Sphynx Cat Tattoo
Posted in Sphynx Cat News on 26. Mar, 2010
Much was made a couple of years ago of the Russian Sphynx Cat that was tattooed by its owner. The rather unflattering picture of the sedated Sphynx still circulates as a curiosity amongst some, and an abomination amongst others.
Personally I think tattooing an animal for decoration is intriguing. Many Sphynx owners dress up their cats and put necklaces on them. Clothing as I have mentioned before, causes cats to believe they are against a hard surface and they can become unbalanced, or freeze in place, or tip over. Keep them in clothes for long enough and their personality will change. I know there will be people out there that dress up their Sphynxes who would say tattooing is cruel.
Tattooing is done already in cats and dogs for medical and identification reasons, under the same conditions that a decorative tattoo is done. I know it is controversial to say I don’t have much of an issue with it, I still wouldn’t have my Sphynxes done because they are so darn cute in their natural form and unnecessary anesthesia is always to be avoided .
Most Sphynx owners I have spoken to have, at one time or another, drawn on their Sphynx…..
Here’s another Russian Sphynx that has been inked and in a much nicer way than the Tutankhamen mask (I really don’t like that tattoo at all).
Tribal Sphynx looks good too
People have also been decorating their Sphynxes online using Photoshop and other programs to give the appearance of being tattooed. Some are so good it is hard to tell the difference.
I couldn’t close without highlighting the opposite Sphynx tattooing and that is getting your Sphynx tattooed on YOU.
Now this is awesomely extreme!
How about an adorable Sphynx Kitten tattoo?
I may get blasted for this but i think that the tat’s on the sphynx look absolutely awesome. I am due to get a sphynx kitten in late august, i have a solid black on order. I can’t wait til he/she is born.
I would personally never tat my own sphynx, but I don’t mind looking at the work of others.
I do have a question though, I thought that it was mandatory to put clothing on a sphynx if your house is chilly. What do I do to keep them warm in the winter if not put clothing on them?
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Allison Reply:
March 29th, 2010 at 8:13 PM
Great question about how to keep your Sphynx warm. I wrote about what I use here http://www.sphynxcatblog.com/hairless-cat-hints/sphynx-cat-shiver/ . I didn’t mention that they will also head straight for your bed and crawl under the covers, just like we would, if we are too cold. Still, your heating bills are going to go up as you heat the house to Sphynx heat
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Next level: tattooed sphynx tattoo
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Crazy! Are this real tattoos oro photoshop fakes?
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Thank you for the information. I was curious when you said that the cats can become unbalanced, freeze or tip over — that is not what i want for my kitty! I would rather they be comfortable and feel natural.
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i forsure want my next tattoo to be a sphynx cat soo rad!i love my little guy soo much he has to be on me forever
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Shame! I would never dress up my little boy spyhnx nor EVER tattoo him. I think its cruel and disgusting. he doesnt have a say… how can people do that to such a cute animal?!
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Maurice Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 9:38 PM
Um, he doesn’t have a say about living in your house or eating what you decide to feed him either, though. People don’t call you a sicko for keeping him in your house or deciding what he eats. Why? Because the overall effect. he lives longer than im the wild and is happy. So if your sphynx is tattooed up and dressed up, and is happy (which is not just possible, but quite likely), how is that different or more cruel?
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The cats have to be undewr anesthesia for HOURS.Thats cruel and so unsafe,its not funny.
I think its reprehensible !
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This is disgusting ! Animal abuse.
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I have five tattoos that I had done by choice – and they were painful. Animals do not have voices to tell us what they want, and i really doubt they would want a tattoo! Its must absolutely terrify and kill the poor things! I cannot believe people think it is acceptable because it looks good! shameful.
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This is horrible.
Why would anyone tattoo their cat it is already ugly enough!! Even though they are cute as kittens
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I TOTALLY agree with Kym. Most PEOPLE don’t want tattoos and animals don’t have a voice. I f you want to get your Sphynx tattooed on YOU that’s fine. Just don’t do it on your Sphynx. If you MUST draw on your Sphynx, whatever. I just hope you know that markers and pens can cause skin disease. I’m not some environmentalist or a hippie, but you should be considerate of your cat. After all, they’re SUPPOSED to be your FRIENDS.
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???????
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Some people should keep their small brain into their head and not leak it out for others. It is an abuse!!!
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I have several tattoos, but I would never let anyone tattoo my Alice! She’s beautiful the way she is and I would never let anyone do that too her!
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what kind of complete ass**** would tattoo a cat? ****ing pricks
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So from what I’m reading y’all all agree that the cats have no voice in this correct? But they still don’t have a voice when the get serial numbers or other forms of identication tatted on them. Where I live the AC tattoos bite
case numbers on every bite case they get. Now I’m not condoning the decorative tattoos but really what’s the difference they both go under, they get a tattoo, they wake up and they get pain meds. and the tattoo artists have to go through an extensive training course to be able to be licensed to tattoo on animals. I’m just saying….
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Yvonne Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 12:26 PM
There is a HUGE difference between cosmetic tattooing of a pet and labeling for the sake of safety and protection from losing your pet! Likewise, I spay and neuter all my cats and dogs, but would NEVER remove ears or tails because of fashion or breed show requirements.
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lovesmysophie Reply:
January 18th, 2011 at 5:21 AM
I have a Sphynx named Sophie I would do anything for her and would never hurt her but I agree I have three tattoos and they don’t hurt as bad as you people are making them out to be and if they hurt so bad why did you get more I would tat my Sophie for the fact that I know i could give her pain meds and it. Will only hurt for a day if that
But I also understand how horrible it sounds
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The first obvious difference in tattooing a cat for decorative reasons vs for identification is the length of time it takes and the extensive damage, pain and healing required to undergo the procedure.
The second obvious difference is that one is for safety and the other is for human indulgence.
Whomever tattoos their pets is clearly a selfish person with no care about their animal. Human Vanity does not exist in animals.
It it pretty sad that tattoo artists willingly do this but the almighty dollar clearly speaks louder than empathy.
Tattoos hurt. Tattoo yourself, not your cat.
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This is just horrific. Not only the sedation of the cat for such a long time. But has anyone thought of what happens when they wake up. The 1st thing the cat is gonna do is lick the tattoo. That will irritate it even more. It will probably get infected. And for what vanity on their owners part. Leave the poor cat alone. They are here to love and cherish and snuggle with not to torture! I would never do that or even think of it to my sphynx cats.
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But the tatto of one of my sphyxies on me is a different story. I like that! Being able to show one of my babies off.
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Do people ever henna their sphynxies? I bet that would be pretty AND painless AND temporary.
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Allison Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 12:02 AM
I do believe that one of those cats is henna and not actually a tattoo or a photoshop. Still it’s hard to tell with all of the misinformation about tattooing Sphynx cats that is out there (almost an urban myth at this stage!).
I had the traditional henna hand tattoos done when I went to India and absolutely loved them. Not sure how you would keep your cat still enough to do anything intricate. The irony is that henna is great for HAIR
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Well personally I don’t have a problem with this at all, I love animals, like seriously anyone abuse my cat? An i’d break their face ^^ I knw its better to avoid anesthetic but if someone wants to tattoo their cat? Well, I say why not, as long as they’re asleep. its unique my friend actually has a really beautiful tattoo on her sphynx and a tattoo of her sphynx on her wrist, her cat is the happiest cat I know 3 years old now and still acting like a kitten, the proceedure was painless an the cat very contentented afterwards, it would of been obvious if the cat was in any kind of pain and every precaution was taken to make sure the cat stayed happy and pain free, ofc the smaller the tattoo the better as then the cat isn’t under for so long. Its no worse than piercing a baby’s ear, infact no I find that slightly more cruel since they do it when the poor thing is awake, and stab the babies little ear! now thats cruel, as if he/she doesn’t have enough needles to deal with at that age
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Emily Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 6:36 AM
Hello! The point is that anesthesia for cosmetic purposes is taking an unnecessary risk. Why would anyone risk their pet’s life if they truly cared about him/her.
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I have to laugh at some posts. Yes it is cruel to tattoo a cat, but maybe we should look at the facts as well, isn’t it cruel to have bred a hairless animal that would infact die in the wild? I like sphynx cats and i hope to have one one day, but what everyone is saying here is how it’s cruel to tattoo and animal for OUR pleasure. If not for the fact that people want hairless cats or short cats or cats that look like tigers or leopard then they wouldn’t exist, we create these animals by breeding and breeding and inbreeding for our pleasure. Most pedigree animals have serious health problems because of the way they are bred.
You say about the animal having no choice in the matter, but every year we take animals to be nueatured so they wont give birth, not because it’s good for them, but because WE don’t want to have to deal we kittens. The fact is that pets are for OUR indulgence, Animals would choose to have jabs, or chips or operations that removed their reproductive organs, but we do it anyway.
I am in no way condoning tattooing your cat but saying not to do it becuase it’s cruel and against their will is hypocritical.
I love all my cats, and yes i’ve had them nuetured becuase i don’t want to have to deal with males spraying and females getting pregnant, I’m not afraid to admit i’m a hypocrit on this matter but still your excuses for it being bad are silly when one looks at the bigger picture.
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Why? Why would you want to tattoo your cat ? I’m confused !???
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This is soo nasty. The owner is disgusting. Its like tattooing a baby!!!! Babys cant talk and say yes or no and neither can an animal. Keep in mind i have nothing against tattoos i have 4. However this is Animal cruelty 100%.
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This is ridiculous. I am covered completely and i would never tattoo an animal. This is animal abuse. Regardless if they are asleep, when they wake up, they have to go through dramatic healing and that is equally as painful. This is 100% animal abuse and any body who thinks this is acceptable should be tattooed on their face against there will. If i put you asleep and tattooed your face, would you be okay with that or try to sew me?
Reality guys, leave animals alone.
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Im a vet tech. Part of me feels its messed up to do then I think about the number of people who put their animal under sedation for “show nail trims” where they trim their nails all the way back past their quick just for show and some just because multiple times a year. And what you said about the people who dress up their pets, paint their nails, dye their hair. Honestly there is far much worse things owners do to their pets. Like getting a pet and not having money to take care of it so it dies of parvo or distemper because you didn’t get its vaccines. These people obviously have money to take care of their animals if they’re tattooing it and tattoos aren’t as painful as dying from disease or being a cat dying of feline leukemia, feline distemper, or rhinotracheitis.
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