Pet preservation services, side by side
From a freeze-dried hamster at about USD 650[1] to a full-size dog costing several thousand, preservation covers a wide range. Here's what each service involves and who it tends to suit.
- Full-body, partial and skeletal options explained
- Real published prices and waiting times
- Practitioners matched to your pet's species and size
Whole-body, resting poses
Freeze-dry preservation: your pet, as they slept
In freeze-drying, the practitioner thaws your pet slowly, grooms them, sets the pose with pins and wire, and then refreezes them inside a vacuum chamber. Over months, the ice inside the body passes straight into vapor without ever melting, so the tissues keep their shape. Internal organs are sometimes removed first, depending on the size of the animal and the practitioner's method.
It suits cats, small and medium dogs, rabbits, ferrets, rats and most small pets, especially in a curled or lying pose. It's less suited to very large dogs, which some studios turn away because they won't fit the chamber or would take close to a year. One industry report puts the going rate at USD 1,000–2,000[2], but weight moves it a lot: one US studio charges USD 2,095 + USD 49/lb[3] for a cat or dog of 6 to 19 lb. By our estimate, that works out to USD 2,291–2,585[4] for a 10 lb cat, depending on how the per-pound rate is read.
Ask whether the price includes a base or pillow, glass eyes, and return shipping. Use the preservation cost estimator to see a range for your pet's weight before you call anyone, and read our breakdown of what it costs to freeze-dry a pet to see what pushes a quote up.
Tanned skin on a sculpted form
Traditional taxidermy: when you want a sitting or standing pose
A taxidermist removes and tans the skin, then builds or carves a form matching your pet's measurements and fits the skin over it. Eyes, nose and lips are rebuilt by hand. The finished mount is light, dry and very stable, and it can stand, sit, look up or hold a ball, which freeze-drying rarely manages well.
The trade-off is that only the skin is truly your pet. Everything underneath is the artist's interpretation, so their skill with faces decides whether it looks like your dog or just a dog. Most taxidermists work mainly with game animals; ask specifically how many pets of your species they've finished. Prices are set artist by artist and quoted individually. If you're torn between the two main methods, our comparison of freeze-drying vs taxidermy sets them side by side.
Something you can hold
Partial preservation: a paw, a tail, a wing or a lock of fur
Partial work keeps one meaningful piece and lets the rest of your pet go to cremation or burial. The most requested pieces are a single paw (freeze-dried or tanned), a tanned tail, a bird's spread wing, and small bundles of feathers or fur set into a frame or glass dome. It's quicker and costs far less than full-body work, and many people find it easier to live with.
- Paws are usually freeze-dried and set on a small base or in a shadow box.
- Tails are tanned so they stay soft, and some families have them made into a keepsake with a clasp or ribbon.
- Wings and feathers from parrots, chickens and pigeons can be preserved spread and framed.
- Fur and whiskers need no practitioner at all; clip them yourself before your pet leaves home.
Our round-up of paw casts, fur and photo-based alternatives covers the pieces you can make at home. The hybrid casts plus cremation guide explains how to coordinate a partial keepsake with a cremation provider so nothing is lost in the handover. See which pieces other readers would choose in the poll results.
If you kept only part of your pet, what would it be?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
For the anatomically curious
Skull cleaning and articulated skeletons
Some owners want the bones rather than the fur. A bone preparer cleans the skeleton, often using a colony of dermestid beetles that eat away soft tissue without damaging fine bones (the same insects the Canadian Conservation Institute warns museums about), then degreases and gently whitens it. A cleaned skull alone is a quiet, sculptural object; a full skeleton is wired back together in a natural pose and usually displayed under glass.
It's popular with vets, biology teachers, artists and reptile and bird keepers, whose pets have striking skeletons. Timelines depend on the beetle colony and the size of the animal. Treat it like any commission: see finished pieces of your species and agree the price and return date in writing.
Tiny and unusual pets
Birds, reptiles and very small pets need a specialist
Small bodies are delicate, and not every practitioner takes them. Parrots, budgies, hamsters, mice, geckos and snakes each need different handling: feathers loosen easily, reptile skin can lose its color, and a hamster has almost no margin for error. Freeze-drying is common for small mammals and birds; a studio's published price for a pet under a pound is USD 650[1].
At a glance
How the services compare on cost, wait and look
| Service | What you get back | Typical cost | Typical wait | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeze-drying | Your whole pet, resting pose | $1,000 to $2,000 for most[2]; $2,000 to $5,000+ for medium to large dogs[5] | 3 to 6 months small pets, 7+ months large dogs[6] | Cats, small dogs, small mammals, birds |
| Traditional taxidermy | Tanned skin on a sculpted form | $800–$2,500[7] for a cat or small dog; more for larger dogs | 6–12 months[8], sometimes longer | Standing or alert poses, larger pets |
| Partial (paw, tail, wing) | One preserved piece | A fraction of full-body work | Usually shorter than full-body | Families wanting something smaller |
| Skull or skeleton | Cleaned, articulated bones | £500 to £2,000 at one UK studio[9] | Depends on size and method | Science lovers, reptile and bird keepers |
| Cast plus cremation | A paw or nose cast and the ashes | Cremation price plus cast | Weeks, not months | Anyone who decides against preservation |
Freeze-drying is the bigger share of the market, at 62.3%[10] by one industry estimate, but a lot of families who start there end up with a partial piece or a cast. To add preservation, a display case and anything else into one total, use the memorial budget planner.
Free tool
Freeze-dry & taxidermy cost estimator
Estimate cost and waiting time for freeze-drying or taxidermy by size and pose.
Getting your pet there
Drop-off, frozen courier and shipping on dry ice
With so few pet specialists, the right person may be several states away. Most accept pets that arrive frozen solid: packed in a cooler with dry ice and sent overnight early in the week, so they don't sit in a depot over a weekend. Some will arrange a courier, and local owners can usually drop off by appointment. Our locations pages explain how this works from your area.
We don't collect or ship pets ourselves. When you send us your details, we pass back practitioners who take your pet's species and size, how they want your pet delivered, and what they charge. For a list of what to ask them, read our guide to vetting a preservation provider.
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 pose 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
Which pets can be freeze-dried?
Most cats, small and medium dogs, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters and birds are routinely freeze-dried. Reptiles and fish are possible with some specialists, though color can fade. Very large dogs are accepted by fewer studios, because they need a big chamber and can take close to a year. Ask about your species before you ship.
Can I have a paw preserved and the rest of my pet cremated?
Yes, and it's a popular choice. The practitioner removes and preserves the paw, then the rest of your pet goes to a cremation provider, either one the practitioner works with or one you arrange. Agree in writing who handles the handover and whether the cremation is private, so you get your own pet's ashes back.
Do taxidermists need a license to work on pets?
Rules differ by state and country. Licensing for taxidermy mostly concerns wild and game animals, so domestic cats and dogs are often outside it, while native wild birds and protected reptiles can be tightly restricted. Ask the practitioner which rules apply to your pet and whether they hold any state permits for wildlife.
Is a skeleton or skull preparation expensive?
It's usually quoted per project, based on size and whether you want only a cleaned skull or a fully articulated skeleton. A skull is simpler; rebuilding a full skeleton takes many hours of wiring small bones. Ask for photos of finished pieces of your species and a written estimate that includes the display case.
What happens if something goes wrong during preservation?
Occasionally a practitioner discovers damage when a pet thaws, such as fur slipping from a delay before freezing. A good one will call you, explain what they see and offer choices, like switching to a partial piece or a cremation. Ask about this and their refund policy before you pay a deposit.
Keep reading
Estimate your pet's price
Cost and wait by method, size and pose.
Preservation near you
Why distance matters less than freezing, and how shipping works.
Questions to ask a practitioner
What to ask about scope, suitability and return.
Ask us to find practitioners
Tell us about your pet and we'll email back options.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] One U.S. pet preservation studio charges USD 650 to freeze-dry a pet under 1 lb, with a 4–6 month turnaround. Animal Family Pet — Pet Preservation Pricing & Shipping, 2026.
- [2] 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.
- [3] The same studio charges USD 2,095 plus USD 49 per lb for 6–19 lb dogs and cats, and USD 2,781 plus USD 69 per lb for pets over 20 lb, with a 6–8 month turnaround. Animal Family Pet — Pet Preservation Pricing & Shipping, 2026.
- [4] Freeze-drying a 10 lb cat at one published price list would cost about USD 2,290–2,590. Our estimate: Low: 2,095 + 49 x (10-6) lb; High: 2,095 + 49 x 10 lb. How we calculate.
- [5] Memorials.com puts freeze-drying at $1,000–$2,500 for a cat or small dog and $2,000–$5,000+ for a medium to large dog. Memorials.com – Pet Taxidermy Guide, 2025.
- [6] Freeze-dry preservation takes 3–6 months for small pets, 7+ months for large dogs and up to a year for very large animals. Astute Analytica via GlobeNewswire — Global Pet Preservation Services Market to Hit USD 112.7 Million by 2032 (Apr 2, 2024), 2024.
- [7] Memorials.com puts traditional taxidermy at $800–$2,500 for a cat or small dog and $1,500–$5,000+ for a medium to large dog. Memorials.com – Pet Taxidermy Guide, 2025.
- [8] Both traditional taxidermy and freeze-drying typically take 6–12 months, sometimes longer. Memorials.com – Pet Taxidermy Guide, 2025.
- [9] UK studio Skeletons UK articulates pet skeletons from £500 (Chihuahua) to £2,000 (Great Dane); a cat costs £550, or £700 cased. Skeletons UK – Pet memorials, 2026.
- [10] Freeze-drying accounted for 62.3% of the pet preservation services market. Astute Analytica via GlobeNewswire — Global Pet Preservation Services Market to Hit USD 112.7 Million by 2032 (Apr 2, 2024), 2023.
Find a preservation service for your pet
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.