Choosing between keeping your pet's fur or ashes? We compare both memorial options, how to collect them and which keepsakes suit each.
Quick answer: choose a fur keepsake if you want something you can collect at any time (even while your pet is alive), that you can see and touch, and that doesn't depend on cremation. Choose an ashes keepsake if your pet has been individually cremated and you want to keep a physical part of them close. Many people keep both.
Fur and ashes are the two most common ways to keep a physical part of a much-loved pet. Each has its own meaning and practicalities. This guide compares them side by side.
Fur vs ashes at a glance
| Fur keepsake | Ashes keepsake | |
|---|---|---|
| When can you collect it? | Any time, including while your pet is alive | Only after individual cremation |
| Can you see it? | Yes, in clear capsules and bottles | Usually hidden inside a sealed chamber |
| Amount needed | A small tuft | A pinch |
| Best keepsakes | Clear capsules, glass bottles, lockets, resin | Urn pendants, keyrings, small urns |
| Durability | Keep dry and out of direct sunlight | Very stable once sealed |
Why choose a fur keepsake?
- You can collect it any time. Many owners save a little fur while their pet is still with them, especially when they are elderly or unwell.
- It looks and feels like them. The colour and softness of their coat can be deeply comforting.
- It doesn't require cremation. Ideal if your pet was buried, or if cremation wasn't individual.
- It works in more designs. Clear capsules, like the clear dog fur keepsake keyring, the glass fur keepsake bottle and the glass heart keepsake bottle, show the fur off beautifully.
Read our full guide on how to keep your pet's fur as a keepsake.
Why choose an ashes keepsake?
- It holds a part of their body. For many, this feels like the closest physical connection.
- It's easy to share. Ashes can be divided between family members in pendants and small urns.
- It's discreet. Sealed urn pendants simply look like a lovely piece of jewellery.
- It's very stable. Ashes don't degrade once sealed.
Read our pet ashes jewellery guide for more.
How to collect fur
- Brush your pet gently and collect the loose fur from the brush, or snip a small lock from a hidden area such as the chest or behind the ear.
- If the fur is from after your pet has passed, ask your vet or the crematorium. Many will clip a lock of fur for you if you ask before cremation.
- Make sure the fur is completely clean and dry.
- Store it in a sealed bag or envelope until you are ready to fill a keepsake.
Tweezers or a cotton bud make it easier to load fur neatly into a capsule.
Can you keep both?
Absolutely. A common approach is to keep most of the ashes in an urn at home, a pinch in an urn pendant, and a tuft of fur in a clear keyring. Our pet keepsake gift set combines a fur capsule with a paw print kit.
Paw prints: the third keepsake
Alongside fur and ashes, a paw print is one of the most treasured mementoes. An inkless paw print kit captures a clean print in seconds, and a clay paw print photo frame creates a 3D impression. See how to take a paw print.
Frequently asked questions
Will fur fade over time?
Fur can fade slightly in strong direct sunlight. Keep keepsakes out of bright windows and away from moisture.
Can fur go in an ashes pendant?
Yes, most urn pendants can hold a few strands of fur instead of ashes.
Can I collect fur from my pet after they have died?
Yes. Ask your vet or crematorium before cremation and they will usually clip some for you.
Explore fur and ashes keepsakes with free UK delivery.