33 Small Animal Tattoos for the Animal Lovers Out There

Are you a nature-loving individual who thinks the world of our world’s wildlife? If so, small animal tattoos inspired by your favorite creatures on Earth could be a wise choice for you! Small tattoos are great for most people as they are less of a commitment than their larger counterparts. That means less pain, less money, and less time for you to have to spend getting tattooed. What’s not to love?

We wanted to get a better understanding of the types of small animal tattoos folks are getting these days so we turned to social media to find the latest and greatest mini tattoos. We discovered some intriguing trends among tattoos in this class that we would love to share with you to inform your decision and, hopefully, inspire your own ink. These tattoos range from modest in size to micro tattoos that are smaller than a quarter. Take a close look and get inspired by these truly remarkable small animal tattoos!

Check Out These Small Animal Tattoos for Ink Inspiration!

Micro Pup

Pup portraits are in high demand these days and we saw many of them among the small animal tattoos people are getting today. If you’ve got a furry friend, celebrate him/her forever with your very own pet portrait!

Beautiful Butterflies

Butterflies were another huge trend among small animal tattoos. Here, we find delicate and small ones done in crisp, black ink.

Fur Babies

Cat portraits and “cattoos” are another huge hit among small animal tattoos. We found a ton of little kitties decorating people’s bodies. Here are two small tattoos of cats with a lovely blue background for each.

Itty Bitty Bears

We find a koala and panda bear on these ankles! Who doesn’t love these super cute bears? To get the kawaii look think cartoon over photorealism.

Pretty Penguin

Just a black line and some delicate shading result in one of the most understated small animal tattoos on this list. Artists sometimes refer to designs like this as “single line” and you can discuss it with your tattoo artist in those terms and they will likely know exactly what you mean.

Mini Stork

If we had to place a bet, we would wager that this micro tattoo of a crane was applied using the stick and poke method to be able to pull off this much minute detail. Bravo!

Roar!

Here’s an Asian-inspired tiger design that finds one fierce little face in a small package. Convey big emotions in your small animal tattoos and you won’t regret it!

Two Fish

For a Pisces, we find two little fish done in black, grey, and white ink. Small animal tattoos can be for a love of nature but also they can symbolize other ideas and meanings.

Lovely Ladybug

For instance, ladybugs are a sign of good luck. Here’s an impressionistic one that is so stylish and unique. Get creative with your tattoo artist and your small animal tattoos will stand out for all the right reasons.

One Sophisticated Snake

You can add detail to your small animal tattoos by incorporating a pattern or floral scene like the one above that’s housed in the body of a snake. It results in an incredibly detailed and sophisticated look.

Zesty Zebra

Here’s one of the most original small animal tattoos on this list. We find a beautifully tattooed zebra but there are strange squares that seem to magnify the design beneath in some and others filled with black. How fun!

Dreamy Turtles

These turtle tattoos look like they’re floating on air. Equally dreamy and ghostly, these small animal tattoos really dazzle in soft grey that’s been expertly shaded.

Octo-Love

Does this creep you out? We are torn on how we feel about it so, naturally, we’ll let you be the judge. Two octopus tentacles forming a heart symbol is rather unnerving but it does look great!

More Turtle

Of all of the small animal tattoos we surveyed for this list, we saw more butterflies and turtles than any others. These shelled creatures are capturing a lot of hearts and imaginations. A rainbow-colored shell really puts this tattoo over the top!

Cute Little Pig

Well, this is just tender. We find a very minimal pig tattooed in peach-colored ink with little black arches for eyes. It’s one of the small tattoos on this list that feels nostalgic and childlike.

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Watercolor Wow!

Watercolor small animal tattoos are big business! We saw a number of them as we researched animal tattoos for this list. Here’s an excellent example that’s a little bigger than the rest but you could pick and choose elements you like from it to make it smaller and all your own!

Yeehaw!

We did not know we needed to see a horse in cowboy boots. But, it’s one of our favorite small animal tattoos on this list. Whimsical, playful, and full of offbeat energy, this tattoo is certainly a winner!

Precious Bun

Wow! This portrait of a bunny rabbit is one of the most stunning on this list of small animal tattoos for the level of detail that’s been included. The fur is so textural that it looks like you could “pet” it.

Cartoon Tiger

On the other end of the spectrum, you can go with a more cartoonish look and have some real fun with color. How cute is this little tiger playing in some flowers? For your small animal tattoos, keep things simple to expedite the tattooing process.

Pretty in Pink

Here’s a handsome flamingo that has a really subtle ombre effect that gives a great overall effect. Birds are so aesthetically pleasing that you can almost never go wrong with them for tattoos!

A Cheese-Loving Rascal

Here’s a raccoon with some cheese, because, why not! Take a look at how clean and crisp the lines on this tattoo are. The whiskers are so small that it’s a wonder to marvel at.

Micro Giraffe

There are small animal tattoos and then there are micro ones. Micro tattoos really are hot today with many people choosing to go photorealistic with their tiny designs for even more novelty.

Curious Rabbit

Eeeep! How cute! This little rabbit tattoo looks like it was pulled from a children’s book illustration. Emotive and expressive, this is definitely a standout among the other small animal tattoos on this list.

Cute Chick

We expected to see more chickens than we did but we did stumble across this beautiful bird that’s tattooed in a neo-traditional style. There are no bells or whistles, just a straightforward design that really pops.

The Hopper

Here’s a neon-colored grasshopper for all of the weirdos out there! While we are not huge fans of bugs, this one caught our eye with all of its glorious detail and color. Go off the beaten path in your creative process to come up with original designs with your tattoo artist!

Take a Sip

Here’s a beautiful little hummingbird tattoo. The wings have been so delicately applied that they give the illusion of movement. It’s one of the small animal tattoos on this list that we can see a great many people opting for.

A Pet Portrait

Here’s another cat portrait for you to feast your eyes on. It’s been expertly tattooed here and definitely lands in the photorealistic bucket for us. Find yourself an artist with a robust portfolio and you could walk away with something as truly breathtaking as this ink.

Tiny Snail

Here’s a cute little snail on a branch. For your small animal tattoos, you can stick to the basics and still end up with a fantastic design that you will cherish for a lifetime.

A Horse, Of Course

Here’s a pretty portrait of a horse. Yes, even large beasts can be taken down in size for small animal tattoos. This evocative design really pops out at you thanks to the diamond-shaped frame.

The Other Tiger King

Here’s a stylish design that you could pare down to a size that suits your tastes. We love all of the ornamental elements of this tattoo including the unique crosses and the detailed crown. Roar!

Pair of Poodles

Here are more of those “single line” tattoos that we discussed before. These poodles are very simple but they look smart and clean.

Back to Black

We love the original style of this small snake tattoo that packs a bold punch with solid shapes that have been uniformly filled with color as opposed to a distinct shading technique. We think it truly pays off and looks unlike any of the small animal tattoos on this list.

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Fancy a Cup?

What’s a bird without wings? In this surrealist design, we find a bird that has human arms and hands instead of them. It’s imaginative, mysterious, and dreamy. We said it before but we will say it once more: get weird! It’s fun.

There you go! Aren’t these small animal tattoos just terrific!? We hope you feel inspired by these designs and have a better idea about how you want to go for your next tattoo. Whether you are getting a design inspired by your pet or simply ink that celebrates wildlife, there is no wrong way to go about it! Just make sure the design expresses your point of view and mirrors your own personal style. Happy tattooing!