50+ Best Panther Tattoo Designs and Meanings
Panthers are majestic animals. Not only that. They served as an inspiration to great movie and cartoon characters, including the Black Panther, Pink Panther, and Bagheera, the black panther. Besides that, the majestic physique and appearance of panthers were an inspiration for a lot of artistic work. The panther tattoo is no exception to that.
If you’re reading this article, you must be impressed and allured by the beauty and elegance that panthers bring with their appearance. They may not be talked about as often as with other animals like tigers and leopards. Still, they deserve worshipping of their own.
With that in mind, to celebrate the beauty and power of these animals, we created a comprehensive, yet detailed list of the best panther tattoo designs. If you want to learn more about these amazing animals, you should definitely check the section with different definitions and meanings of the panther tattoo.
Panther Tattoo Meanings
Before we dig into the super-creative and magical creations of different tattoo artists, let’s talk about panthers as animals, as well as define some symbolism and meanings behind them. You gotta know why you’re tattooing them on your body after all.
Some of you may feel disappointed, but if you didn’t know, the panther is not a separate animal of the large cat species. It’s a type of jaguar and leopard that has melanism. Melanism is the opposite state of albinism where animals and even humans lack skin pigment. Panthers have too much of it. As a result, they’re dark and black. They still have the spots, but they’re so dark that they’re well-obscured.
If you still don’t believe us, look at it from this perspective. The Latin meaning behind the word “Panthera” that inspired the name for black panthers is nothing else than a cat. The leopard which is one of the animals that can be born with melanism and known as the panther is known as “Panthera Pardus.”
It’s believed that lack of interest in science led to panther being labeled as a separate animal. That said, black panthers are just leopards and jaguars born with melanism. Still, since it’s easier to remember black panthers, we’ll stick to that term while detailing the best panther tattoo designs.
Now, let’s get onto the meanings.
Panthers have some ghostly appeal to them. The reason for that is because they’re rarely seen in the wild. The animal planet explores different sides of the world with panthers being found in them, but we seldom see them during the day. One reason for that is because panthers are stealthy, quiet, and vigilant, the other reason is that panthers are nocturnal animals.
Panthers utilize the benefit of their dark fur to hunt in the night. That also gives them an advantage over animals that are not nocturnal. They’re quiet, practically, invisible and agile, which allows them to easily overthrow their prey and catch it. During the day, they are rarely seen as active but resting in the trees instead.
Besides their ghostly power that also manifests through spectacular vision and hearing, panthers come with rich mythological symbolism, which we’ll discuss below.
Panthers are stealthy. Humans can hardly be described as stealthy as it’s a superior animal activity. Nevertheless, the mind and soul can be stealthy, cautious, and yet powerful. If you feel that you possess some abilities that can be described as stealthy, we believe that getting a panther tattoo is a good idea.
Besides being stealthy, panthers are elegant and gracious. They move cautiously, carefully, and always get one step ahead of their prey, and potential predators, although there aren’t many. Their grace makes them some of the most majestic animals, which is why many people like to tattoo them.
Also, some people think that wearing a tattoo of a black panther on their body may be a sign of protection and guidance. People believe in animal spirituality, and the panther is only one of such animals that carry that rich symbolism for protection. If you feel, it’ll protect you, go ahead and make one.
Additionally, panthers are the symbol of strength and power. They are extremely agile, resilient, and powerful. They can easily overpower their prey and kill it. Moreover, they can easily climb heights like trees and rock, which just adds up to their immense strength.
Panthers are also a great representation of intelligence and cleverness. Many people who want to point out their intelligence, whether intellectual or emotional, often search for a creative, yet powerful black panther tattoo that they’ll ink on their body.
Greek Mythology
Panthers are present in the Greek myths, which is some of the oldest and most popular folklore in history. One of the Greek Gods, Dionysus, who was also the god of wine was described to ride a large black panther that took him everywhere he wanted.
Given that Dionysus was the God of wine, and oftentimes thought the be the God of sexuality, panthers also carry that symbolism. Their high sex appeal is attributed to slinky and stealthy movements of panthers as it approaches its prey.
If you feel romantic, and as someone with high sex appeal, you could highlight it with a large, detailed, and crisp black panther tattoo. It’s also a great idea if you’re a fan of Greek mythology.
Middle Age
It’s no secret that the paintings of black panthers were popular across medieval kingdoms and countries. Arm coats that were commonly worn at that time used a black panther embroidery and other black panther-like symbols etched in the coats and capes.
Back in the middle age, there was a rumor that a black panther could allure everyone with its strong, loud, and magical roar, that it used to have an easier time eating its prey. The only creature believed to be more powerful than the mystic panther was a dragon.
There are also some beliefs that panthers bring harmony, and are the symbol of romantic interactions, love, palace balls, and different manifestations. Some cultures also have it that they bring peace and harmony across the animal kingdom.
Types of Panther Tattoo
There are different types of a panther tattoos that you could get for yourself. Below are some ideas that could potentially inspire you to get an authentic and good-looking tattoo.
Black Panther (Animal): The most casual tattoo you could get is a realistic black panther tattoo from the animal itself. Given it’s extremely popular, there are plenty of pictures and settings on the internet that could inspire you to get the tattoo work done. Some tattoo artists also sell designs of panther tattoos for their interested clients.
Pink Panther: The Pink Panther media series has caught a lot of attention with a pink-colored animated animal setting up traps for French police detective Jacques Clouseau. It’s recognizable to its mysterious music theme that is popular even today. It began after the first Pink Panther film was released. This may not be a popular idea for a tattoo, but many people grew up watching the hilarious cartoon.
Black Panther (Marvel): Black Panther is a super-popular superhero movie that also gives more inclusion of people of color in the superhero movies. The actor who played Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman also passed away in 2020. That’s why many people think it’s a good idea to give a tribute to the character through a bold tattoo of a talented, brave, and powerful superhero.
Tribal Panther: Believe it or not, black panthers were an inspiration for various tribal illustrations throughout different African tribes. Today, they’re also an inspiration for tattoos with tribal patterns. That could serve as an inspiration for your next tattoo if you’re into tribal designs.
Panther head: Some people are interested in having only a panther head tattooed on their body. Perhaps, they want to admire the beauty and dangerous charm of its look and expression, or it could be something else.
Bagheera tattoo: Bagheera is one of the most loved and popular characters from the Jungle Book. He helps the monkey-raised boy Mowgli fight and survives against the predators from the jungle. His appearance in the Jungle Book carries great character development for Mowgli. His wisdom inspires people to get his tattoo.
Best Panther Tattoo Designs
With all meanings and symbolism behind the panther tattoos revealed, without a further ado, let’s list the best panther tattoo designs. We hope that they will be inspirational for you and that you’ll be able to come up with even better tattoo designs.
Small Panther Tattoo
Given the strong and prominent look of black ink which is necessary for a panther tattoo, it’s no surprise that people who are not comfortable with tattooing large works will go with smaller designs. Still, going for a small design doesn’t mean that you’ll have to give up on great-looking and detailed designs.
The three designs we included look stunning and detailed. That said, the small size doesn’t mean that the appearance of the tattoo is compromised. You can easily keep it simple and avoid getting a tattoo with multiple elements. Still, you can add flowers, swords, trees, and other jungle elements that are descriptive of the panther’s habitat.
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Large Panther Tattoo
Some people prefer smaller tattoos that are hard to notice. If you’re looking for large tattoos that you can flaunt, especially outside, here are a few inspirational designs that could help motivate you to design your tattoo. Larger tattoos mean that you’ll either turn them into an arm or leg-sleeve or go for a bold design on the back or leg.
Whatever may be the case, find a tattoo artist that will depict your tattoo design with profound attention to detail, allowing your tattoo design to stand out and catch a lot of eyes in the process.
Black Panther Tattoo
If you want to focus on the details and shading process of your tattoo, then choosing a black panther tattoo is the right choice for you. You will need to be patient, as such tattoos take more time to shade, especially if you want to be super-detailed and include the spots present on jaguars and leopards.
Your tattoo artist will probably be comfortable with using different shades. However, you need to be patient in order for it to come out perfectly. Focusing on as detailed tattoos as possible takes time, and can be painful too, depending on the spot you pick for your tattoo.
Finally, you can also choose a more minimalistic design, but your tattoo will only have a few shades on it.
Black Panther (Marvel) Tattoo
As mentioned earlier in the article, Black Panther introduced a set of great characters, among which is the late Chadwick Boseman who played the Black Panther himself. He was emotional, strong, righteous, honorable, and brave. Following his father died, Black Panther took over the Wakanda kingdom and guarded it against evil.
His character development throughout the few years of the character appearing on the big screen inspired many people to come up with different tattoo designs to pay tribute to the actor and great character that he portrayed.
We featured some beautiful designs, with great attention to detail, character and emotion conveyed through the shades of ink.
Pink Panther Tattoo
If you grew up watching the Pink Panther movies, cartoons, or both, then we’re sure that the pink-colored panther served as your inspiration for the tattoo. There are different designs that we featured. While most designs are small and compact and generally don’t draw too much attention, you could be more bold and creative to come up with a design of your own.
Minimalist Panther Tattoo
Given that panthers are stealthy, elegant, and gracious, there is a lot of material to come up with the minimalist design. What feels minimalistic for you, we or someone else may be individual, but we made sure to research designs that fit the picture the best.
That said, we featured different designs on different positions and using various ink options to make it modest and more minimalist. You can even come up with a panther design with more geometrical shapes, with different shading that could also give it a more minimalist hue.
Minimalist tattoos aren’t only made for people with a desire to have a hardly noticeable tattoo. It’s great for people who live a minimalistic lifestyle and want a low-effort, yet sophisticated tattoo design of panther.
Tribal Panther Tattoo
As mentioned earlier, many tribal cultures had great respect and worship for black panthers in the jungle. That also led to them making drawings and different ink designs that today inspired various tattoos. You don’t have to go with the traditional South and Southeastern Asian and African designs. You can even go for a Native American setting, as well as some tribal South American pattern that will look good on your body, and with other tattoos too.
Panther Tattoo Sleeve
Whether you want to combine different big cats like lions, tigers, and regular leopards with panthers on your arm or leg sleeve, or go with a panther design alone, there are plenty of sleeve designs for a panther tattoo. You can combine small panthers with different floral arrangements and jungle elements or go for a vicious big panther that is more than ready to grab its prey.
We loved the designs we dug out, and congratulate the tattoo artists for their hardworking hands. There’s impeccable attention to details, texture, and choice of colors that fit just right. Gorgeous!
Panther Back Tattoo
We wrote about big black panther tattoos. But, some may be so big that you have to put them on your back. Luckily, backs aren’t the most painful body part to get a tattoo, especially if you’re a woman, because that place appears to be the least painful.
Nevertheless, the back is a great spot for a tattoo. In the previous creations, you can see that each tattoo is super-detailed, it conveys an emotion, and it’s as if it’s telling a story. Your back is a canvas for a great selection of shades and designs that you can combine with other symbols and elements.
Realistic Panther Tattoo
We also found several designs that could work well if you’re looking for a more realistic approach for a tattoo. That said, these designs provide a realistic look into the panthers as animals. If you want to get even more realistic and find a talented tattoo artist, you could turn realistic photos into an even more realistic tattoo.
We know that finding a super-talented tattoo artist can take some time, but the result will definitely look good. Additionally, you can find an artist that will subtly add the spots that are normally darker on panthers because of the melanism.
Panther Tattoo For Girls
Who says that the panther tattoo looks good only on guys. We featured multiple designs that are inked on men, but that doesn’t make them any less applicable to women. If you didn’t find a suitable, more girly design among the previously mentioned designs, we hope that these lively, stunning and detailed tattoo designs make the cut.
You can also add other elements such as butterflies, a female panther, flowers, roses, and other, more feminine objects that you think would add to your tattoo’s style and design.
Sneaking Panther Tattoo
Tattoos, where panthers are shown sneaking and crawling behind their prey, seem the most vicious, yet lively. It’s as if they bring action into life, that very moment as the panther is preparing to jump its prey. We think that’s amazing, which is why we decided to turn it into a tattoo design idea.
And, let’s agree, there are plenty of people who agree with us, which is why we see multiple designs where the panther is crawling behind. If you think this tattoo will add up to your agility, strength, and stealth, make sure to make a killer crawling panther tattoo.
Panther Head Tattoo
Panther’s full body may be too long and overwhelming for someone’s tattoo. That’s why some people avoid it. Still, if they want to enjoy full empowerment of wearing the black panther tattoo as it is, some people choose to have just the head and add as many details to it as possible.
If you’re one of them, make sure to check out the designs we displayed, and hopefully, they’ll inspire you as they did us.
Sketch Black Panther Tattoo
Artistic spirits like to have sketchy and creative art for a tattoo design. That said, the design idea where a tattoo looks more like a sketch than a tattoo highly appeals to us. Although you won’t see crazy shading and focus on colors, don’t think that designing these tattoos was easy. It took hours of use of ink to make it look like it was sketched on paper. It also has a hint of minimalism, but that doesn’t make it any less great.
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FAQs About Panther Tattoo
Whether this is your first time to get a tattoo or you’re a veteran, here are the answers to common questions that rose about panther tattoo designs and meanings. Let’s dig in!
What is the Cost Of Panther Tattoo?
Depending on the size, details, and shading, a panther tattoo can cost anywhere from $50-$70 up to $200. Sleeve tattoos may cost even more than that and require multiple sessions until the sleeve is complete. Additionally, more realistic tattoos can cost you well above $500 and reach up to $2,000 depending on complexity, size, details, and how many times you’ll attend your tattoo artist.
Are Panther Tattoos Only for Guys?
Even though we displayed more tattoos for guys, and there are generally more designs on guys doesn’t mean that this type of tattoo isn’t for girls. We have a section with great panther tattoo designs that are suited for girls. Nevertheless, each and every design can be inked on a woman.
You can get creative with different designs, textures, and patterns, as well as added elements that you want to put on your tattoo. It’s all up to you. Girls who like panthers and tattoos, shouldn’t hesitate from getting one if they truly want it.
Does Getting a Panther Tattoo Hurt?
Getting a panther tattoo doesn’t differ from getting any other tattoo and it will hurt. People have different tolerance to pain, which is why some people react more adversely to getting inked. People with low pain tolerance will avoid getting a large tattoo. Still, there are no one-size-fits, which is why everyone feels the pain at some level.
There are multiple ways to avoid too much pain like using gels and ointments, asking your tattoo artist to take breaks, and even drink enough water to keep your skin hydrated. It’s also worth noting that some locations on the body hurt more than others.
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