It's often said that over time pets end up subtly resembling their owners in looks and in character. For example, a beardy man with a crop of shaggy hair might find that his dog becomes just as hairy and matted as he is. A rotund person might find that their pet puts on a few extra pounds, while someone skinny might end up with an equally-emaciated cat.

But now it seems that people with body art can give their pets tattoos too, to make them look even more similar.

Obviously, it would be a bit cruel to use a needle to give your furry (or hairless) friend a regular inking. But you can circumvent the issue by purchasing these incredible bespoke tattoo sleeves online, which look pretty much identical to the real thing.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Etsy/SimplySphynx]]

Artist and designer Airie McCready, who comes from California, has been creating stylish garments for house pets that make them look like they have tattoo sleeves.

The jumpers she makes for her hairless Persians have Chinese and Japanese inspired butterfly designs in the same skin colour as the cats to make them look as though they've been inked.

Commenting on her quirky products in a recent interview with the Metro, Aerie stated: "I have many sleeves for my own six cats, three Sphynxes and three Devon Rexes. The idea came to me when a friend showed me a silly fake tattoo sleeve and teased me how I did not have to get ink, I could have gotten one of these. I grabbed it from him and thought 'if only I knew how to sew.'"

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkl6Idpg8E2/]]

She added: "It took a long time, but I figured out how to do it, it’s really delicate fabric.’ Aerie explained that she found a seller that offers prints with non-toxic ink and uses a material that is safe for the kitties too. Everything in my shop is made by myself or a contracted seamstress and I oversee each item.

"Two years ago at the Westminster Kennel Club, they had a 'meet the cats' event and even had the cats do an agility course. Misha, a Sphynx, wearing one of my Tattcat shirts won!"

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So if you'd like to bag yourself one of these ingenious garments, then do yourself a favour and check out Airie's Etsy shop, or visit her official Instagram account for further updates.

When getting a matching tattoo with somebody, the most important thing to ensure is that your ink-twin means a lot to you. For many people, this means getting a tat with their spouse or significant other, but others might choose to share a design with a close relative, or sometimes even a friend. And what better friend is there than a dog? A recent Facebook post by a man who got a matching tattoo with his four-legged friend has gone viral for all the wrong reasons after it was shared on Reddit.  It said, 'For those of you who know Bear know that he has a tattoo given to him from some previous owners. It sickens me to know that people actually tattoo their pets. So tonight, I got his tattoo.' Accompanying the post was two pictures: one of the dog, who has a tattoo at the top of his inner thigh, and one of the unnamed man, who has the same design freshly emblazoned on his inner arm. So far, not too much to get upset about - in fact, I'd say it was actually a really nice sentiment. However, as well as being certain about who you want to get a matching tattoo with, you should also make yourself aware of what the tattoo actually means. Now, I can't be certain of this, but - judging by the way his post was worded - it seems as if this guy had no idea what the symbol on his dog actually represented. Luckily, his friends were quick to point it out in the comments. "That means he's neutered! My rescue female has one, too! Makes a cool story though!" wrote one friend. "Are you neutered too? Lmao," wrote another, less considerate, pal. His humiliation then continued over to Reddit, where the post is currently sitting on nearly 24,000 points and over a thousand comments in the 'cringepics' sub. "Lol, I should get that tat myself for the anniversary of my vasectomy!" wrote one user. "It's literally the symbol for 'male' with the balls crossed out lol," said another. It seemed as if this poor dog owner's ridiculing could go no further... but then Twitter joined the party: [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/holly/status/912378092160786432]] However, since going viral, the dog owner has revealed himself to be Chris Mendiola, a 26-year-old from Texas. He adopted Bear way back in 2010, and says he has no regrets about his tattoo. In fact, he's also claiming that he knew exactly what he was doing all along. "We talked to our vet about the tattoo. I knew what it meant," said Mendiola. That doesn't really explain why he thought the dog was marked by "previous owners", but ok, whatever you say Chris. He isn't fazed judgement anyway, adding that, "[People] can believe and say what they want, but the tattoo is not for them, it’s for me." Well, whether you buy his story or not, you have to admit that it's still a sweet thing to do. Personally, I'd have gone with a portrait of the dog, but, you know, whatever floats your boat.

Every time someone I know gets a tattoo and asks me what I think of it, I say I think it "looks brilliant". This is because the reality - that they have just spent hundreds of dollars on a regrettably permanent mistake - is simply too harsh to spell out.

It takes a lot for a tattoo to actually look cool, not least since you need to be a 'tattoo type of person' for any ink to work at all. Some people just don't look right with tattoos; all pasty, freckled skin coloured in with some tribal pattern of which they have no idea of the real meaning.

Perhaps my attitude towards ink is a little dictatorial, but there you have it, these are my feelings, friends.

Of late, though, a new type of tattoo has sprung up, and I have to say I think it's piggin' marvellous. 'Cover up' tattoos have become popular as they use scars, birthmarks and more as the basis for really bloody cool tattoo designs. Not only are these empowering if they help those who feel a little self-conscious about their bodies - but they are also incredibly creative and I could tell a friend who got one I thought it looked brilliant without having to lie to their face.

Here are some of the very best examples.

1. Beautiful

2. So clever 

3. Colourful and creative

4. An incredible design 

5. Quirky and cool 

6. Wow.

7. Flower design down the spine

8. This is so cool

9. Zippers are a popular theme 

10. A powerful image 

Which is your favourite? Personally I think they're all ridiculously cool, and a great way of embracing scars on one's body. Of course, there's nothing at all wrong with having a scar in the first place, so leaving them as they are with no tattoo embellishment is also very cool.

It's no secret that tattoos don't always go to plan, and even if you walk out of a studio grinning from ear to ear, someone could point out something about your tattoo that quickly leaves you mortified.

Case in point, this woman, who was left red-faced after realizing that her minimalist tattoo of her cat looks like a "pair of balls".

Lucy Armitage, 20, from Leeds, England, took to TikTok to share a video of her minimalist inking that she got as a tribute to her pet cat, before revealing that she really didn't think the design through before getting it permanently tattooed on her skin.

Watch the hilarious TikTok below: 

[[tiktokwidget||https://www.tiktok.com/@lucyarmitage2/video/6869823685742693637]]

The tattoo is of a simple outline of cat ears that join up to a heart. Unfortunately, the heart looks like something else entirely... testicles.

She joked in the caption: "So I got a tattoo for my cat. Didn’t really think it through. I now have a pair of balls on my wrist."

However, while this isn't something that many people would consciously get tattooed - least of all in such a prominent place - it doesn't seem like Lucy regrets it too much and she said she "loves looking at them every day".

This isn't the only tattoo to hit the headlines in recent days, either, and a mom captured the media's attention after revealing that she tattooed one of her identical twins so that she could tell them apart.

Taking to Reddit, the 31-year-old mother titled her post: "AITA [Am I the a**hole] for medically tattooing my child under the recommendation of a doctor?"

She adds: "Now they may be fraternal but they look identical. I'll be honest my husband and I even mix them up sometimes. Everyone does."

The mom then explained that one of the twins, Jack, has a minor medical condition that requires a weekly shot, and she accidentally got the wrong twin, Adam, tattooed.

"He was never in danger. It's a very slow-acting medication that, at worst, would have given him diarrhea in a few days."

The mom explained that a doctor then recommended that she got her child tattooed in order to tell them apart.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Pexels]]

"They tattoo a freckle, no bigger than the end of a pencil eraser, on an area of skin that's easily seen," she writes. "Because of the area it usually fades in 2-3yrs, but by then they should have developed more personal features and may not need it redone.

"So after [a] discussion with my husband we did it."

A two-millimeter freckle tattooed was then tattooed on Jack's earlobe.

The mom explains: "From entering the office to leaving, it took 30 minutes," and states that Jack "never felt a thing".

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Pexels]]

However, she explained that her mother-in-law "lost her s**t" when she found out about the tattoo.

"I tried to explain but she just freaked out," she writes. "So I put both kids on the floor and told her to pick up Jack and find the tattoo.

"She picked up Adam, so I handed her Jack and after 20 minutes still couldn't find it. Stripped him to his skivvies.

"I finally pointed it out and she went 'That's just a freckle', I just said: 'My point exactly. Adam doesn't have a freckle there. So that's how daycare can tell them apart'".

But while the small mark has the potential to save the child's life, she said her mother-in-law is "still p***ed and ranting".

"Once I explain to others and they fail to find it they understand, but they still think I went too far in tattooing my child and altering their body," she writes.

"I believe I took the necessary precautions recommended by the doctor and the tattoo will fade with sun exposure and as he grows."

The post received a lot of attention on the forum, with the majority of users firmly agreeing that, with context, the mother was not an a**hole.

"NTA [not the a**hole] at all, it’s literally a fake freckle. It’s not like you gave him a full sleeve of pin up girls and muscle cars. Also, it’s to make it harder to accidentally kill him or his brother. You made the right call," one person replied.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit]]

Another agreed, writing: "NTA. You took the recommendation from a medical professional and made the decision with your spouse for the safety of your child. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, especially for something so small."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Reddit]]

What do you think? Was this mom right to tattoo one of her twins?

Tattoos can be completely beautiful, completely inspirational and something you'll want to show off for the rest of your life  ... or they can be the stuff of nightmares.

Unfortunately for people being inked, there are more horror stories out there than you'd think. For example, this week a Reddit user efergantes asked tattoo artists and customers to reveal on their biggest "oh crap..." moment while tattooing someone or receiving a tattoo. And, needless to say, there was plenty of tea to spill...

1. Something tells me this guy got unfriended...

"My best friend went to a guy he knew who did tattoos as a hobby at his house. He wanted 'UNFORGIVING' tattooed down his forearm. They decided to get drunk and pop some pills as he is getting the tattoo. My friend passes out. He wakes up a few hours later and looks over at the tattoo guy, who is staring at the floor with a look of defeat on his face. 'I fucked up man,' he said. My friend looks down at his new 'UNFRIEND' forearm tattoo."

- Ammarseo1991

2. I'd have taken the wimpy way out

"I went to my old roommate's friend for a tattoo of jellyfish on my ribs. He drew it up. It looked great, but he drew it on graph paper and said it was just to help him with the dimensions. Okay, cool no problem. When he started, I thought this dude had mad allergies. He was sniffling so much, but nah. He had a wicked cocaine addiction, was on pills, and ended up tattooing the entire grid paper on my side. I sat for 6-7 hours straight because I didn’t want to 'seem like a pussy.' In the end, I had to get a 14-hour cover up done on it. I’ll never get my other rib tattooed."

- blackcatskirt

[[imagecaption|| Credit: blackcatskirt/imgur.com]]

3. Never trust your ex with a tattoo

"My ex is a tattoo artist and has done most of my work. He left us the day after our son was born and it wasn’t until five years later that I ran into him again. I was cordial, I had forgiven him long ago, and was happy in my new life as a single mom. I asked him for a tattoo (the least he could do, right?) and he complied. He drew up a beautiful tribal rosebush that I wanted as a tramp stamp. He starts working and about an hour later, I looked to see how it was coming along. The bastard stuck our son’s name on my lower back. IN HIS HANDWRITING. It doomed my sex life for a while."

- Aylatryst

4. I, for one, can't believe this isn't a word...

"We're an hour into the tattoo, well into the colour, when my girl asks me if there's meant to be an 'e' there. I sit back. My blood goes cold. The world slows to a halt. The more I frantically read the word 'develope' in my head the less it sounds and looks like a word. I tear off my gloves and consult uncle Google...and, no, no it is not a word."

- realShustyRackleford

 

5. The bread is pretty great too, just sayin'

"A guy who didn't speak English very well came in and asked for the word, 'hovis' on his arm. Confused, we repeatedly asked if he definitely wanted 'hovis,' like the bread? We wrote it out on paper, but he kept saying, 'yes, yes.' So my boss did it. The next day he comes in with his very angry brother who explained he wanted 'ELVIS.'"

- deadsocial

6. You can't fault the tattoo artist here

"A customer of mine went to Spain for a tattoo and asked the artist for a Love heart with Margaret in the middle. The artist didn't speak a word of English, so he asked for it to be written down — exactly what he wanted done. Well, he did get exactly what he wrote down."

- mackdow85

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Mackdow85/imgur.com]]

7. There's a possibility that this girl was seriously embarrassed

"I have this friend who has quite a few tattoos. She had been planning on getting a large infinity sign (like the sideways 8) followed by the word, 'possibilities' up the length of her forearm. The idea was to have infinite possibilities, kind of an affirmation. Well, she got it and loved it. She posted it on Facebook and Instagram, tagged her artist and went about her day. I had to call her and tell her the bad news. Her arm said, 'possibities.'"

- Ekalb13

8. His tattoo doesn't lie

"My friend let a random girl scrawl John Lennon’s quote, 'Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans' onto his rib cage, but he was on numbing drugs and only let her get halfway through, so he has a tattoo that says, 'Life is what happens to you.' Which is 100% better, anyway."

- Goongagalunga

"A guy was getting tattooed on his arm and started to look pale. My friend knows the signs all too well and asks if he needs a break or something to eat or drink. Client says, 'Nope all good. Keep going." Sure enough, within ten minutes, the client slumps over having fainted...and then proceeds to violently shit his pants. Safe to say that tattoo chair had to get thrown out."

- MsBobbyJenkins

Now, after all of that tattoo trauma, how about some successful tattoos? To renew your faith in the inking business, check out these 13 discreet and inspirational mastectomy tattoos.