once Basil is engaged with the mouse, a unique interaction prompt will appear over him: "Soothe" (Right-Click on PC, R3 on PlayStation/Xbox).
7. Pet the Cat: Press the button. A short, unique animation will play where the protagonist, Elias, kneels down and gently strokes Basil's back. The cat will purr audibly and briefly lean into the touch before vanishing in a wisp of shadow.

04

What Happens After You Pet Basil?tag

Successfully petting Basil yields immediate and long-term rewards that are essential for 100% completion.

First, you will instantly unlock the "Kindred Spirit" achievement/trophy. More importantly, a final, crystal-clear Memento vision is triggered. You'll see the full memory of Lily giving Basil the collar, hearing her whisper, "I'll always find you, Basil."

This memory fragment is a hidden collectible. It counts towards a secret "Empathy" stat that the game tracks in the background. Having a high Empathy stat is the primary condition for achieving the game's True Ending. There are other acts of compassion in the game, but petting Basil provides the single largest boost to this hidden metric. Neglecting to do so makes the best ending significantly harder, if not impossible, to obtain.

05

FAQ: Your Basil Questions Answeredtag

• Can you pet Basil more than once? No. This is a one-time interaction. Once you've done it, Basil will still appear in his usual scripted spots throughout the game, but he will never return to the Athenaeum windowsill.

• Is petting Basil required to beat the game? No, you can complete the main story and get the standard or bad endings without ever interacting with him this way. However, it is considered mandatory for accessing the True Ending.

• What happens if I scare him away or the rain stops? You miss your chance for that cycle. You will have to leave the area and wait for another Crimson Rain event to occur naturally, at which point you can return to the Athenaeum and try again.

• Does the Clockwork Mouse have any other use? None whatsoever. It is a unique key item solely for this interaction. If you try to use it anywhere else, your character will simply look at it and put it away.

The Final Taketag

This hidden interaction is a perfect microcosm of Momento's design philosophy. It rewards players who engage with the world beyond combat and objectives, weaving narrative, exploration, and mechanics into a single, memorable secret. It's not about the XP or the loot; it's about a quiet moment of connection in a world drowning in despair, and that's a more valuable reward than any stat boost.