Animal keepsakes: Pet Memorial Gift Ideas After a Loss

When a pet dies, the absence is real. For many people, the loss of an animal companion is one of the deepest griefs they will experience, and they want something to mark it. Animal keepsakes are objects that hold a piece of the pet, a paw print, a tuft of fur, a photograph, a pinch of ashes, and turn that piece into something the family can keep, wear, or display.

This page covers the most common types of pet keepsakes, what they cost, and how to choose one that fits the animal and the family.

Paw Print and Nose Print Kits

Paw print kits are the most common keepsake. The kit contains a small disc of clay or putty, and you press the pet’s paw into it before burial or cremation. The print hardens and can be kept as is, framed, or used to make a mold for jewelry. Most kits cost $15 to $40 and are available from pet hospice services, veterinarians, and online retailers.

For clay prints that will be displayed outdoors, choose a kit with weatherproof clay. For prints that will be turned into jewelry, the kits that capture fine detail (typically silicone-based) work better than the standard clay.

Nose print kits work the same way but capture the pet’s nose. They are more common for dogs and cats and produce a small, raised print that can be framed or cast into metal.

Fur and Feather Keepsakes

Fur keepsakes are small vials, lockets, or shadow boxes that hold a clipping of the pet’s fur. The fur should be clean and dry, and most vendors recommend storing it with a small amount of silica gel to prevent mildew. Glass vials with screw-top closures are the standard and cost $15 to $60 depending on size and material.

Some vendors turn the fur into wearable art, a small bundle of fur under a glass cabochon, set into a ring or pendant. The technique is common for horsehair jewelry but works for dogs and cats too.

For birds, a single feather can be pressed and framed, or set into a resin pendant. Feather keepsakes are smaller and more fragile than fur, but they capture something specific about the bird.

Cremation Urns and Jewelry

For pets that have been cremated, the most common keepsake is an urn. Urns come in wood, ceramic, metal, stone, and biodegradable materials. Small pet urns for cats and small dogs run $40 to $150; larger dog urns run $100 to $400. Biodegradable urns designed for burial or scattering run $50 to $200.

Cremation jewelry is a pendant, bracelet, or ring with a small internal chamber that holds a pinch of ashes. Prices range from $40 for a simple stainless steel pendant to $300 to $600 for sterling silver or gold pieces. Custom designs with engraving run higher.

Some families split the ashes, a portion in an urn for the home, a portion in jewelry for the wearer, and a portion to be scattered. This is more common than people realize and works well for families who share the responsibility of remembrance.

Photo and Personalized Keepsakes

A framed photo is the simplest keepsake and remains the most common. Custom framing with a small engraved plate under the photo, or a frame with the pet’s name engraved in the wood, turns a simple photo into a memorial piece.

Other photo-based keepsakes include photo books, custom blankets printed with the pet’s image, and small canvases. Prices range from $20 for a basic print to $200 for a custom-printed blanket.

For families who want a more artistic keepsake, custom portraits painted from a photograph are an option. Commission prices for a small painted portrait run $200 to $800, depending on the artist and the medium.

Memorial Jewelry and Wearable Keepsakes

Beyond cremation jewelry, several other wearable options exist. Paw print pendants engraved with an actual print are common and run $50 to $200. Lockets with a small photo inside work for any pet. Fingerprint or paw print rings, cast from the actual print, run $100 to $400 depending on the metal.

Charity bracelets, where a portion of the price supports animal welfare, are a less expensive option that some families prefer. They cost $20 to $60 and turn the keepsake into a small ongoing donation.

Frequently asked questions

References & Further Reading

The following sources informed the guidance on this page:

• info.lapoflove.com
• www.chewy.com
• www.thelivingurn.com
• www.legacylane.com
• www.reddit.com
• www.spiritpieces.com
• petalsandkeepsakes.com
• www.restingrainbow.com
• petmemoryshop.com
• www.dailypaws.com