Cat's Ashes, What to do with them?

[superemily]

Hello Everybody.

My Aunt has just lost her sole companion, her elderly precious cat, Foster, who has been a reliable and constant support to her for nearly 20 years years.

Foster has been cremated and has been returned in a cardboard box, and each time I visit my Aunt, I see this little box sat where Foster used to sit on the windowsill. I know it sounds silly but I do not think she can bear to scatter the ashes just yet. I wanted to ask if anyone knew of any other way I could preserve the ashes for her, in perhaps a nicer vase or box or something I guess would eb a good start, but what about using the ashes as part of a decorative item? Has anyone ever done this? I remember hearing about a company that did this on the radio years ago, but cannot find them online, who used to mix the ash into a pottery vase,..

Any ideas,
With Love
Emily

[pomtzu]

I wouldn't do anything unless your aunt wants you to.

You can find many nice and appropriate containers - just Google "pet cremation urns". Even just a simple little wooden cedar box would be lovely - and put a brass nameplate on it with kitty's name. You can also have memorial beads made, but this takes only a very small amount of the ashes which are imbedded permanently in the glass.

And maybe you aunt doesn't want to scatter the ashes anywhere, but wants to keep them with her and perhaps be buried with her when she passes on. I have the ashes of several beloved pets that have passed on, and when I pass on I will be cremated, and their ashes will be mixed with mine and we will scattered in the ocean.

It's all a matter of preference, but leave it up to your aunt to decide.

[kuhio98]

Our vet returned Halo's ashes in a metal tin. I just can't bring myself to open it and put the ashes in another container. The tin is pretty enough, so I glued one of Halo's favorite toys (a champaigne cork) to the top.

I'm going to do the same for Willy's tin, but I haven't found his favorite ball yet. I know it's here somewhere and I'll find it when the time is right and glue it to the top.

I also get memory stones made from a couple on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/sjengraving?section_id=5703174

But, I'm with pomtzu. I don't think I'd change anything before talking to her about it.

[happylabs]

Casey's ashes are in a beautiful wooden box. Kit-kats are in a black urn and so are Herbert T's. They are all lined up on my TV shelf where I can look at them and remember them.

[phesina]

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< I have the ashes of several beloved pets that have passed on, and when I pass on I will be cremated, and their ashes will be mixed with mine and we will scattered in the ocean.


That's what I'm doing too. We don't have an ocean handy, but we all will be scattered together somewhere nice.

[moosmom]

I think your aunt needs to come to terms with her kitty's passing. In time, I'm sure she'll know when the time is right. My cats ashes will be combined with mine when I die and scattered in my favorite childhood place, Bolton Lake.

[sasvermont]

I wouldn't do anything unless your aunt wants you to.

And maybe you aunt doesn't want to scatter the ashes anywhere, but wants to keep them with her and perhaps be buried with her when she passes on. I have the ashes of several beloved pets that have passed on, and when I pass on I will be cremated, and their ashes will be mixed with mine and we will scattered in the ocean.

My thoughts exactly.

[Grace]

For anyone who may not have looked at the actual ashes - they are beautiful. When we received the ashes of Phineas, the first cat we had cremated, I had to see what they looked like. What a surprise - they looked like crushed beach shells - pale orange/apricot and white. I never expected anything so lovely :)

We have many cats, and one dog, buried in the back yard. For each one, the ashes are in a ziplock bag, inside a tupperware container. I also enclosed a laminated picture of each pet, along with a copy of the Rainbow Bridge poem. On top of each grave is a marker with their name and years of their lives.

Right now we have Duffy's ashes waiting - for Spring. He died in December, so we need to wait for the ground to warm up. He will be buried in the Hill Garden in our back yard - a place where he loved to lie in the sun.

[superemily]

Thank YOU everyone for your kind worlds and sensible advice!

I broached the subject with my Aunt last night, and I really don't think the time is right to do anything at the moment. She said she wants her cat near, but does agree that looking at a cardboard box isn't very fulfilling! I have looked around on the web and there are quite a few items being offered and ash containers, memorial containers, but the all look,... so,... I don't know,... urn-like?!

I did find a picture that was quite fun, I will see if I can link it, it was on facebook and I am really not very good at these things. It was a vase that was made using the ashes of a cat in the glaze.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=504209532963173&set=a.337963272921134.101188.336169059767222&type=1&theater

Thanks again to all, I think I will pop back and let you know what we conclude in the future. Morbid subject I know but we all need to think about these things at some point.

Emily xxx

[pomtzu]

Not to shoot down your idea of the vase, but I personally would never put ashes into or incorporate them in anything glass or ceramic. What if it would get knocked over and broken??? - then what?

This cedar box is what I did for my "Bear" - a simple cedar box with his picture that I laminated and affixed to the top, and a brass nameplate. Simple, but it serves the purpose and I don't have to worry about it getting broken either. It has his ashes, along with his AKC papers, his favorite Nylabone, a piece of fabric I cut from "his" bed, and a few dried flowers from an arrangement that I received when he passed.

Just an idea for you - and your aunt could still sit this on the windowsill where her kitty liked to sit.


Sorry - had to post 2 pics since just one showed up too big and I couldn't make it smaller...:(

[neko1]

This is Tama's urn and the black box underneath has some sympathy cards, his medication and his sweaters in it.
56030

[catmandu]

I never had had My Cats ashes returned they were cremated with other Pets at my Vets and then interred by the wishing well there.
I have photo montages of My Dear Cats to remember them and their photos are there so we can share meals together:love::love::love:

[chocolatepuppy]

My RB Sassy's ashes are in a pretty paw print tin. I placed it on top of my dresser where she spent her kittenhood making me angry
getting up there and throwing items off.;) Now she can sit up there forever.:love: