Paw casts, fur and other lighter keepsakes when full preservation isn't right
The lightest ways to keep something physical of your pet are a clay or ink paw print, a lock of fur, a resin or metal cast of the paw pads, a nose print, or a silver charm made from a print. Most cost tens to a few hundred dollars, not thousands, and many are ready in weeks.
By the Pet Taxidermy & Preservation Services editorial team · Updated September 24, 2026 · 4 min read · Sources
- Ten keepsakes, from free to a few hundred dollars
- Which ones must be made before cremation
- Ideas for birds, rabbits and small pets too
The quick answer
Why choose a lighter keepsake over full preservation?
Because it keeps the part that often matters most, the feel of a paw or the softness of fur, without the cost, the months of waiting or the jolt of seeing your pet's whole body. For many families it's also the version everyone at home can agree on. A small cast on a bookshelf rarely upsets anyone.
Lighter keepsakes pair naturally with cremation, so you can have both. There's strong appetite for this kind of thing: one market study found 51% of owners are interested in personalized memorials[1]. If you're weighing a whole-body option against something smaller, our alternatives to taxidermy guide lays out the full range.
If you kept only part of your pet, what would it be?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
The simplest
What does a paw or nose print cost?
Very little, and you can often do it yourself. Crematories and vets commonly offer ink or clay prints as add-ons. One Arizona crematory charges $5–$15[2] for a clay impression, nose print or fur clipping, and by our estimate the median paw-print add-on across US crematories we checked is ~$32[3]. A Northeast US network charges $49–$133[4], depending on whether it's framed and includes fur.
Nose prints are worth asking for specifically. The ridges on a dog's or cat's nose leather are unique, and many owners find the little pattern surprisingly moving. Ink gives the clearest result; press gently and blot once before printing.
More detail
How are paw casts made, and are they worth it?
A cast captures the pads in three dimensions: every crease, callus and the shape of the toes. The maker presses the paw gently into a soft mold material, lets it set, and pours resin, plaster or metal into it. A UK body-casting studio charges from £120[5] for a small dog's pads in resin, with medium and large breeds costing more.
Ceramic keepsakes are another route. A Canadian studio charges from CA$155[6] for a handmade ceramic paw-print piece and asks for three to four weeks. If you'd like a cast but your pet is heading for cremation soon, our hybrid cast and cremation guide explains how to get the mold taken first.
To carry with you
Can a paw print or fur be made into jewelry?
Yes. Silversmiths can turn a paw or nose print into a charm or pendant. One US maker charges $143 + chain[7] for a custom sterling silver charm of your pet's actual paw print, and ready-made print pendants start from from $99.95[8]. Fur can be set into resin beads or lockets. Some companies even make memorial diamonds from pet fur, needing only a few grams[9].
| Keepsake | Needs your pet's body? | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ink or clay paw print | Yes | $5–$76 as an add-on[2][3] |
| Nose print | Yes | Often around $10[2] |
| Fur clipping | Yes | Free if you cut it; $5–$23 from a crematory[4] |
| Resin paw-pad cast | Yes | From about £120[5] |
| Silver print charm | Needs a print first | $143 plus chain[7] |
| Ashes jewelry | Needs cremation | $30–$300+[10] |
| Portrait or plush replica | No, made from photos | Varies by artist |
Birds, rabbits and pocket pets
What lighter keepsakes suit small or unusual pets?
- Birds: a few flight or tail feathers in a small frame, or a single preserved wing in a shadow box. Keep to your own bird's feathers; those of native wild birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
- Rabbits and guinea pigs: a lock of fur, a tiny paw print in air-dry clay, or a whisker kept in a small glass vial.
- Reptiles: a shed skin, carefully dried and framed, which many keepers already save. Handle it as you would the living animal and wash your hands after, as the CDC recommends for reptiles.
- Cats: whiskers they shed during life, gathered into a small box, alongside a nose print.
Everyday objects count too. A collar with its tags, a favorite toy, a worn bed cover or a lead can sit in a shadow box alongside a print or a lock of fur. They cost nothing, and they often carry as much memory as anything a studio could make.
Several of these don't require anything from your pet's body after death at all, which can be a relief. For whole-body preservation of a small pet, the services page explains who specializes in birds, reptiles and pocket pets.
Getting it done
How do you make sure there's time to take them?
Anything that needs your pet's body must happen before cremation, so decide early. If your pet is at the vet, ask them to take prints and a fur clipping, or to hold your pet frozen until a caster can come. If your pet is at home, you can do prints and fur yourself; keep your pet cool while you do, and if you're still considering full preservation, freeze them first using our freezing steps.
Add up the pieces you want in the memorial budget planner, and compare with a whole-body quote from the preservation cost estimator if you're still deciding. The poll results show which keepsakes other readers chose, and our locations pages help you find makers and studios near you.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
If you kept only part of your pet, what would it be?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Which memorial feels most like your pet?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
How much would you spend on a memorial item, beyond the cremation itself?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
How do I take a paw print at home?
For ink, use a non-toxic ink pad, press it gently onto the pads, then press the paw straight down on thick paper and lift without rolling. For clay, roll air-dry clay about half an inch thick and press the paw in evenly. Practice once or twice; a slightly imperfect print is still precious.
Where should I cut a lock of fur from?
Take it from somewhere hidden, like behind an ear, under the chin or from the chest, especially if your pet may still be preserved. Tie the base with thread before cutting so the lock stays together, then keep it in a small envelope or glass vial away from damp and moths.
Can a paw cast be made from a photo after cremation?
Not a true cast, since that needs a mold of the actual paw. Artists can sculpt a paw or make an engraving from photos, and they can look lovely, but they won't capture the exact pads. If there's time before cremation, a quick impression in clay keeps that option open.
Are lighter keepsakes a lot cheaper than preservation?
Yes, by a wide margin. Prints and fur cost tens of dollars and casts a few hundred at most, while freeze-drying a whole pet typically costs USD 1,000–2,000 by one industry estimate[11] and more for big dogs. Many families do a lighter keepsake plus private cremation for less than the smallest whole-body quote.
Can I keep whiskers my pet shed during life?
Absolutely, and many owners already have a few tucked away. Cats and dogs shed whiskers naturally. A small glass vial or locket keeps them safe. They're a gentle keepsake because nothing needs to be taken from your pet after death.
Can I combine several small keepsakes in one display?
Yes, and it's a lovely way to bring them together. A deep shadow box can hold a paw print, a lock of fur, a collar tag and a photo, with a small urn beside it if you chose cremation. Framers can build one to fit, or you can buy a ready-made box and arrange it yourself.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] Astute Analytica reports 51% of pet owners are interested in personalized memorials and 70% consider memorialization significant. Astute Analytica via GlobeNewswire — Global Pet Preservation Services Market to Hit USD 112.7 Million by 2032 (Apr 2, 2024), 2024.
- [2] Memorial add-ons at A Greener Place: $15 laser-engraved paw print, $10 clay paw impression, $10 nose print, $5 fur clipping. A Greener Place Pet Aquamation – Pricing, 2026.
- [3] Paw-print add-ons at US crematories have a median price of about $32, from $10 to $76. Our estimate: median of [$10 clay (AGP), $15 laser engraving (AGP), $49 ink (Final Gift), $76 clay (Final Gift)]. How we calculate.
- [4] Final Gift charges $49 for ink paw prints, $76 for a clay or silver-clay paw print, $111 framed, and $133 framed with a fur clipping; a fur clipping alone costs $23. Final Gift Pet Memorial Center – Memorial Products, 2026.
- [5] Brighton Body Casting in the UK charges from about £120 to cast a small dog's paw pads in resin; medium and large breeds cost about 1/5 and 1/3 more. Brighton Body Casting – Pets, 2026.
- [6] Spawts, a Canadian studio, charges from CA$155 for a handmade ceramic paw-print keepsake and asks buyers to allow 3–4 weeks. Spawts – Ceramic keepsakes, 2026.
- [7] A custom sterling silver actual-paw-print charm costs $143 before the chain (about $59–$79 for silver) and takes about 2 weeks to make. String of Jewels – Actual paw print necklace, 2026.
- [8] Paw print and nose print pendants at Memorials.com start at $99.95. Memorials.com – Pet print jewelry, 2026.
- [9] LONITÉ needs at least 150 g (5 oz) of pet ashes, or 5 g of fur, to make a memorial diamond. LONITÉ – Pet cremation diamonds, 2026.
- [10] Cremation jewelry that holds pet ashes typically costs $30–$300+. Memorials.com – Pet Cremation Cost Guide 2026, 2026.
- [11] Freeze-drying a pet typically costs USD 1,000–2,000. Astute Analytica via GlobeNewswire — Global Pet Preservation Services Market to Hit USD 112.7 Million by 2032 (Apr 2, 2024), 2024.
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