Instagram star accused of animal cruelty after tattooing cat

Screenshots of an Instagram story shared by a Chernigov-based tattoo artist appear to show Ivanickaya’s pet Sphinx cat under anaesthetic while an Egyptian design is inked onto its chest.

Ivanickaya then posted photos of the final result on her own account and her cat Yasha's.

Her followers weer quick to accuse the Instagram personality of animal cruelty and torture. 

Ukraine-based animal rights organisation UAnimals also slammed the images, posting them on its Facebook page.

However, Ivanickaya defended her actions, claiming Yasha is treated with “love and care” and wasn’t harmed in the tattooing process.

'I checked with the vet before getting him a tattoo and they were fine with it,” she told fans, according to the Daily Mail.

'A vet was present while they were doing the tattoo, so everything was under control.'

'The tattoo was made on the upper layer of skin … he did not feel any pain,' she added. 'Right after the procedure he behaved normally and started to go on with his normal routine.'

This article originally appeared on New Idea.