By Angeline Simmons, December 23, 2024

The ways you can memorialize your pet are endless, from pet memorial stones and jewelry to framed art and decorative urns for pet ashes. One way some people manage the grief of losing a pet is by getting a memorial tattoo.

“I’ve done tattoos of dogs, cats, horses, fish, snakes and rabbits,” says mobile tattoo artist Molly Ekland. “People are passionate about their animals, and I get it because I love my pets too.”

Deciding whether to get a tattoo of any sort is a very permanent decision, particularly since removing it would be complicated, time-consuming and expensive. This is even more true when you’re thinking of getting a pet memorial tattoo, since so many emotions are tied to the loss of your loved one.

One study found that people get tattoos to memorialize their departed loved ones — including pets — as a “more secure material canvas for remembering the dead.” And while a recent survey revealed that one-quarter of people regretted their tattoos, only 10% regretted tattoos of animals.

“I would never regret my tattoo of Cleo,” said Caroline Watkins, who got a tattoo of her cat’s name accompanied by a heart. “When I’m feeling stressed, I look at it and I relax a little bit, thinking of how she’d be comforting me if she was still with me.”

Whether or not you should get a tattoo to remember your pet is completely up to you. If you do decide to memorialize your pet this way, it’s a good idea to take some time and consider a few important factors first.

Dog Memorial Tattoo

“Dog memorial tattoos are the most common pet tattoos people request from me,” says Ekland. “I think it’s a huge comfort for people to know that their dog is always with them. A tattoo is a great way to do that.”

She says that the majority of dog tattoos are requested on people’s arms, hands and shoulders. “But I’ve also done dog tattoos on the neck, legs, back, stomach, and even one on the face.”

Dog Memorial Tattoo Ideas

If you’re thinking of getting a memorial tattoo of your dog, following are some potential ideas:

Your dog’s face, based off of a favorite picture
Your dog’s profile, either just their face or their whole body
The dog’s collar tag with their name on it
A pawprint the size of your dog’s
A nose print of your dog
Your dog’s name in your favorite font
A quote about the meaning of your dog to you

You can also combine these ideas to do a combination tattoo, such as your dog’s name above a paw print.

Cat Memorial Tattoo

“I get a lot of requests for cat tattoos on people’s backs,” Ekland says. “I’ve noticed that sometimes people want a bigger cat tattoo than they’d want for their dog.”

Even celebrities who lose pets may choose to get tattoos to memorialize them. But not everyone goes for a life-sized tattoo, of course. For example, actress Kate Beckinsale memorialized her cat, Clive, with a tattoo on her shoulder, she chose to get her cat’s eyes inked on her back, while other people may get a more robust portrait of their cat inked, like the one Ekland created for a client (shown below).

Cat Memorial Tattoo Ideas

Memorializing your cat in ink can take many forms. Below are some possible ideas for cat tattoos:

Whiskers somewhere on your body, such as your fingers or wrist
Your cat’s image or profile, either detailed or in a simple line style
Your cat’s collar or nametag
Cat ears
A cat paw print
The name of your cat in your preferred font and size
A quote about your cat’s importance to you
Cat scratches in the area of your skin where your cat liked to reach out to you

“The most common cat tattoo request I get involves pawprints up the person’s back,” Ekland says. “That may just be because I’ve done quite a few and they’ve shown up on social media that way, so people request them from me a lot. I also get quite a few requests for simple line drawings of a cat’s profile.”

5 Things to Consider When Planning Pet Tattoos

One of the most important considerations before getting a tattoo of your late pet is whether you’re ready to be reminded of them every day. Some people avoid hanging pictures of their pet around the house after the pet crosses the Rainbow Bridge because it’s too hard to see their face. This may go away with time, so be sure you’re ready to have a pet reminder on your skin permanently.

Once you’re confident that the time is right to memorialize your best friend with a tattoo, take the following considerations into account as you plan yours.

1. Pet Portrait Tattoo vs. Another Memory

It may be hard to choose between getting a tattoo of your pet’s image or one that’s more abstract, such as a paw print or nose print. Think about whether you want to see your pet’s face every day or if you prefer a reminder that’s more subtle.

2. Simple or Elaborate Design?

Some people choose to get tattoos that almost look like photographs of their pets, while others enjoy simple line drawings that represent their pet’s memory. How detailed your drawing is will depend on your style preferences.

3. Black and White vs. Color

Color tattoos can make your pet’s image come alive, but they’re not for everyone. Some people want a simple black and white tattoo, while others choose middle ground and get a monochromatic tattoo with a pop of color, such as a black and white drawing of your cat’s face with a pink nose.

4. Location of the Pet Loss Tattoo

You’ll want to choose where to put the tattoo, and whether you’d like it to be visible or not. For example, if you get a tattoo on your neck, it’s likely that everyone will see it no matter what you wear. A tattoo on your back will be less obvious. If you want to see the reminder of your pet often, you might want to get it on your hand or arm.

5. What Size Should It Be?

Remember that the bigger and more elaborate your tattoo is, the longer it will take the artist to apply it to your skin. If you’re worried about the potential pain of the tattoo, consider going smaller in size.

What to Bring to the Tattoo Appointment

Once you’ve selected the type, size, location and color of your pet tattoo, you’ll want to find a few reference pictures to show your tattoo artist. Look online for similar tattoos that you like so you can show the tattoo artist that you’re interested in the same style.

You should also bring a picture of your pet if you’re asking for a tattoo of their face or profile. If you instead are requesting a paw print, nose print, collar tags or another option, bring those along to your appointment as well. The more images you can show the artist, the better the chances that your pet will be immortalized perfectly during the appointment. Also, be prepared to tell the artist about your pet.

“I like to know about the pet,” Ekland says. “If it was a dog who liked to cuddle mom versus one that loved to chase the ball, that helps me capture their spirit in the final artwork.”

Pet Memorial Tattoos: 5 Considerations Before Getting One