Personalized Pet Urns: A Photographic Memorial

If you have chosen to remember and honor your pet with a cremation urn, there are a number of styles to consider.  One of these styles is the photographic pet urn.  These urns hold your pet’s ashes and your favorite photo, so that he or she can be memorialized accurately and lovingly.  Some of these urns also offer further personalization, such as an engraved nameplate.

Peaceful Pet offers this keepsake chest above that is a very affordable option for anyone on a budget.  Made from real mahogany, this piece is durable and intended to last generations.  This is a large cremation urn and will suit even the biggest breed of dog, as the chest has a volume of over 150 cubic inches.  The photo insert is for a 5″ x 3.5″ photograph.

For an elegant touch, this beautiful keepsake chest for your pet above comes with an acrylic medallion that can display a photograph of your pet.  It is available in chestnut or mahogany wood with brass accents, and either 150 or 250 cubic inches in size.

For a more simple urn, these modern-style pet photo box urns above feature a large photo of your pet inside a smooth, wooden urn.  These urns are available in a variety of sizes and several colors including natural (shown), cherry and black finishes.  This urn is a particular favorite of mine because of its simplicity and the focus on the photograph of your departed friend.

Another affordable option by Peaceful Pet is their Revolving Memorial Box urn above.  This urn showcases five different photos of your beloved dog or cat and can be rotated often so that there is always a fresh memory to cherish.  The memorial box itself sits atop a pedestal that turns, so it is not necessary to over-handle the urn when rotating to view the different photos.  The mahogany finish adds a classy element to this urn, while the photos give it a causal appearance that does not directly imply that it is an urn.  This is the perfect option for those that want to memorialize their pet without having the urn be obvious.

For those who prefer a metallic finish, K-L Enterprises offers a photo urn in brushed nickel above.  While a little more expensive than other options, this urn is very sleek and sophisticated.  It would go well with almost any home decor, especially on a mantle or in an office or den space.  It features a large space for a photograph that can be changed without disturbing the ashes.  This urn holds 100 cubic inches so it is suitable for most pets, from small to large.

If the photo urn is not quite the memorial you are looking for, there are also more traditional urns available, as well as other modern-style non-photo urns.

Modern Pet Urns

Photographic urns and the classic vase-style urns are not for everyone.  Sometimes these options are a little too traditional for every animal lover.  If you’re looking for a more unique way to memorialize your departed pet, there are still a lot of options available.  There are urns out there in lots of shapes, colors and materials that don’t quite fit the norm.

These two urns are elegant but playful at the same time.  What better way to honor your memory of your cat than with a cat-shaped urn?  Both of these urns are made of durable brass to last for ages and protect your pet’s ashes.  Each has a volume of 35 cubic inches, so these urns are perfect for cats up to 35 pounds.  The urns are available in a brown or a white finish, so you can choose which better represents your personal taste or your cat.

Everyone knows cats have very different personalities.  For the more regal kitty, Star Legacy offers this style of cat-shaped urn.  As elegant as its pouncing counterparts, this cat is a little more distinguished and would look lovely displayed on a mantle or as a keepsake on a shelf.

This beautiful pewter urn for pets has a very modernized look.  Ashes are contained in the base while the focal point is an interchangeable photo or memorial encapsulated in the glass bell.  This urn would be ideal for an office or den environment.  It is made from pewter and glass and will suit small dogs or cats up to 18 pounds.

This brass-plated pet urn is the definition of modern.  Its very sleek, silver finish decorated with paw prints will be a fitting memorial to a larger pet; this urn’s volume is 205 cubic inches.  This is one of my favorite pieces in the modern category, as it is unique and can compliment any home’s decor while honoring your lost pet’s memory.

For a more simple style, this large memory chest for pets has enough space to send your pet off with his or her favorite toy, tags, or anything other items your pet loved.  It is made of very durable pewter, has a high luster finish in silver and has a volume of 220 cubic inches.

If modern urns aren’t traditional enough for your tastes, or if you simply prefer something more recognizable as an urn, the following article contains a collection of classic urns that may suit your needs better.

Classic Cat and Dog Urns

If you’ve reviewed my lists of photographic urns and more modern urns and still have not found one that suits you and your pet, perhaps you have more of a traditional taste. I’ve hand-selected several beautiful options for a more classic memorial for your beloved pet.

For a traditional urn with a modern finish, UrnsDirect2U offers two styles.  The woodgrain urn and camouflage finishes are perfect for those who liked to spend lots of time outdoors with their pets.  If you and your dog went hunting regularly, or if your cat loved to climb the tree in your yard, these affordable aluminum urns are a nice way to honor their memory.  Volume of 50 cubic inches. This style makes the perfect urn for hunting dog owners.

From the same manufacturer, there is a more elegant pet urn option as well.  This brass urn has a pewter finish with little gold paws wrapping around.  Available in small (80 cubic inches, shown) and large (110 cubic inches)

this classic pet urn above could suit almost any size of pet.

Star Legacy’s urns tend to be more detailed, and this one is no different.  The urn is made of solid brass with a delicate shale finish and cat silhouette inlays.  There are three styles available on their site: sitting kitty [http://www.wayfair.com/Emerald-Green-Feline-Silhouette-Cat-Urn-SL2891P-SLF1128.html], grooming kitty (shown) and standing kitty [http://www.wayfair.com/Sienna-Feline-Silhouette-Cat-Urn-SL2890P-SLF1127.html].  Each of these cat urns holds 30 cubic inches.

This classic pet urn adds a subtle touch with the paw prints on the lid.  It is a low, wide vase style pet urn available in antiqued copper (shown)

silver

or black below from Star Legacy.  It is also available in several sizes so it could be used for a variety of different breeds or species.

For a sleek-but-traditional option, this black marble urn is perfect.  It is an understated yet attractive memorial for a small pet, holding up to 35 cubic inches.

Perhaps the most traditional style of urn included in this list is the Lotus Heart Pet Urn by Star Legacy.  It is an affordable option that is nickel plated and features very intricate engravings all around.  It is also available in small (20 cubic inches, shown), medium and large with varying color themes for each size.

For those that want to go all-out for their pets with a more chic memorial, Urns In Style offers three very elegant options that will command attention.  Their Morning Dew and Lotus designs focus on a more spherical shape and depart from the classic vase style while retaining an element of tradition.

Whichever style of urn you choose for your pet, remember that it is his or her memory that is being kept alive.  Honor your pet by relishing your happy memories together, and know that he or she will always be with you at heart.