Black Cat Tattoos Design, Meaning & Ideas

Black cat tattoos are the types of tats that are commonly misunderstood. They can actually have meanings that span from the very positive to the very negative, so it really comes down to who the owner of the tattoo is and what they want their black cat to symbolize.

On this page, we are going to take a look at some of the more popular black cat tattoo meanings and some ways that you can design yours if you choose to get one.

Originally associated with witchcraft and the occult, black cats have been viewed as an ominous symbol. Sometimes when people get their black cat tattoos they want people to know that there is something interesting below their surfaces, but they don’t necessarily want to say what that thing is. It’s a great symbol of mystery and warning, which are meanings that you won’t get from many other animal tattoos.

Superstition has marked black cats as a sign of bad luck, an omen of misfortune to come because of the belief that the black cat, as well as other small nocturnal creatures, was a familiar used by witches in their trickery. People who do feel like they have been bitten by the bad luck bug a lot in their lives might get the black cat tattoo to show it. It’s not a very positive meaning, but it can define how a person feels about their life, which is what tattoos are supposed to do!

In more recent years, cat images, regardless of color, are more a symbol of admiration of the feline rather than the mystical. The cat lover crowd has grown exponentially over the last decade or so, so plenty of people get their black cat tattoos simply to show their love for the animal. What’s great is that if you are a cat lover, you can use this meaning along with any of the other ones mentioned on this page.

Black cats are most generally a representation of the reclusive and introverted, spirited individual whose animated character is kept more secretive than that of others. This is a very specific meaning meant for people who feel like they have a lot to offer, but it is kept below the surface except for those who they are closest to.

When an ominous black cat image is desired, the feline is generally rendered more realistically, allowing the reflective eyes to highlight the mystery of the unknown. In some cases, people like to leave the detail out of the body and fur and focus all of the detail work in the eyes. This can have a very cool effect, especially on cat tattoos that have the cat’s head in them.

Black or greyscale roses, often designed with long stems and thorns, add an element of the occult to the image, as well as moon and star imagery, a representation of the dark of night. If you are a night owl and that has become part of who you are, then the black cat tattoo might just be perfect for you.

It shows that you function well at night and that you plan on being a night person for the rest of your life. This is a risky meaning to use, though, since you might not feel that way long into the future.


The black cat becomes a Halloween-esque portrayal of the occult when pictured with an arching back and raised hair, symbolizing fear and foreboding. When people use this black cat tattoo meaning, they aren’t necessarily saying that they should be feared. It usually means that they are not the type of people to mess with and expect to get away with it.

Designing the black cat in a cartoonish style reduces the superstitious qualities of the feline and creates a lighthearted and cheerful image. In this way, the black cat tattoo can represent anything that you want it to. You can give it its meaning with the way you design its face; a happy expression might show that you are a happy person, while a big-eyed cuter look might show that you have not lost your innocence.

A black cat silhouette is more open to interpretation and often rendered as a very small but bold image. It creates a delicate appearance while still maintaining a strong symbol. This is a great idea for people who want to get a black cat tattoo without having to get a large, detailed design. The black cat silhouette design can fit just about anywhere on the body, making it an attractive choice for a lot of people.

Of course, some people will get their black cat tattoos simply to honor a cat they currently have or that passed away. These tattoos are usually a bit more detailed than others because the owners want to have the design look exactly like their cats. These tats might include the cats’ names or dates of birth, but those details aren’t totally necessary.

The addition of butterflies, floral patterns or other minute details feminizes the design and adds a whimsical element. Butterflies add in some very cool meanings too, including transformation and beauty. Some people will put their butterflies in the background so the black cat is the focal point of the design, while others will give both creatures the spotlight in the tattoos.

The cat rendered in simple black lines, another simple image, highlights a similar symbol of mystery without appearing so solid and bold. This is yet another way to use all of the black cat tattoo meanings that we mentioned above without having to go all-out with the design. To some people, these simpler designs actually look better than the ones with more detail.

Black cats can also be an Egyptian symbol because of their status as demigods. In this case, the cat is generally portrayed sitting or lying with a straight back to portray regality and adorned with gold jewelry like heavy collars and necklaces. These types of black cat tattoos do usually have quite a bit of detail since they are meant to look as accurate as possible. However, in some cases, people stick with the outline of the Egyptian symbol.

As we pointed out above, there are a lot of ways that you can get a black cat tattoo designed, so you will want to think long and hard about it before you commit. Keep in mind that you can make the meaning clearer with the way that you design the tattoo, so be sure you tell whoever designs it for you what the tattoo means to you.

It’s also important to keep in mind that you can use any of the meanings that we’ve mentioned here regardless of how you get the black cat tattoo designed, so you shouldn’t feel like you need to spend a lot of money just to make the meaning that much more special.

As with all other tattoos, it’s a good idea to hire an artist who you feel will make an excellent black cat tattoo for you. Even if you are going with a simple, elegant design, you should still hire a good artist to do the work since they will know how to angle it properly and you up the chances of getting great line work. It’s a good idea to look through some portfolios so you can choose an artist who has a style that you really like.

As you can see, there is a lot more to the black cat tattoo than initially meets the eye. There are a ton of ways you can get these tattoos designed and a lot of great black cat meanings that you can attach to them.

If you are planning on getting a black cat tattoo, be sure to take your time during the design process so you end up with a tattoo that you will always be proud to have on your body.

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