Having a pet cremated
We humans are increasingly concerned with our funeral wishes. Perhaps you have already completely mapped out how your funeral should go. But what if your pet dies? Perhaps you would like to keep and cherish a beautiful keepsake at home. Then a pet urn is a beautiful way to memorialize your cat or dog.
We would like to apologize in advance for all the (technical) details, which - especially during a difficult time - can be very confronting. However, we feel it is very important to inform you as best we can around making the choice of the right size urn.
A beloved family member
A pet today is increasingly considered a full member of the family. Owners therefore give their cat, dog or other pet all the love and good care they deserve. But the time will come when you will have to say goodbye to your beloved pet. Perhaps due to old age, an accident or because it was sick. After many years of lovingly caring for your pet, you would like to have a fitting farewell and a beautiful memory.
Cremation
Today, many people choose to have their pets cremated. Most owners, and especially children, like being able to keep and cherish a tangible memory of the beloved companion animal.
Both in Flanders and the Netherlands there have been many animal crematoria in recent years, and usually the cost of cremating a pet is not too bad. Some crematoria also come to pick up the animal. You can easily find the nearest pet crematorium on the Internet. Contact them and ask clearly in advance what the options are and what the costs are.
Scattering or ash preservation?
You can choose to scatter the ashes after the cremation at the crematorium's scattering field (if it has one), or you can take the ashes home with you. At home, you can scatter the ashes in a spot where your pet liked to come, or you can also bury the ashes in the garden, where you can then later plant beautiful flowers or a tree if you wish.
However, most people who have their pet cremated choose to keep the ashes in a small urn (mini urn or pet urn). The urn containing your beloved pet's ashes can then be given a nice spot in the house, on the patio or in the garden.
Choosing the appropriate pet urn
Pet urns are available in different variations and material types. Take your time to make the right choice and keep in mind some aspects that we briefly explain below.
An urn with a volume of up to 1 liter will be sufficient to hold all the ashes of most pets (up to about 15kg body weight). We recommend that you check with the pet crematorium about the amount of ashes. On that basis, you can then determine which urn you wish to purchase.
On average, an urn of 300 ml to 600 ml is suitable for storing the ashes of a cat, a small to medium-sized dog, a rabbit, a hamster, a ferret, a rat, a mouse, a parrot, a finch, a chicken or a rooster. On average, an urn of 600 ml to 1 liter is ideal for a medium to large dog.
More info on determining the exact volume of the urn based on the deceased animal's body weight can be found in this article: Determining the correct volume of your urn
If you would like to place the urn outside (in the garden or on the patio), choose a weatherproof material, such as ceramic. Artemis manufactures and sells only ceramic urns. Because they are fired at high temperatures, ceramic urns are frost-resistant, and thus suitable for both indoors and outdoors.
In addition to the material, the shape and color also play an important role in making your choice. Feel free to browse through our collection of small urns and take all the time you need to decide which model suits you or the deceased animal.
How much does an animal urn cost?
Urns come in many different price ranges. The price depends on the shape, volume, material used, degree of finish, shape of the lid, glaze and production time, among other factors.
Every single Artemis urn is 100% handcrafted, which naturally results in a higher cost than, say, urns produced on an assembly line.
Do you have a question?
You can call us at +32 476 31 75 60, or send us an e-mail. We are ready to listen to your wishes and to work with you to find the appropriate urn.