Kyle McAskill has been collecting tattoos for more than 20 years, and at this point, he’s lost count of how many he has. But a few stand out from the rest — especially the ones inspired by his cats.
“I have several tattoos for my pets — all cats,” McAskill told The Dodo. “One of them even uses the cremated remains of my first cat, Joshua.”
His newest tattoo, however, might be the most charming tribute yet.
At first glance, it doesn’t look like a cat at all. There’s no portrait, no whiskers, no paws — and no ashes either (Walter, the cat in question, is very much alive). Instead, the tattoo resembles a strange little sea creature, worn and misshapen.
It’s actually a detailed image of Walter’s favorite toy: a battered orange plush fish that’s been chewed, licked and loved nonstop for the past two years.
McAskill adopted Walter in 2023 from Feline Friends Network, a rescue in Ontario, Canada. Now about 5 years old, Walter is a shy but affectionate gray tabby with bright green eyes and a playful streak.
“Walter is basically a kitten in a large body — around 15 pounds,” McAskill said. “He looks tough, but he’ll bolt the second someone is about to sneeze.”
When Walter first came home, McAskill let him set the pace. Walter prefers his independence but never turns down playtime — especially when toys are involved.
“One of his first toys was a little white lamb holding a tiny orange fish,” McAskill said. “Within a day, Walter ripped the fish off and completely lost interest in the lamb.”
From that moment on, the fish became everything.
Sometimes it disappears for days, only to resurface when Walter proudly carries it around, clutching it between his paws and purring while rubbing it against his whiskers.
So when McAskill thought about honoring Walter with a tattoo, the idea felt inevitable.
“It wasn’t a matter of if — just when,” he said.
He reached out to tattoo artist Melanie Wayland of Brindle Boy Tattoo, who also happened to be the friend who originally introduced him to Feline Friends Network. Instead of depicting the toy as it once looked, McAskill showed her photos of the fish in its current, well-loved condition.
The result? A perfectly imperfect tattoo — frayed fabric, loose threads and stuffing peeking out — capturing exactly how much that toy means to Walter.
After McAskill shared the tattoo on Reddit, people instantly fell in love.
“This is the cutest tattoo idea I’ve ever seen,” one commenter wrote.
Another added, “My cat stole a unicorn plush when she was six weeks old. She’s had it for 14 years. It’s a disaster — but now I want it as a tattoo.”
McAskill doesn’t mind inspiring a trend.
“If you’re getting a pet tattoo, find an artist who’s also a pet owner and genuinely excited about the idea,” he said. “When you share that excitement, it makes the whole experience even better.”
For McAskill, the tattoo isn’t just ink — it’s a snapshot of love, loyalty and one very special orange fish.
