10 Adorable Animal Tattoos That Will Inspire You to Get Inked

The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word “tatu,” meaning “to mark something,” and instances of the body art can be traced back as far as Neolithic times. Yass, tatts are *legit* thousands of years old. But just because the practice is old-school, your ink doesn’t have to be. For those of us who just want to keep our tatt tiny and cute comes a wave of itsy-bitsy, small animal designs that will satisfy your minimalist ways. Scroll down for 10 of our faves.

View this post on Instagram

Mein erstes #tattoo 😍 vor einem Jahr hab ich mich endlich getraut, mittlerweile sind ein paar dazu gekommen aber das ist mein #Liebling ❤️ 🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽 #throwback #lastyear #erinnerung #memory #catlover #tattooedgirls #tinytattoo #liebe #picoftheday #pictureoftheday #picsofinstagram #instacat #catsagram #cattattoo #firstone

A post shared by Christina ❤ (@chriiis.syyy) on Feb 27, 2017 at 4:31am PST

1. Itty-Bitty Kitty: Eternalize a past or present pet with a simple line-drawn kitty tattoo. Add even more love into it by turning the tail tip into a heart. *Swoon.*

View this post on Instagram

#fmsphotoaday #fms_new New tattoo, still healing and needs touching up. I finally got it done in memory of my parents. Not only do doves symbolise peace and maternal love but Ancient Celts believed that the call of a dove was a mourning call, which represented the passing of a loved one. Slavs apparently also believe that doves carry the souls of the deceased to heaven. #newink #newink💉 #dovetattoo #firsttattoo #ink #manchesterink #doveoutline #wristtattoo #smalltattoos #peaceandlove #remembrance #Tinytattoo #smalltattoosig #tinytattoos #justsmalltattoos

A post shared by Carla (@lotta_no1) on Feb 26, 2017 at 10:56pm PST

2. Peace + Love 4 Eva: A dove is all you need when the message is this simple and sweet. Top it off with a little red heart for contrast and keep the wing lines open to show movement.

View this post on Instagram

Totally in love 😋 💕#tattoo #cattattoo #tinytattoo #love

A post shared by Ali 🌟 (@aliciacapurro) on Feb 28, 2017 at 5:05am PST

3. Right Meow: A wrist tattoo is the ultimate perma-flair, especially when it has this much cat-titude! Paint your nails red and stack those bracelets proud, girl.

View this post on Instagram

A Whale Tale . . . #whaletattoo #handmadetattoo #handpokedtattoo #handmade #handpoke #tattoo #tattootime #medicinetattoo #dotbydot #art #tattooart #tattooartist #tattooed #intricate #smalltattoo #tinytattoo #bohotattoo #stickandpoke #sticknpoke #ink #getinked #travellingtattooer #traveltattoo #nomachine #handpokers #instagood #srilanka #southsrilanka #lankaliving #midigama

A post shared by HAND POKED TATTOOS Barcelona (@indiapia.tats) on Feb 25, 2017 at 2:50am PST

4. A Whale of a Good Time: This is hands down the cutest aquatic animal tat we have *ever* seen. We love seeing traditionally ginormous mammals, miniaturized and perfectly positioned.

View this post on Instagram

#littletattoos #smalltattoos #tinytattoo #elephanttattoo #tattooshopbennebroek #tattooshops

A post shared by Anyway Tattoo Art (@anywaytattooart) on Feb 28, 2017 at 11:39pm PST

5. Elephants on Parade: These gorgeous animals symbolize strength and good luck! Get a mom and babe for ultimate cuteness!

View this post on Instagram

🐰 #rabbit #evantattoo #bunny

A post shared by evantattoo (@evantattoo) on Mar 1, 2017 at 4:06pm PST

6. Some Bunny Loves You: If this rabbit doesn’t make you hop down to your local tattoo artist, we don’t know what will! Even just a hare?

View this post on Instagram

#pandatattoo#smalltattoo #wristtattoo #cutepanda #cutetattoo #simpletattoo #animaltattoo #altarmaniatattoo

A post shared by Jen Rose (@jenrosetattoos) on Feb 24, 2017 at 5:57pm PST

7. Panda-monium: We love the wrist placement and that pandas symbolize peace, harmony, and friendship.

View this post on Instagram

LADYBUG tattoo 🐞 // First color tattoo ❗️ . . . . . . #ladybug #ladybugtattoo #tattoo #realistictattoo #coccinelle #coccinelletattoo #tats #colortattoo #3dtattoo #littletattoo #smalltattoo #ink #girltattoo #finetattoowork #tattooart #necktattoo #tattooartist #inkstagram #animaltattoo #micktatuhi #realism #insecttattoo

A post shared by Mick Tātuhi // TattoO (@micktatuhi) on Feb 24, 2017 at 10:16am PST

8. Lady Luck: You’ll bring good fortune wherever you go when you get this little bug tattoo. Be really bold and get neck ink like this gal.

View this post on Instagram

Tatuaje hecho por Val #silverneedlesmx #silverneedles #silverteam #silvermx #671crew #671people #tattooshop #lindavista #mexicocity #mexico #mexicotattoo #gam #CDMX #ink #tattooart #tattooartist #animaltattoo #heart #tatuajes #tatuadoresmexicanos #zorro #soy671

A post shared by Silver Needles Tattoo México (@silverneedlestattoomexico) on Mar 1, 2017 at 2:38pm PST

9. What Does the Fox Say?: Known as a mischievous trickster IRL, the fox also has symbology across most cultures. We love the fluid, freeform style, lower arm placement, and that adorbs heart accent.

View this post on Instagram

Be like a giraffe and keep your head above it all! 🍃 #tattapic

A post shared by tattapic (@tattapic) on Mar 2, 2017 at 7:48am PST

10. Standing Above the Rest: This gentle yet fierce animal is the perf ink for any ankle. You’re sure to stand strong and move gracefully when you get this creature tattooed.

Do you already have a cute animal tat? Are you planning to get one? Tag us on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest for more tattoo inspiration!