Pet Tattoos: Realistic vs Stylised - How to Choose What’s Right for You
- tiggytattoos
- Jan 19
- 3 min read
People get pet tattoos for so many reasons. Pets aren’t “just animals”, they’re family, comfort, routine, and a constant presence in our lives. They see us at our worst, celebrate us at our best, and ask for nothing but snacks and cuddles in return.
For some people, a pet tattoo is a way of carrying that bond with them forever. It might be to remember a pet they’ve lost, to celebrate one who’s still very much here, or to mark a chapter of life where that animal meant everything.
Pet tattoos are about love, loyalty, comfort, grief, joy, and all the quiet moments in between. That’s why they matter so much to the people who get them, and that's why it's so important to choose the right artist and tattoo style, to immortalise your friend forever.
'Realism' style pet tattoos
When you’re getting a realistic tattoo of your pet, the photos you provide matter more than anything else. Your artist hasn’t met your pet and they don’t know their little quirks, their exact colours, or the tiny details that make them the unique little fluff ball that they are. So if those things aren’t clear in your photos, your artist will really struggle to invent them and then keep the tattoo truly “realistic.”
Natural light makes a huge difference. Daylight photos are always best because they show your pet’s true colours without weird shadows or yellow fluorescent lighting. Try to send a few different angles too, one straight on, and a couple slightly turned. Faces nearly always look nicer in tattoos with a gentle angle rather than totally flat and straight-on (at least in my opinion).
The better your photos, the easier it is for your artist to create something that actually looks like your pet and not just a generic version of their breed, unless you want that!
Here's a few tattoos I've done in the past decade! Some date back to quite a while ago... I'd love to do more pet tattoos, especially with florals and foliage!
Stylised pet tattoos
A stylised pet portrait is such a fun way to immortalise your favourite floof while adding loads of personality. With this style, we don’t always need “perfect” photos, we just need the general vibe, colours, and a sense of who your pet is.
Because the style is more relaxed, you can get really playful with it. You might want to nod to a favourite film (like Dave the black cat living his best life as the “Cat King” from Studio Ghibli’s The Cat Returns), or turn your pet into something totally unexpected, an astronaut, a wizard, a little forest spirit… whatever fits their energy.
Stylised tattoos are all about feeling rather than the exact and purrfect likeness. You can even come to us with something simple like, “My rat loves dandelions,” and we can build a whole design around that. When the rules are looser, the possibilities are basically endless.
Don't want a tattoo? - Commission some art instead!
Not everyone wants their pet tattooed, and that’s okay. There are so many ways to celebrate your pet that don’t involve needles. One lovely option is commissioning an artist to create a piece of artwork you could hang in your home or office.
During the dreaded lockdown days, when I couldn’t tattoo, I spent a lot of time making pet portraits for clients. I honestly adored it. Creating those pieces brought me a lot of comfort and joy during a time that I personally found really hard.
I’ve been thinking about opening commission slots again in the future, so if that sounds like your thing, keep an eye on my Instagram for updates. It’s a really special way to keep your favourite floof close - whether it’s on your skin or on your wall.
