Why Pet Urns Matter: A Guide for Pet Owners

More than half of U.S. households have at least one pet. For most, pets become members of the family and are adored for their unconditional love. Their loss can be just as devastating as losing a human family member.

With pet cremation becoming the standard choice, more pet owners are purchasing dog urns or cat cremation urns as a way to honor and memorialize their lost companions.

When our beloved pets pass away, it can be difficult to grieve their loss and move on. After all, our pets are with us every day, and they are there through life’s ups and downs.

Cremation allows us to keep our lost pet’s ashes with us always, and urns are a beautiful way to honor their memory. As an added touch, pet cremation jewelry is another option to keeping our furry friends closer to us always. Pets are family and deserving of respect and love even after they have passed away.

For pet owners, pet cremation urns serve as a final memorial and resting place.

They're important because they help with the grieving process and give pet owners the option to keep their companions close by.

Pet owners will find that there are many options available when choosing an urn. Understanding these options is the first step to finding the ideal urn for your pet.

Types of Pet Urns

Before you start comparing your options, it’s important to understand the typesof pet urns available.

While there are many options out there, the most common types of urns include:

Metal

Metal urns are one of the most popular options for pets because of their longevity. These urns are strong and durable, making them a great option if you plan to keep your pet’s ashes at home with you. Because they’re resistant to wear and tear, your pet’s remains will be safe for years to come.

You can find these types of urns in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, we offer metal pet urns shaped like the rainbow bridge, Cat urns for ashes, teardrops, paw print cremation urns, hearts and more.

Marble

Marble pet urns aren’t as common as metal or other materials, but they are an elegant choice. If you plan to keep your pet’s ashes on display for the foreseeable future, marble is a great option and will serve as a work of art.

You can display this type of urn on a mantle, in a display case or wherever you want.

Wood

Wooden urns are another wonderful, elegant option for pets. Wood is naturally durable with unique grains, which means no two urns are exactly the same (just like your pet).

Most wooden urns come in a rectangular or square shape and feature a plaque that you can customize with your pet’s name. Some plaques are also featured with being able to add your favorite, high quality, photo of your pet.

Biodegradable

Eco-conscious pet owners may prefer biodegradable urns, which are made from materials that decompose over time. If you plan to bury your pet’s ashes, a biodegradable urn is ideal for remembrance gardens, burying your pet under their favorite tree, or favorite spot in your backyard.

Scattering

For pet owners who want to scatter their companion’s ashes, a scattering urn is the ideal option. These urns are designed to dispel ashes into the air or, in some cases, the ocean.

Scattering urns that are designed for the water will dissolve or decompose shortly after the ashes are dispersed.

Pet Ashes Jewelry

A popular choice in honoring your beloved friend is wearing them close to you with pet cremation jewelry. Ashes jewelry comes in many shapes and forms but all of them have a cavity to hold a small amount of pet ashes or lock of hair. Check out our collection of pet cremation jewelry here.

Custom

If you have a specific material or design that you’d like for your pet, you can opt for a custom urn. When you go the custom route, you can choose any material you want and honor your pet in the way youwant.

Custom urns will come at a higher cost, but some pet owners may find that it’s well worth the investment.

How to Choose the Right Pet Urn?

Choosing the right type of urn is the first step in selecting the perfect urn for your pet. Here are some other things to consider:

• Size: Pet urns come in a variety of sizes, including small and large. The right size will depend on the size of your pet. You can also find pet urns that hold just a pinch of ashes. Choose the size that best meets your needs, if you are unsure, then make a selection based on your pet’s body weight pre-cremation.
• Style: Multiple urn styles are available in our selection. We have cute paw print urns, rainbow bridge urns and hundreds of others. Choose an urn that “speaks to you” and reminds you of your pet from the moment you see it.
• Personalization Options: Personalizing your pet’s urn allows you to honor them in the best way possible. You can add the pet’s nickname or a quote. Choose an urn that allows you to personalize it with engravings and sayings. Choose an urn that allows you to add a photo or has a space to keep their collar.

You'll find hundreds of urns that will honor your lost pet.

Want to learn more about choosing the right dog urn or cat urn? Read through our guide on Selecting the Perfect Pet Urn.

Why Pet Memorials are Important

Does a pet memorial sound like too much to you? It may be just what you need if you’re grieving your pet. Owners can rely on a pet memorial to:

• Express their grief of their lost pet
• Find closure for the loss of the pet
• Honor their pet and never forget the loyalty they showed
• Connect with their pet when they’re gone
• Allow a space for other family members to grieve their loss and connection to the pet

Healing from a loss is something that changes from one person to another. You can ask someone how they healed from a loss, and they may never have immense grieving. For some, another pet helps fill the void and others cannot think of getting another animal because it’s simply too difficult for them.

Pet memorials are important to help you get over the grief you’re experiencing, but they’re not for everyone. If you’re the type of person who buries themselves in work to avoid thinking of the loss, seeing a memorial may not be a good choice.

If you’re unsure of what you can do for your pet memorial, consider reading through our guide on the Top 5 Pet Memorial Trends.

Grieving the Loss of a Pet

Pets are family, or at least 85% of dog owners and over 70% of cat owners believe. You've spent a lot of time caring for your pet, forming a deep bond and love them. But the sad reality is that animals live far fewer years than humans.

When your beloved pet passes on to the rainbow bridge, it’s a heartbreaking experience.

You'll need to think of buying cremation urns and browse through urns for pets, oryou can choose to bury your pet. In either case, there’s one thing that will remain: grief.

If you want to grieve your pet and don’t know how, there’s no right or wrong answer to tell you. However, you can consider the advice from other pet owners who have been in the same situation you are in.

• Realize that grief will come in waves and is not linear by any means
• You'll likely have moments where you feel like the pain is subsiding before grief hits you hard
• Denial can occur, especially in older pet owners
• Guilt may start to set in, especially if your pet died from a medical issue that you may have not been able to help, or in some cases, possibly prevent

Pet owners who lost one of their closest companions may find themselves feeling extreme bouts of sadness and depression following the pet’s death. If you fall into this category, you can seek help or try to get out. Go out for a walk or rely on friends who will offer you comfort in your time of need.

With all of these points in mind, you can work to cope with the grief in many ways:

• Join the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement. You can use the association for pet loss support and have someone to rely on who will listen and help you through this troubling time.
• Honor your animal in the best way you can. You can hold your own little ceremony for your pet and even say prayers for them. An urn is a great way to keep your pet’s ashes and keep them close to you.
• Allow your grief to exist and don’t suppress it. If you want, talk to someone close to you or write your thoughts and feelings in a personal journal. You can also talk to your pet aloud – whatever works best for you.
• Think about the good, not the bad moments. Unfortunately, it’s far too easy to get stuck on the day your pet passed away and replay the events in your mind over and over again. You'll only prolong your grief if you allow this vicious cycle to persist for long.
• Memorialize your pet. You can put your pet’s ashes near the tree in the backyard that they loved or plant a tree in their name. Paintings or pictures of your pet will also help you memorialize them. Some pet owners get a memorial tattoo of or for their pet. Or something as simple as a piece of jewelry with a small pinch of their pets ashes or hair incorporated.

It's normal to feel grief and sadness following the loss of a pet. You forged a deep bond with your cat or dog, your bird or reptile, your bunny or horse or even your farm animals and they deserve a final resting place where they can be honored. An urn is a great option for a lost pet, it can include their age, name and even a laser-engraving or UV photo print of what they looked like in life.