Black Cat Appreciation Day Cat Tattoos
Black Cat Appreciation Day Cat Tattoos by Layla Morgan Wilde
Every August we celebrate house panthers far and wide. The Black Cat Appreciation Day holiday originated in the U.S. but after blogging about it for ten years, it’s reach is global. I no longer have a black cat since my beloved Clyde died on his 20th birthday but I’ll make any excuse to promote and celebrate every black cat.
You’re Invited!
While I’m not blogging as much, I am very active at my Cat Wisdom club and Intuition Collective club on Clubhouse, the audio app where I host several events weekly. It’s free to join and I’d love you to join my Black Cat party today! Just a chill lounge to talk about our cats.
Click to join at 5:30 pm ET.
BLACK CAT APPRECIATION DAY EVENT
and ya know I have to plug my book…it’s on sale at 40% off if you’re viewing this in August, 2021. Update 2024: still a great deal!
This year I’m sharing the art of black cat tattoos. They are often portraits of the owners’ cat either in realistic detail or more illustrated. In the past few years I’ve seen an uptick in memorial cat tattoos as the ultimate in kitty devotion.
After Clyde died I toyed with the idea of a tat but it never felt right. As tattoos became mainstream, I remained uninked. Never say never but I haven’t found a design that spoke to me, let alone inking entire sleeves or torsos. The closest I came was going to a tattoo studio with a friend and while she got inked, I couldn’t decide on the art or the location.
There was a time not too long ago when tattoos were more discrete or hidden but now anything goes anywhere. No one has just one. They sprout up like vines wrapping wide swathes of skin. This is a cool design but what happens when you want to unbutton a button on a formal occasion? I guess it’s a calling card for the tattooist.
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At a Cat Writers’ conference in 2011, I wore a temporary tattoo. It was cute and a good idea to test the inky waters before committing. I admired cat lovers who wanted to wear permanent reminders of love on their arm or leg or goodness knows where. After my beloved cat Merlin died, I envisioned his sweet face on my arm but I remain a tattoo virgin.
I guess my style was more in keeping with this vintage cat lady. Temporary but no less of a cat lover.
Instagram beckoned with the 30,000 #blackcattattoo hashtag, a huge jump in a couple years. I searched way back for the most unusual, pretty or interesting examples. Every possible style is represented today. If you wear jewelry to match, putting on black cat clickers is not a wrong answer. We also have below the navel cat goddess Bastet. Actually, I wouldn’t mind a miniature version of this.
Scale can range from tiny to life size or over-sized. I think this pretty silhouette would work better smaller.
Ditto this sweet “love you to the moon and back” sentiment.
Black cats with a pop of color from flowers is a nice touch.
Check out this reel from Instagram. Lovely work.
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This one will always be ready for Friday Night Box Pawty!
The creative process with a similar kitty face as above in a Japanese style.
More flowers in a large scale tattoo. Colored ink does fade more quickly and requires touch ups.
Pretty as a pumpkin. Halloween themed tats are popular. They can be sweet as this one or scary. I’m not showing those. Black cats don’t need more examples of misguided superstitions.
What’s better than a cute Halloween cat? Two! Imagine this pair on the back of the legs as the person is walking.
This is perfect example of a beautifully executed realistic portrait. Is there a cat you’d want tattooed on you? If so, who and what kind?
Do you already have a cat tattoo? Do tell, in the comments. Or tell me how you are celebrating Black Cat Awareness Day.
34 Comments
Skeeter and Izzy
I am late posting as usual .
Layla,
I am blessed with 4 beautiful Black Cats, Izzy, Boo, Ziggy and Crow (long hair with huge canines). I had a beautiful baby brought to me yesterday, a tiny innocent little life that was lost. He was black and precious beyond words but injured beyond hope. I rushed him to the vet but it was not meant for him to stay in this world but he is still part of my family and will rest in his home with the others that I have been blessed to know and love. I loved him even if no other human did and he had that if only for a moment in time.
One day I will have another tattoo to honor all of the beautiful souls that have been in my life and left, those that are here now and those that are yet to come.
The tats that you have in the post are absolutely beautiful. There is a lot of talent out there.
Luvs and Kisses
Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang & the Angels >^..^^..<~
Layla Morgan Wilde
Oh, I didn’t know you had four black cats but now sadly a 5th in spirit. Much love and gratitude for sharing, caring and being you xoxo
Memories of Eric and Flynn
Tattoos are not for me, but those are very artistic. I once had a temporary henna tattoo while we were on holiday in Spain, and came up in the most awful rash and swollen arm and ended up on antibiotics. I have never been tempted to try again!
My favourite is the black cat with the yellow flowers.
Layla Morgan Wilde
An allergy to henna? How awful. Since this post came out a friend send links to new temporary tattoos. They are safe and so pretty I might try one 🙂
meowmeowmans
Wow, those tattoos are seriously artistic! We don’t have any, but as you know, we adore black cats here, each and every day. 🙂
Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day, dear friend! XO
Layla Morgan Wilde
Thanks for loving black cats every day xoxo
Jean Jones
Wish I could post a pic of my beautiful Panther (aka Trouble) in comments here!! I’ve been celebrating Black Cat Appreciation Day by cuddling up with my Panther!!
Well, I’m cuddling whilst he stretches from one side arm of my recliner to the other🤣🤣..
No cat tat yet, but I do have a Fairy on my right calf and unicorns on my lower back, lol.
Next tat I’m getting is a Phoenix rising from it’s ashes — a symbol of my own rebirth from the ashes of my old life and all I’ve struggled through to get here. 😎😇
Jean
Layla Morgan Wilde
Jean, that’s the best way to celebrate!
klara
what a selection! awesome.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Thanks, so many to choose from!
d
very talented artists displayed here !! black catz rock 🙂 we send high paws to SAM, the house panther from trout towne, many years ago ♥♥♥
Layla Morgan Wilde
Always and SAM will rock forever in your heart xox
ellen beck
No tattoos , no idea why, just wasn’t in my life path. I admire many as art, and lots are done very well.
We have another black cat outside…. a cat from a neighbors house prefers the feral colony to his home. I am thinking the owner is a jerk because he really is quite sweet and from what I can tell has no bad behavior unless it is inside related. He has about another month before I get him neutered owner or not as he is roaming and not being a housecat. He is a young male, so no girl chasing yet, but, it is on his horizon.
We are celebrating black cat day by sharing posts!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Oh Ellen, you are a black cat magnet and angel! Maybe the reincarnation of Punchy?
Leah
Very nice art! For medical reasons I wouldn’t be able to get a tattoo, but I love the art that is inspired by black cats!
We are celebrating with a post and all the usual daily gestures of Black Cat and All-Cat Appreciation!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Leah, I loved your post!
Sandee
Love them all and I love black cats. I find them most lucky.
Have a fabulous Black Cat Appreciation Day. ♥
Layla Morgan Wilde
I totally agree about them being lucky!
VickyC & Inky
I would love a tattoo of my Inky. I already have one so another may be in the works.
Layla Morgan Wilde
That sounds like an excellent plan!
easyweimaraner
love it… but I’m a coward ;O)
Layla Morgan Wilde
Maybe I am too 😉
Meezer'sMews&TerrieristicalWoofs
I have always admired black cats, and there have been a few in my life, though not in my family as the only kitties I am not allergic to are meezers. Maybe someday I might foster a black kitty…orientals maybe, they are close relatives of meezers so likely would not be a problem.
No tattoos for me, maybe temp ones would be fun sometimes:)
Layla Morgan Wilde
Lots of black cats have meezer genes.
Ellen J Pilch
These are all beautiful, but none for me. Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day! XO
Layla Morgan Wilde
I hear ya. You’ll appreciate them in person xox
Summer
These are awesome tattoos! My human loves tats, but only has one. She loves it and plans to freshen it sometime, but she’s not planning on more.
Layla Morgan Wilde
I thought you had one!
Edith Chase
I have a black cat named Jake. A tattoo of him would be cool.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Jake is a nice name for a handsome house panther and there are so many options these days for designs.
Emilia
I can’t get a tattoo for health reasons. But I share life with a beautiful black Persian, if I could get a tattoo I would have the artist draw his face.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Lucky you. Black Persians are so stunning!
Brian Frum
Those really are super cool tatoos! We love black kitties every single day!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Yes, to every single day! xoxox