Sphynx cats are known for their lack of fur. Which has given some owners the idea to tattoo their cats’ skin.

Although this seems to have been happening for a few years, one of the first cases to go truly viral was in Russia earlier this year.

The cat in question was tattooed by Aleksandr Purtov, a tattoo artist who worked in Ekaterinbourg, Russia. It was his cat’s fourth tattoo that made headlines, causing outrage from animal lovers and activists across the globe.

cat-tattoo wife-sphynx

The tattoos mimicked russian gang tattoos and featured a prison tower and a man with a cigarette. In response to accusations of cruelty, Purtov reportedly replied:

“I hope it is not too bad for him, it is not his first tattoo. Usually he feels fine and recovers from the anaesthesia pretty fast.”

The trend continues

The latest case comes from Ukrainian body builder, Elena Ivanickaya. Just days ago, it emerged that she had her sphynx cat, Yasha, tattooed with an Egyptian style design.

tattoo-cat

Critics were quick to condemn the act after she posted photos online, with many comparing it to torture. Ivanickaya, however, appears not to regret her decision and took to social media to defend her actions.

In response to online comments, she wrote: “the cat’s life is better then yours”, adding he has his own Instagram, is very smart and enjoys his happy life, which includes regularly eating oysters.

Both of these cases saw the pets in question undergo anaesthesia, whether this was done primarily to dull the pain or stop the animal moving is unclear.

In response to public outrage, Police spokesman Natalia Chovpylo stated: ‘If we establish that the animal was tortured, we will open a criminal case.’

Photo credit: Daily Mail/Instagram

2 comments

You need to have a Yummypets account in order to comment on this article.
Create your Yummypets account in less than a minute.

    Haleema B Oh my God how cruel . Surely this must be illegal and a severe form of animal abuse.

    Moira M Shocking no need for this to be done it is most certainly cruel.