A young woman has found a heartfelt way to remember her kitten after a sudden tragedy.
On April 3, 21-year-old Katerina Krimliadi took her 10-month-old kitten, Inky, to the vet for a routine spaying surgery. She expected the procedure to be simple. Soon after, she received a call saying everything had gone well.
But Krimliadi told Newsweek that when Inky woke from anesthesia, she struggled to breathe and sadly did not survive. Later scans showed Inky had fluid in her lungs and a hiatal hernia, a condition where part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm.
“I was in shock. The vets told me it was all fine, then just an hour later, they called to say she had died,” Krimliadi said.
The loss devastated Krimliadi, who was also heartbroken that she didn’t get to say goodbye.
However, as she looked at her wrist, she noticed scratch marks Inky had made during playtime days before. Those marks stayed on her skin, and Krimliadi knew she wanted to keep them forever.
The next day, she contacted her tattoo artist and booked an appointment without hesitation.
“I didn’t think twice. Four days after Inky passed, I got her paw marks tattooed. I love how it turned out. It’s perfect,” she said.
The tattoo took only about five minutes, but it now serves as a permanent reminder of Inky.
Krimliadi shared a video of the tattooing on TikTok (@krimliadi), saying she was “holding on forever” to what she had left of Inky. Since posting on April 7, the video has gone viral, gaining over 370,200 views and 49,800 likes.
Krimliadi said she never expected such a strong response but has been touched by the support from other pet owners. “Many people understand this pain. Losing a pet is the worst, but the support has been amazing,” she told Newsweek.
The TikTok comments reflect shared sorrow and empathy. One user wrote, “Omg, this just made me cry. How sweet. I’m so sorry.” Another said, “This ruined me and it’s only 8 a.m.” A third added, “Not being able to say goodbye is the worst feeling.”
Katerina’s tattoo is a lasting tribute to her beloved kitten and a reminder of the deep bond between pets and their owners.
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