What to Do With Your Cat's Ashes: A Gentle Guide

When a cat's ashes come home, it is common not to know what to do next. Some people know at once. Others leave the ashes in the container from the crematorium for months, and that is fine too. This guide starts with the two practical questions that tend to come first, how much ash there is and how it goes into an urn. Then it goes through each choice in turn and says plainly who it suits and who it does not. Where one of our cat urns or other pieces fits a choice, we show it.

How much ash will there be?

It depends on your cat's size, and there is no exact figure we can give you. Our urn size guide uses a rule of thumb of about one cubic inch of urn capacity for each pound of body weight, but that rule is written for people. The same guide says that sizing for pets varies widely. For a cat, treat the rule as a rough starting point and nothing more.

The surest measure is the ashes themselves. They usually come back in a bag inside a container, and you can see how much room they take up. Compare that with the capacity on the urn's page. Every urn in this guide lists its capacity in liters and cubic inches. The cat-shaped urns below hold from 0.3 liters (about 18 cubic inches) to 1.6 liters (about 97 cubic inches). If you are unsure, the crematorium that returned the ashes can tell you how much there is.

In the UK: individual and communal cremation

You will only have ashes to decide about if your cat had an individual cremation. In the UK, the Association of Private Pet Cemeteries & Crematoria (APPCC) says in its advice for pet owners that after an individual cremation "all of their ashes will be returned to you", and that after a communal cremation "no ashes are returned to the family" (APPCC, read on October 5, 2026). If your cat has not been cremated yet and you would like the ashes back, say so clearly to your vet or the crematorium. Our guide to how much it costs to get a cat cremated covers that stage.

Do you put the ashes directly in a cat urn?

It depends on the urn, and both ways are normal. Ashes usually come back from the crematorium in a sealed bag inside a box, a tube or a simple container. With some urns you pour the ashes straight in. With others they stay in a bag.

The Sitting Cat Pet Urn for Ashes in White and the Lying Cat Mini Urn for Ashes in White are filled from the base, and their pages say no bag is needed, so the ashes go in directly. The Lying Cat Urn for Ashes in White is also filled through an opening in the base, which is then sealed with the ceramic adhesive supplied. That seal is permanent. If you would prefer a seal that is not permanent, its page suggests placing the ashes in a resealable bag before closing the base.

Whichever urn you choose, work over a tray or a sheet of paper, in a room with no draft. A small funnel or a folded piece of paper helps with a narrow opening. Take your time. If you would rather not do it yourself, ask the crematorium or your vet whether they can transfer the ashes for you.

Keeping the ashes at home

Keeping the ashes at home suits people who want their cat to stay part of the house. An urn shaped like a cat sits on a shelf or a windowsill like an ornament, and visitors need not know what it is unless you tell them. These are all cat-shaped, in three different poses.

Lying Cat Urn for Ashes in White

A cat at rest, low and long. The Lying Cat Urn for Ashes in White is handcrafted ceramic with a white glaze. It is 12 cm (4.7 in) high and 28 cm (11.0 in) from front to back, and it holds 1.4 liters (about 85 cubic inches). Its page describes it as suitable for indoor and outdoor display.

Pictured: Lying Cat Urn for Ashes in White

Sitting Cat Pet Urn for Ashes in White

An upright cat with its head slightly lowered. The Sitting Cat Pet Urn for Ashes in White is handmade from ceramic and finished by hand in a white glaze, so each piece has small natural variations. It stands 24 cm (9.4 in) tall and holds 1.6 liters (about 97 cubic inches), the most of the cat-shaped urns in this guide. A plastic lid sits inside the opening in the base and a ceramic cap fits over it. Its page notes that the fit of the cap can vary slightly from piece to piece, and that a clear glue gel around the rim is optional.

Pictured: Sitting Cat Pet Urn for Ashes in White

Sleeping Cat Urn for Ashes in Grey

A cat curled into a ball with its head tucked in. The Sleeping Cat Urn for Ashes in Grey is porcelain with a smooth matte finish in grey. It is 12 cm (4.72 in) high and 16 cm (6.30 in) wide, holds 1 liter (about 61 cubic inches), and closes with a screw closure in the base. The same design is made as the Sleeping Cat Urn for Ashes in White.

Pictured: Sleeping Cat Urn for Ashes in Grey

The cat-shaped urns side by side

• Lying Cat Urn for Ashes in White: 1.4 liters (about 85 cubic inches). Opening in the base, sealed with the adhesive supplied. Indoor or outdoor display.
• Sitting Cat Pet Urn for Ashes in White: 1.6 liters (about 97 cubic inches). Filled from the base, plastic lid under a ceramic cap. Indoor or outdoor display.
• Sleeping Cat Urn for Ashes in Grey: 1 liter (about 61 cubic inches). Screw closure in the base. Indoor or outdoor display.
• Lying Cat Mini Urn for Ashes in White: 0.3 liters (about 18 cubic inches). Filled from the base, plastic lid under a ceramic cap. Indoor or outdoor display.

A ceramic or porcelain urn is the wrong choice if you want the ashes to return to the soil, because it will not break down. It is also not for you if you would rather not have a reminder in the room every day. Some people find that comforting and some find it hard, and you are the only one who knows which you are. If the cat shape feels like too much, there are plainer designs among our pet urns.

Burying the ashes in the garden

Many cats had a place in the garden that was theirs: a warm step, the spot under a hedge. Burying the ashes there in a biodegradable urn lets the urn and the ashes return to the ground together.

The Gentle Pawprints Biodegradable Pet Urn for Ashes in White is handcrafted from natural materials for land burial. It is a compact rectangular urn with softly rounded edges, a band of embossed pawprints around the top and a single paw on the front. It is 14 cm (5.51 in) high and holds 0.85 liters (about 52 cubic inches). The ashes are placed inside through the opening and the lid is set in place.

Pictured: Gentle Pawprints Biodegradable Pet Urn for Ashes in White

Another option is the Samsara Biodegradable Pet Urn for Ashes, a rounded dark brown urn made from a blend of sand and vegetable-based materials and designed for water or land burial. It holds 0.8 liters (about 48.8 cubic inches) and includes a biodegradable ashes bag with a closure tie. There are more designs in our biodegradable burial urns.

Garden burial suits you if the garden is your own and you expect to stay. Burying a pet's ashes on your own land is commonly done, but rules differ between countries and local areas, so check yours if you are unsure. It is the wrong choice if you rent or are likely to move, because a biodegradable urn cannot be lifted and taken with you later. In that case, consider keeping the ashes in one of the cat-shaped urns above, which can stand outdoors and move house with you, or burying only part of the ashes. Bury the urn deep enough that it will not be disturbed by digging, and mark the place with a plant or a stone so you can find it again.

Scattering the ashes

Scattering suits people who do not want to keep an object and would rather return their cat to a place it knew. It cannot be undone, so it is not the right choice if you think you may want somewhere to visit, or something to hold, later on. If you are unsure, keep a small amount back. You can always scatter the rest another day.

A scattering tube makes the moment easier to manage than an open bag. The Precious Paws Eco Friendly Scattering Tube for Pet Ashes - Mini is made from recycled paper with no metal or plastic parts, so it can be recycled or composted afterwards. You remove the lid, pour the ashes in and press the lid back on. When you are ready, a perforated tab pushes in to open a release point. The Mini is 13.3 cm (5.2 in) high and holds 0.33 liters (about 20 cubic inches). The Precious Paws Eco Friendly Scattering Tube for Pet Ashes - Small holds 0.66 liters (about 40 cubic inches). Other designs are in our scatter tubes.

Pictured: Precious Paws Eco Friendly Scattering Tube for Pet Ashes - Mini

Some families make the scattering a small occasion. Everyone who loved the cat gathers, someone shares a memory or says a few words, and anyone who wishes to can take a turn. Others prefer to do it quietly and alone. Either is right.

Scattering a pet's ashes in your own garden is commonly done. Anywhere else, ask whoever owns or manages the land before you go, and check local rules if you are unsure. Our guide on how to scatter ashes covers the practical side.

A farewell on water

A water urn is placed on the surface of a lake, a river or the sea, where it floats for a short time, then sinks and breaks down. The Oceane Sand with Kittens Biodegradable Water Urn for Cat Ashes was designed for a cat. It is a small round urn in a sand color with kittens at play around it, 10.8 cm (4.3 in) across, and it fits in one hand. The ashes go into the biodegradable bag supplied, the bag is sealed and returned to the urn, and the lid is pressed closed. No glue is needed.

Pictured: Oceane Sand with Kittens Biodegradable Water Urn for Cat Ashes

This urn holds 0.31 liters (about 19 cubic inches), and its page describes it as sized for a pet. Compare that with the amount of ashes you have before choosing it. If there is more than it will hold, it is not the right urn. It is also not for you if you would like to keep the urn afterwards, because it is made to break down in the water.

In the United States: the sea burial permit covers people only

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says its general permit for burial at sea "authorizes the burial at sea of human remains only", and it answers "No" to the question of whether pet remains can be buried at sea under that permit (EPA, Burial at Sea, page last updated August 26, 2026). The same page says that scattering cremated remains in lakes, rivers or other inland waters is not subject to federal regulation under that law, but that states may have their own requirements. It advises contacting the state environmental agency, health agency or mortuary board. So in the United States, check with your state before planning a water farewell for a cat, and do not rely on the ocean permit that families use for a person's ashes.

In other countries the rules differ. Ask the authority or owner responsible for the water before you go.

Keeping a little with you

A keyring or a pendant holds a symbolic amount of ashes. That means it always goes alongside another choice. You will still need to decide what to do with the rest.

The Brushed Metal Pawprint Pet Memorial Ashes Keyring in Silver is a slim stainless steel keyring, 5.2 cm (2.0 in) long, with a matte silver finish and a small pawprint. Its page describes it as a discreet design that does not immediately reveal its purpose. It comes with a filling set and is presented in a box.

Pictured: Brushed Metal Pawprint Pet Memorial Ashes Keyring in Silver

If you would rather wear something, the Self-fill Cat Embrace Memorial Ashes Pendant is a circular pendant with a cat at its center, made from 925 sterling silver with a rhodium-plated finish. The ashes chamber closes with a screw, and a 46 cm (18 inch) chain is included. There are more in our pet ashes jewellery.

Something you carry is not the right choice if filling a very small chamber sounds stressful, or if you would worry every day about losing it. A small urn that stays at home may suit you better. The Lying Cat Mini Urn for Ashes in White is 17.5 cm (6.9 in) long and holds 0.3 liters (about 18 cubic inches). Its page describes that as a capacity suited to a house cat rather than a larger animal. It also works as a second urn when two households each want to keep some of the ashes.

You can choose more than one, and you can wait

None of these choices rules out the others. Some people scatter most of the ashes in the garden and keep a little in a keyring. Some keep everything in an urn for a year or two and bury it later, when it feels right. If the people in your home want different things, the ashes can be shared.

There is no time limit. Ashes kept in their sealed bag, somewhere dry, will wait for as long as you need. If you would like more ideas, our guides to 10 things to do with your pet's ashes and memorial ideas for your beloved pet go further.

Sizes and product details in this guide were checked against our product pages on October 5, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do with my cat's ashes?

You can keep them at home in an urn, bury them in the garden in a biodegradable urn, scatter them somewhere your cat loved, place them on water in a water urn, or keep a symbolic amount in a keyring or pendant. Many people combine two of these.

How much ash is left after a cat is cremated?

It depends on the cat's size. The rule of thumb of about one cubic inch of urn capacity for each pound of body weight is written for people, so for a cat it is only a rough starting point. Each pet urn page lists its capacity, and you can compare that with the ashes you were given.

Do you put ashes directly in a cat urn?

It depends on the urn. Some cat urns are filled from the base with no bag needed, so the ashes go in directly. Others are filled with the ashes inside a bag. Each product page says how that urn is filled and sealed.

Can I bury my cat's ashes in the garden?

It is commonly done on your own land, and a biodegradable urn made for land burial returns to the ground with the ashes. Rules differ between countries and local areas, so check yours if you are unsure. It is not the best choice if you rent or expect to move, because the urn cannot be taken with you later.

Can I keep my cat's ashes at home?

Many people do. A common choice is an urn shaped like a lying, sitting or sleeping cat, which sits on a shelf like an ornament.

Do I have to decide what to do with my cat's ashes right away?

No. There is no time limit. Ashes kept in their sealed bag, somewhere dry, will wait for as long as you need.