Cat tattoos in Barcelona

What a cat tattoo can mean

Cats carry different meanings depending on where you look. In Japan, the maneki-neko, the beckoning cat with one paw raised that you see in so many shop windows, is linked to good luck and prosperity. That's why it often appears with coins, as in Raquel's piece with sake bottles, or with a fish, as in her version with a red fish. Japanese folklore also has supernatural cats, such as the bakeneko, which inspire darker, more mysterious designs.

In the West, the black cat has gone from bad omen to a symbol of independence and magic, and it pairs beautifully with witches, moons and bat wings: take a look at Damaris's witch with a black cat in purple tones, or Margo's winged cats. Then there's the simplest and strongest meaning of all: carrying with you the cat you share your life with, or once did.

From your own cat to a cat in costume

If you want a tattoo of your own cat, the reference photo matters most: good light, sharp focus and, ideally, eyes looking at the camera. From there we can go realistic, like Karina's portrait of two cats, or lighter in fine line, like Euge's cat and dog with pink butterflies. Bring a few different photos so we can get their markings and expression just right.

At the other end of the scale are cats that become characters. Marta, the studio's anime and cartoon specialist, has tattooed a sleeping cat in a Snorlax hood, another in a Jigglypuff hood, a ghost cat with bubble tea and even a series of cats dressed as Pokémon running down one leg. It's a playful way to bring two things you love together in a single piece.

Styles, size and placement

Each style completely changes the character of the cat. Realism needs a bit of size to capture fur and subtle shading; fine line suits small, delicate pieces, like Marta's small spotted cat or her cat with a floral pattern; blackwork goes for bold contrast; and kawaii or anime colour gives you round, expressive cats full of little details. Strong colour also gives a cat real presence, as in Damaris's samurai cat with a katana and cherry blossoms.

As for placement, a small cat looks great on the ankle, the wrist or behind the ear; Marta did a blue striped cat just above the ankle. Designs with more going on, such as lotus flowers or wings, sit better on the forearm, calf or thigh. And if you're planning a series, leave enough room for the pieces to work well together.