The Rise in Popularity of Pet Cremations

Our pets are family, and increasingly we choose to say goodbye to them the way we would any loved one, with a cremation and a place to remember them. Pet cremation has grown enormously in recent years. This guide looks at why, where the tradition began, and what it involves.

Quick answer: Pet cremation has risen sharply because pets are now seen as true members of the family, deserving a dignified send-off. The vast majority of pets are cremated rather than buried, more owners ask to be present, and many keep the ashes at home in a pet urn or scatter them somewhere meaningful. Costs vary by size, from a small pet to a large dog or horse.

Why pet cremation is rising

Over the last couple of decades, pets have come to be seen as genuine members of the family rather than simply animals in the home. With that has come a natural wish to mourn them properly and give them a respectful goodbye. Many owners now ask to be present for the cremation, something once unheard of, and the industry has responded with farewell rooms and more personal services. Far more pets are now cremated than buried, and a significant share of households choose cremation for their companions.

Where the tradition began

The first pet cemetery in the UK opened almost by accident in Hyde Park, London, in 1881, when a Maltese terrier named Cherry was buried there. A small tombstone still reads "Poor Cherry. Died April 28, 1881." Around 300 Victorian-era pets came to rest there over the following decades. Today, with limited space, lower cost and the freedom to choose a meaningful resting place, cremation has largely taken over from burial.

What does it cost?

Pet cremation is priced mainly by the animal's size, from a small pet up to a large dog or a horse. An individual cremation, where you receive only your own pet's ashes, costs more than a communal one. For a fuller breakdown, see our guide on the cost of pet cremation.

Keeping your pet close

Many families keep their pet's ashes at home in a pet urn, often a figurine shaped like a cat or their dog's breed, or scatter them somewhere their companion loved. Some keep the ashes to one day be mixed or scattered with their own. For ideas, see our guides on choosing a pet urn and things to do with your pet's ashes.

Frequently asked questions

Why has pet cremation become so popular?

Because pets are now widely seen as members of the family, owners want to give them a dignified, respectful goodbye. Cremation also offers lower cost, no need for burial space, and the freedom to keep or scatter the ashes somewhere meaningful.

Do most people cremate or bury their pets?

Far more pets are cremated than buried today. Cremation lets families keep the ashes at home, scatter them, or even one day combine them with their own, which burial does not easily allow.

Can I be present at my pet's cremation?

Increasingly, yes. Many pet crematoriums now offer attended services and farewell rooms so owners can say goodbye, a personal touch that has grown with the rising popularity of pet cremation.

How much does pet cremation cost?

It depends mainly on the pet's size, ranging from a small pet up to a large dog or horse, and on whether it is an individual or communal cremation. See our dedicated guide on the cost of pet cremation for typical figures.