How Much Does It Cost to Cremate a Cat?

Nobody wants to consider the cost of cremation for their beloved cat. The practical arrangements following the loss of a pet are usually conducted in the haze of mourning. However, there’s at least one thing that’s inevitable and it’s the demise of all living beings. With careful planning, you can prepare yourself for the day that won’t land softly. But at the very least, you will have already made arrangements and you won’t be scrambling when ensuring a proper farewell for your feline friend. So, how much does it cost to cremate a cat?

How Much Does It Cost to Cremate a Cat?

There’s more than one type of cremation service so there is a range in prices. It also depends on how big your cat is. On average, you can expect to spend anywhere between $60 and $150. If you opt for a communal cremation, those costs are lower, ranging between $30 and $70. However, if you select private cremation, you can expect to spend a little bit more (up to $200).

Aside from the size and weight of your cat and the type of cremation or memorial service you select, the cost of cremation may vary depending on the time of day you choose for the service and the cost of living in the region where you live. Other options after losing your cat include a burial in a pet cemetery but typically, this is a significantly more expensive option.

Types of Cremation

The type of cremation service you select affects the total cost. Below are some of the options you have when selecting the type of cremation for your beloved kitty.

Communal

Communal cremation is the most affordable option when it comes to cremating your cat. With the service, the body of your cat goes into the same cremation chamber as other pets that have perished. The service may cost as little as $30 or as much as $70 on average. After the process of cremation, all of the remains of the pets placed in the chamber are often taken to cemetery grounds where they are released.

Private

Private cremation is the most expensive option because your cat is placed in a cremation chamber by itself. That means there’s no commingling of ashes from other deceased pets. The average cost of the service ranges between $100 and $200.

Individual

An option that lands kind of in the middle between the more affordable service and the pricier service is individual cremation. With individual cremation, your pet is placed separately from other deceased pets in the cremation chamber. You get to keep your pet’s ashes but despite being placed in an individual tray, it’s still likely that the ashes of other pets are mixed in with the ashes of your pet.

Additional Services and Fees

Now that you know how much it costs to cremate a cat, you should know there may be additional services and fees related to the cremation. Ultimately, it depends on the service provider you select. Sometimes there is a fee to transport your pet’s body from your veterinarian’s office or even from your home. Typically, these costs are between $30 and $50. It might be more if it’s an after-hours service as well. In some cases, you have the option to witness the cremation and that has an added fee as well.

This charge may be anywhere between $20 and $30 on average. If you decide to have your cat’s ashes placed in an urn, the cost of the urn will be added to your total. An urn may cost as little as $50 or as much as $150 (or even more) depending on the style you select. Considering all these costs before the demise of your cat, which sadly isn’t always possible, can help you set aside a fund that ensures your cat gets the cremation service that he or she deserves.

In any case, when you have to make quick decisions following a tragedy, it’s helpful to know what to expect as you walk through these heavy phases. A good person to talk to about all of the services and what to expect is your veterinarian. Most of the time, they go ahead and make any arrangements on your behalf so that you don’t have to worry about figuring it all out. Mourning is hard enough and processing the loss of your kitty is best done with the support of others.