Tattoos on Pets: Fashionable or Freaky?

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| Print | By Jo Singer | January 21, 2010 12:40 PM

I could not believe my eyes when I ran across this rather perplexing news item the other day while I was on my daily rounds surfing the Internet looking for things of interest. And as I delved more deeply into the story, I sat in my chair shaking my head in bewilderment.

What in the world was this woman thinking when she decided to adorn her cat with a tattoo? How dare she? The hairs on the back of my neck actually stood up straight, in much the same way I imagine any cat's fur would when meeting up with Oksana Popova's beautiful Sphynx kitty, the hairless breed, named Mickey.

Now I don't want to start an international crisis here, but apparently in Russia, sadly it seems that cat tattooing is now all the rage. Some folks think it adds another aspect of beauty to their felines. Good grief, aren't cats just gorgeous just the way they are? Give me a break!

Popova made the decision to tattoo her cat in order to "celebrate the interesting times" which Russia now is undergoing. Feeling that the tattoo was both appropriate and befitting her cat, she said that she was quite delighted with the outcome. However I wonder how Mickey felt about this procedure which required him to be under anesthesia for three hours in order to acquire the tat of King Tut.

Of course animal rights activists are enraged with what they consider to be a brutal and senseless action. Outspoken in her dismay and disgust, Irina Novozhilova, an animal activist who lives in Moscow, stated that she thought the procedure was "barbaric and cruel". She added, "The ethical thinking about animals in Russia lacks behind that of the West. People in Russia mostly buy animals for selfish reasons and anything that happens to them afterwards is a consequence of that."

While identification tattoos, which are generally placed on the inner side of a cat's leg only requires shaving a small portion of fur and a very brief period of sedation, the more common practice today of embedding a small micro chip, a relatively painless procedure, is done by a veterinarian or a specially trained technician as these procedures are considered to be very useful in helping owners locate their lost pets.

The pro-tattoo folks in Russia claim that the "artful" tattoo is similar, and cannot understand why there is so much outrage about tattooing cats.

As far as I am concerned, Ms. Popova has gone beyond the poll in subjecting her lovely kitty to what I think borders on insanity and the height of egotistical behavior. But that is just my opinion, for what it is worth.

What do you think? Is all the upset over this tattooed kitty justified? Leave a comment and share your opinions.

Photo credit: Balkanpix.com; AP

RELATED TOPICS: Abuse (24) , Art (1) , Blgos (1) , Cats (116) , Cruelty (23) , Sphynx (1)

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Kristen January 21, 2010 10:27 AM

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Discusting! My kitties are absolutely gorgeous just the way they are and so is every other cat in this world...All I can think of is the soreness and scabbing itchy tattoos ( I know from experince) and making an animal have to go through that not know why it was done, or why their skin is feeling that way, all for an owners selfish reasons! Ugh...Makes my skin crawl!

Ruth January 21, 2010 10:43 AM

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Jo, I'm with you ! I was aghast when I heard about this happening and I could sit and cry for those poor cats being put through this dreadful fashion statement for the sake of their ignorant owners.
It could never happen in our country (UK) because of our Pet Welfare laws, but people in countries where the cruel mutilation called declawing is acceptable might think it's a wonderful idea to have their cats tortured this way too.
I HOPE NOT !

Sheila January 21, 2010 10:44 AM

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Disgusting, and more. I'm all for the live and let live policy when it comes to people tattooing their bodies all over, though for the life of me, I don't see "art" in it, but they choose to do that--the cat doesn't. Please God that it doesn't become a fad here.

Crys January 21, 2010 10:50 AM

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Horrible! Esp when you consider the risks of anesthesia...the poor kitties

Laura January 21, 2010 12:21 PM

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If someone wants to paint their cat, they should go buy a ceramic one.

Michelle January 21, 2010 3:27 PM

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Love your comment, Laura! :)

Vicki January 21, 2010 1:22 PM

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This is horrible. The only reasopn any animal should have a tattoo is for identification. disgusting!

jmuhj January 21, 2010 1:44 PM

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Personally, I find the idea of ANY "stuff on my cat" except a good safety collar with a comfortable ID tag, repugnant. No costumes, no claw-covers, no earrings -- and definitely no tats, thanks.

Judy January 21, 2010 1:56 PM

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OMG the human race is getting more and more BIZARRE. This is totally unacceptable in my opinion and there should be a law against it as in my opinion it is tantamount to abuse and these pet owners should be treated accordingly by the law!

Iniki January 21, 2010 2:05 PM

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This is, in my opinion, nothing short of stupidity! Cats are so very beautiful and then these people think it is OK to sedate a cat for hours at a time just so that THEY can celebrate something. Now if the cat could just return in kind the same act I wonder what they would think. Our cats are chipped. I have even had rescues that had ear tattoos but this is just way to unacceptable. Thanks for the article.

Susan January 21, 2010 2:14 PM

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This is criminal! I love tattoos and have several myself, but completely inhumane for animals. Another selfish act inflicted on animals for human entertainment.

Diana January 21, 2010 2:36 PM

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Anybody who tattoos a cat or any other animals (except for ID numbers) earns entirely too much money.

Michelle January 21, 2010 3:31 PM

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True, or else they can't think of anything worthwhile & helpful to do with it, even though there are many things in the world on which that money would be much better spent.

mathomps January 21, 2010 2:40 PM

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I think that an international animal rights group should step up. It's hard to be an animal, they are completely at the mercy of their (oftentimes idiotic) owners. But then, if you examine the show dog "business," you might find cruel/excessive behavior for aesthetic purposes too.

Michelle January 21, 2010 3:31 PM

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Good grief! What will people come up with next? I thought it was ridiculous when that one dentist had his cat's two fangs covered in gold, but this goes way beyond that. This is awful! I think that a cat - or any creature (not talking about humans here) - should be tattooed ONLY for identification purposes. I can't afford to have my cat done, but when I can, I will, as well as microchipped, just in case he gets lost & his harness & tag falls off. Otherwise, leave the poor creatures alone!

Skylark January 21, 2010 4:29 PM

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Cats are supremely elegant and beautiful without any decoration. This, in my opinion, ranks right up there with declawing for animal cruelty!

Sondra

Rani January 21, 2010 5:09 PM

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That is cruel, pure and simple.

I notice those are Sphinx cats... are they shaving furred cats and tattooing them, as well???

Rani

sheba January 22, 2010 12:22 AM

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OK two of my dogs have tattoos. Let me explain how and why they do before you all blow a gasket. They are adopted from my local S.P.C.A. They put a tattoo in the ear of every dog adopted as a sign of where they were adopted while they are being neutered. Other than that tattooing and animal is the work of some very sick people.

Barbara January 22, 2010 8:02 AM

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It is totally sickening, and to think of the pain those cats must feel and the risk of anaesthetic makes me so angry. To my mind they should be prosecuted and have the cats taken away from them, this is no less cruel than any other form of animal abuse.

Beca January 22, 2010 11:59 AM

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OK.. So instead of just tattooing themselfs ( i have to mind you ) They have to go and start inking pets. Wtf.. If there is not enough skin on humans to ink then STOP!