Cat Dad Honors Beloved Feline With Adorably Unique Tattoo

A Lifetime of Ink and Love for Cats

Kyle McAskill isn’t new to tattoos or to loving his cats. After two decades of collecting ink, he’s lost count of the number of tattoos on his body. But one thing’s certain: many of them are dedicated to his furry companions.

“I have a few tattoos for my pets — all cats,” McAskill told The Dodo. “Including one using the cremated remains of my first cat, Joshua.”

An Unconventional Tribute to Walter

McAskill’s latest tattoo isn’t of a paw print or a portrait—it’s something far more unusual and personal. He chose to immortalize his cat Walter’s favorite toy: a tattered, orange plush fish that resembles an alien sea creature more than a pet store item.

Meet Walter: The Big Kitten

Walter came into McAskill’s life in 2023 when he adopted the green-eyed feline from Feline Friends Network, a rescue group in Ontario, Canada. Although he’s about 5 years old and weighs in at a solid 15 pounds, Walter remains playful at heart.

“Walter is very much a kitten just in a large format,” said McAskill. “Looks big and tough but will run for the hills anytime someone is about to sneeze.”

The Legendary Plush Fish

Walter’s attachment to his orange fish began early. On arriving at his new home, one of his first toys was a small white lamb holding a tiny orange fish. Within a day, Walter had torn the fish away from the lamb and never looked back.

“Maybe a day or so later, we found that Walter had ripped off the small fish and no longer cared about the lamb,” McAskill recalled. Since then, the fish has become a staple in Walter’s life—appearing and disappearing mysteriously before reappearing in his paws, lovingly groomed and cherished.

The Tattoo: A Perfectly Imperfect Keepsake

For McAskill, the decision to ink Walter’s quirky bond with the toy was inevitable. “It was not a question of if, but when,” he said. He approached Melanie Wayland, a tattoo artist at Brindle Boy Tattoo, who had also connected him with the rescue where he adopted Walter.

Instead of commemorating the fish in its original form, McAskill wanted to tattoo it as it is now—chewed, discolored, slightly broken, but beloved. Wayland perfectly captured the frayed stuffing and dangling thread in ink. The tattoo is as weird and wonderful as Walter’s affection for his toy.

Internet Hearts and Future Trends

After sharing the tattoo online, it quickly received an outpouring of admiration. Redditors loved the emotional—and slightly humorous—take on a pet tattoo.

“Wtf this is the cutest tattoo idea I’ve ever seen,” one user commented.
Another said, “My cat stole a unicorn plush from me when she was 6 weeks old, and she’s had it for 14 years now. It’s a mess, but it would make a really cute tattoo.”

McAskill is happy to inspire others in the pet community. His advice for those looking to get a tattoo in honor of their pets?

“Find an artist that is also a pet owner, who has a style you like foremost,” McAskill said. “Find the person who is as excited about it as you are and have fun with it.”