60+ Cow Tattoo Ideas to Leave You Udderly Inspired and Amoosed!

From simple designs and meaningful concepts to downright hilarious, I have covered the spectrum of cow tattoo designs for you!

I absolutely love clients who come in with cow tattoo requests. This is because I immediately know that I am in for a very entertaining session. People who want these tattoos nearly always end up being incredibly creative with a great sense of humor.

It doesn't matter if you want to be inspired or are looking for a laugh, you are sure to find all the cow tattoo ideas you need here!

The Best Cow Tattoo Ideas

Here are the top cow tattoo ideas for you to choose from:

Cow Head Tattoos

Well, this cow tattoo design is pretty self-explanatory - it involves just the head of the cow! These cow tattoo ideas can be a great option if you only want to focus on the adorable face of the cow or are simply looking for a smaller tattoo.

Now, with cow tattoo ideas such as these, you can choose to get a cow's head that is fairly realistic. Or, you can get a cow tattoo that is a bit more creative or has fantastical elements to it. The choice is yours!

Minimalistic Cow Tattoos

Looking for a simple tattoo? Then I have just the cow tattoo ideas for you!

When it comes to cow tattoo designs such as these, you have a few options available to you. If you are looking for the most minimalistic option, then you can get an outline of a cow. Want to add a bit more detail to your cow tattoo? Then you can color it in a little - perhaps add some black markings.

These black and white tattoos represent simplicity so they can be the perfect option for such a design.

In case you want to switch things up, then you can consider a white cow tattoo with black markings, but with a very abstract design. This works well if you want a slightly funnier design for your cow tattoo design.

Of course, such inked tattoos don't just have to be done in black and grey or black and white. While the outline may be simple, you can still opt for a colorful cow tattoo and get a watercolor tattoo.

Realistic Cow Tattoos

There is no denying that cows are truly majestic and beautiful creatures. So, it only makes sense that you are considering realistic cow tattoo ideas.

The first decision to make with this kind of cow tattoo is the kind of cow that you want to get inked on you. After all, there are different types of breeds to choose from. So, pick out your favorite and go with that! If you aren't too familiar with the different breeds, then it is a good idea to look up a picture of them for context.

It goes without saying that for this kind of cow tattoo, you do need a talented artist to help you out. This is because attention to detail is key here. So, make sure to do your research and find the right tattoo artist for the job.

Also, make it a point to take a photo of the cow that you want tattooed on with you. This way, your tattoo artist will know which specific details they will need to include in your cow tattoo.

What is interesting about such cow tattoo ideas is that just because you want a realistic cow tattoo doesn't mean that it has to be a big one. You can actually get a stunning tattoo design with a miniature concept. In fact, you can actually add two cows into the mix and still have your tattoo fairly small.

Another thing to keep in mind with a cow tattoo like this one is that a realistic design doesn't have to mean a boring tattoo. You can add lots of little fun details like a little cowboy hat or a scarf and still get a pretty realistic tattoo!

Cartoon Cow Tattoos

There is also no denying that cows work just as well as a cow cartoon tattoo design!

One of the great things about cow tattoo ideas such as these is that there are so many design options available to you. If you want, you can choose to only slightly cartoonify your cow. Or, you can go all out and make the tattoo design quite outrageous.

You can also decide to kick things up a notch when it comes to the color palette and opt for a watercolor cow tattoo if you want.

Keep in mind that there are a lot of different cartoon styles and effects. So, make sure that you take the time to really consider what all your style options are. It is only by doing your research that you can determine which concept suits your personal sense of style perfectly.

Calf Tattoos

I don't know about you but, for me, there are few things more precious than a calf! They are so cute and fluffy and just a little bit goofy too. So, if you want an adorable tattoo, look no further than a calf tattoo.

Now, for these kinds of cow tattoo ideas, you can work with your tattoo artist to get any kind of tattoo design that you want. If you want, you can opt for a simple tattoo. Or, go with a more complex design where you add more details.

At the same time, don't forget to have fun with your design. You can choose to get a cartoon cow or add adorable elements to the tattoo to take the cute element to the next level.

The good news for you is that I have included a variety of calf tattoos for you to select from. So, it should be easier to determine which kind of design is just right for you.

Mom Cow and Calf Tattoos

If you imagine that tattoos with calves in them can't get any more adorable, think again! These mom cow and calf tattoos are so beautiful they can reduce you to tears.

In fact, this kind of tattoo can be really great if you want to honor the relationship between you and your mom or you and your child. This kind of design works well with any relationship where someone played a caregiving role.

Once again, there are so many options for how to make this kind of tattoo work. If you want, you can keep it small and simple with a minimum number of details. Or, you can go for a super realistic tattoo that looks like a painting that has been done during the golden period of the day.

On the flip side, you can also choose to go in a more creative avenue and get a tattoo that resembles a Polaroid picture with a deep contrast with dark and light shades. The options really are endless here.

Sacred Cow Tattoos

Now, you may have heard that in Hinduism, cows are considered a sacred animal. In reality, it would be more accurate to say that most Hindus believe in the sanctity of the cow. This is because the cow is meant to represent nature and beneficence and, as such, should be protected.

Cows have also been associated with many Hindu gods and goddesses. Due to this, for this kind of tattoo, you may want to include elements of traditional art to turn your tattoo into a work of art.

Patterned Cows Tattoos

I have to say that these are some of my favorite cow-based tattoos. This is because they are so pretty!

The concepts behind these tattoos are different patterns, shapes, and prints on the coat of the cow. These can be anything from hearts and circles to stars and fruit. I love how beautiful and quirky these tattoos can be.

If you want a slightly different kind of tattoo but still want it to be relatively subtle, then I would advise you to go with a black and grey design. On the other hand, if you would prefer if your tattoo was the center of attention, then going with bright or bold colors is the way to go.

In case you prefer a slightly softer approach, pastel colors are also a lovely option.

Floral Cow Tattoos

Are you looking for a way to brighten up your tattoo or to add decorative elements into the mix? If so, then you may want to consider adding a beautiful flower - or many flowers - to your tattoo!

There are a lot of different ways that you can incorporate flowers into your tattoo. It can be as simple as dotting flowers around the cow. Or, you can have a wreath adorning the tattoo.

Another adorable option is to have the cow wearing a floral tiara. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to make such a design work so here are all the options available to you:

Two-Headed Calf Tattoos

A two-headed calf tattoo can have a few different meanings.

The first meaning can be in relation to the poem by Laura Gilpin. On the one hand, the poem expresses the sadness behind the birth of a two-headed calf. This is because not only are they considered a “freak of nature”, they often don't survive very long.

At the same time, there is something joyful about this poem because it describes the calf spending a perfect night with its mother and being able to see twice as many stars in the sky as anyone else.

Of course, with your tattoo, you don't have to consider the negative aspects of a two-headed calf. Some people see two-headed calves as a miracle and something that should be celebrated.

This kind of tattoo may be a good reminder to you that life is full of surprises and unusual things and that you should open yourself up to all kinds of possibilities.

Traditional Cow Tattoos

When it comes to such tattoo designs, you may also want to consider different tattoo styles. Case in point is the traditional tattooing style. This is where thick black outlines and bold colors make up the tattoos.

One of the reasons that I love this tattooing style for cows is because the traditional format lends a vintage look to the tattoos. So, if you want to add a cowboy or Wild West element to your design, then the traditional style is the perfect one to use!

Winged Cow Tattoos

If you have a sense of humor or just love whimsical things, then you are going to get a kick out of this kind of tattoo. This is because - as the name says - these cows are winged!

When you think of creatures with wings, you typically imagine small and delicate beings. A cow is quite far from this so you do get quite a giggle conjuring up such a flying cow in your head!

It is up to you to decide how complex you want your tattoo to be. If you want, it can be as simple as a cow with wings. Or, you can decide to add other magical elements into the mix if you prefer.

For this kind of tattoo, you will also need to consider what kind of wings to ink on your cow. This can be fairy wings, angel wings, or even butterfly wings if you like!

Alien Abduction Tattoos

Speaking of a sense of humor, if you are looking for funny tattoo ideas, then this is one that you should consider - the cow getting abducted by an alien.

In the past, when you typically heard about UFO abductions, they often took place in cornfields. And, perhaps because of this, cattle were more likely to be abducted as well. If these stories tickled you, then this tattoo is going to be right up your alley.

The other great thing about these tattoos is that they are bold, colorful, and will certainly be an eye-catching statement for you!

Cow Jumping Over the Moon Tattoos

This is a bit of a different take on a flying cow. In this instance, the cow is jumping over the moon. Now, you may remember this line for a children's nursery rhyme called Hey Diddle Diddle.

This is a funny and completely nonsensical poem that can remind you of your own childhood. Or, a tattoo where a cow jumps over the moon can be simply a design that helps you laugh from time to time.

Creative Tattoos

Want a cow tattoo without any rhyme or reason? Well, then welcome to creative tattoo designs! Here you can let your creativity run wild and come up with any number of concepts. Here is some inspiration to get you started!

From stunning works of art to really funny concepts, there are just so many cow-related tattoo options for you to choose from. So, all you need to do is to figure out which of these tattoo designs really speaks to you. Get ready to be inspired and discover your next tattoo!