Unraveling the Expenses of Pet Cremation

Pets are family. When the time comes to say goodbye, you want to honor them as such, showing them the same love and care you gave them in life. When burial isn't practical or the cost places it out of reach, pet cremation may provide a more affordable option for sending your beloved companion to their final rest.

What Is Pet Cremation?

Cremation is the process of subjecting a body to extreme heat — usually between 1,500 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit — to reduce both soft tissue and bones to ash. Depending on the size of the pet, this process typically takes anywhere from half an hour to two hours.¹

Pet cremations are performed by pet crematorium companies, who place pet remains in a special cremation chamber to be incinerated. Depending on the type of cremation selected by the pet parent, the pet's remains may be placed in a chamber by itself, in a chamber with other pets separated by partitions or in a chamber where they're commingled with other pets.¹

Types of Pet Cremation

You may be able to choose from three methods of cremating your pet, although the second option is less common and isn't offered by all pet crematoriums.²

• Private pet cremation: Your pet is cremated individually in a private chamber. Depending on the policies of the crematorium, you may be allowed to attend and observe, if you wish. This is the most expensive option, but your pet's ashes will be returned to you.
• Individual pet cremation: Your pet is placed in a cremation chamber with other pets, separated by partitions. An attempt is made to keep your pet's ashes separate and return them to you, but there will likely be some mixing with ashes from other pets. This option tends to be less costly than a private cremation.

• Communal pet cremation: Several pets are cremated together with no attempt at separation. This is the most affordable option, but you won't get your pet's ashes back. Some crematoriums will spread the ashes from communal pet cremations in a memorial garden or special area, which you may be allowed to visit.³

How Much Does Pet Cremation Cost?

Below are the average costs of cremating a dog or cat, based on their weight and type of cremation.²

There is no price difference between cremating cats and small dogs. Other small pets, such as rabbits, birds or rodents, as well as small puppies and kittens, would fall into the 0 to 30 pound price range. Very small pets, such as hamsters, however, would be considered a specialized service and may cost a bit more.⁴ Cremating very large pets, such as ponies or horses, costs significantly more, ranging from $800 to $1,500 and up.⁵

Cremating exotic pets or wild animals kept as pets may also incur additional charges due to environmental concerns and the potential for exposure to infectious diseases.²

The cost of a private cremation typically doesn't include an urn for your pet's ashes. Basic urns start at around $50, while more decorative varieties or personalization will cost more.⁶

In summary, these factors help determine the final price cost of a pet cremation:²

• Type of cremation
• Type of animal being cremated
• Size and weight of the pet
• Additional services or products, including transportation of the body, urns and other memorial items⁶

Whether your vet arranges the cremation or you work directly with a pet crematorium can also affect the cost. You may have to pay a fee for transportation of your pet from the vet's office to the crematorium if you don't deliver them yourself. However, many vets have deals for their customers with cremation service providers that can help offset the cost of transportation, so the difference in pricing may be negligible.⁶

How to Save Money on Cremating Your Dog or Cat

Communal cremation is the most affordable option for cremating your pet. Prices vary from one provider to the next, as well as according to location, so you may be able to save money by comparison shopping and going directly with a crematorium instead of through your vet.⁷

Also, your local animal shelter or Humane Society may provide discounted cremation services for pets that are brought to them for low-cost euthanasia.⁸

Does Pet Insurance Cover Pet Cremation Costs?

Most major pet insurance providers don't cover the cost of cremating your pet. However, you may be able to find a provider that offers a premium policy that covers medically necessary euthanasia and cremation.

Some companies that don't specifically cover cremation may help offset the cost with other types of coverage, such as reimbursing you for putting your pet to sleep when it's deemed medically necessary, or reimbursing you for the price you paid for your pet upon their death. These policies usually have exclusions, such as not covering senior pets or dogs who are euthanized due to aggression or nonmedical reasons.⁹

What Happens When You Decide to Cremate Your Pet?

If your pet passes away at the vet's office, chances are your vet will offer to have your pet cremated for you. Your vet's office won't perform the cremation but will store your pet's body and arrange for a pet crematorium to pick it up. Vets typically have arrangements with reputable pet cremation service providers local to their area.¹

Usually, the veterinary staff will walk you through your options and help you choose whether you want a communal or private cremation, as well as your options for receiving back your pet's ashes. If you opt for a private cremation, you can ask if you can view the cremation when it takes place, although many bereaved pet parents find this too painful.¹

Whether your pet passes at home or at the vet's office, you can contact your vet and ask them to handle the arrangements, or you can choose instead to handle them on your own. You can find reputable pet cremation companies in your area by searching online or looking in local directories.² Look for a company that has a membership with the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC), which has a strict code of ethics and standards.¹

It will take a week or two for your pet's ashes to be returned if you didn't opt for a communal cremation. If your pet was wearing a collar or any prosthetic or medical devices, these will be returned to you as well.¹ If you chose to have your pet communally cremated with other pets, the crematorium will dispose of their ashes. Some pet crematories have a garden or private park where they scatter the ashes from communal cremations.

The CareCredit Credit Card Is Here to Help

Saying goodbye to your beloved pet can be one of the hardest things you do, but the CareCredit credit card can be there for you when you need it most.* Whether it's your first veterinary visit or your last, CareCredit is here to help you manage the costs of your pet's care. Find a veterinarian near you that accepts CareCredit and download the CareCredit Mobile App today to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U hub for more helpful articles, podcasts and videos.

Author Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and novelist with eight years of experience. Her work has appeared on Hill's Pet, Chewy and AKC.org and more.