Keepsakes and ashes jewelry for a rabbit, guinea pig or ferret
Even a guinea pig's few tablespoons of ashes can fill several pendants, since each holds only a pinch. Foot prints and fur clippings have to be taken before cremation, so decide on those first.
By the Small Mammal Cremation Services editorial team · Updated September 24, 2026 · 5 min read · Sources
- How far a small pet's ashes go in jewelry and glass
- Getting a clear print from a furry rabbit foot
- Prices for pendants, prints, fur pieces and freeze-drying
The short answer
What keepsakes can you make from a small pet?
Quite a lot, despite the small size. From the ashes you can fill pendants, rings, glass beads and paperweights. From the body, before cremation, you can take a clay or ink foot print, a nose print and a clipping of fur. And there are a few larger options, such as freeze-drying, for people who want something more.
The order matters. Anything involving fur, feet or nose has to happen before your pet leaves home or the vet's. Ashes keepsakes can wait weeks, months or years, and it's often kinder to choose them once the first shock has passed.
What would you most want to keep from your rabbit, guinea pig or ferret?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Do these first
Which keepsakes must be done before cremation?
- Fur clipping. Snip a small lock from the back or chest with scissors, not clippers, and tie it with cotton thread before it goes into an envelope. Long-haired guinea pigs such as Peruvians and Angora rabbits give lovely locks.
- Foot or paw print. Clay or ink, done at home or by the provider (see the next section).
- Nose print. Gently press a clean, slightly damp nose onto ink paper; it's a surprisingly detailed keepsake for rabbits.
- Whiskers. A few whiskers often come away naturally with gentle handling and fit in a locket.
- Collar or harness. Ferret owners often keep the harness. Remove anything metal you want back before handover.
Providers often offer these as add-ons. One Arizona aftercare provider charges between $5 for a fur clipping and $15 for an engraved paw print[1]. It's worth asking when you book, even if you plan to do some yourself. Our overview of what happens during cremation explains when items are removed and when they go with your pet.
Prints from furry feet
How do you get a good paw print from a rabbit or guinea pig?
Rabbits have no pads, just dense fur on the soles, so ink prints often come out as a soft smudge. Clay works better. Roll air-dry or salt-dough clay about half an inch thick, then press the back foot in firmly and evenly and lift straight up. The fur leaves a textured outline that looks recognizably like a rabbit's long hind foot.
Guinea pigs have small, bare-soled feet with four toes at the front and three at the back, so ink works well for them. Use a pet-safe ink pad and thick paper, and do two or three attempts. Ferrets and chinchillas print well in clay; hedgehogs' tiny feet are easiest in soft clay with gentle pressure.
Ashes jewelry
How many pendants can a small pet's ashes fill?
More than most people expect. An ashes pendant holds only a pinch[2], and ashes-in-glass pieces use just 1/8–1/2 tsp[3]. A median pet rabbit (2.1 kg in a UK VetCompass study) returns about 74 g[4] of ashes by our estimate, which is roughly 12 to 15 teaspoons. Even the 37 g[5] we'd expect from a median-weight guinea pig could fill several pendants and a keepsake urn.
| Keepsake | Ashes needed | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Fillable pendant or charm | A pinch (at most about a teaspoon) | $30 to $300+ |
| Sterling silver ashes pendant | A pinch (at most about a teaspoon) | $109 to $529 (median around $129) |
| Ashes in glass (bead, heart, paperweight) | 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon | Varies; £170 for a pendant at one UK studio |
| Custom paw-print charm (from a print) | None | $143 plus chain |
| Paw or nose print pendant | None | From about $100 |
Those figures come from published price lists: ashes jewelry overall at $30–$300+[6], one retailer's silver range at $109–$529[7], a UK glass studio[8], a custom actual-paw charm at $143 + chain[9], and print pendants from $99.95[10]. Glass pieces usually ship 2–8 weeks[11] after the studio receives the ashes.
Free tool
Ashes sharing planner
Split ashes fairly between family members, keepsake urns and jewelry.
No ashes needed
Can jewelry be made from fur instead of ashes?
Yes. Some jewelers set fur into resin for rings, pendants and beads, and it works especially well for guinea pigs and rabbits with distinctive coats. It's a good choice if you chose communal cremation or a garden burial and have no ashes.
Memorial diamonds are sometimes offered too, but check the quantities. One Swiss company needs at least 150 g of ashes or just 5 g of fur[12]. A rabbit's ashes usually fall short of that ashes minimum, so the fur route is the one that works for most small pets. Ask for the minimum before you send anything.
A larger step
Is freeze-drying a small pet an option?
Some owners choose pet freeze-drying, which preserves the body in a natural resting pose. It's more common for small pets than large ones, partly because it's cheaper and faster for them: one industry report says preservation takes 3–6 months (small pets)[13]. One Ohio studio charges $1,250–$2,095[14] depending on weight, and lists hedgehogs and ferrets at about $950[15].
It's a very personal choice and not for everyone. If you're considering it, the body needs to be kept cold straight away, usually frozen within hours, so decide before contacting a crematorium. The aftercare options comparison can help you weigh it against cremation or burial. You can still keep a fur clipping or print either way.
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.
What would you most want to keep from your rabbit, guinea pig or ferret?
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.
What personal touch matters most on a memorial?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
How much ash do I need for a cremation pendant?
Very little: most fillable pendants hold only a pinch, and ashes-in-glass pieces use between an eighth and half a teaspoon. Even a guinea pig's ashes can fill several. Use a small funnel or rolled paper, fill over a tray, and seal the screw with the glue supplied.
Can I take a paw print after my rabbit has died?
Yes, as long as it's before cremation or burial. Clay works better than ink for rabbits, whose furry soles smudge ink. Press the hind foot evenly into clay about half an inch thick and lift straight up. If your rabbit is already with the provider, ask whether they can take one.
Can I send my own ashes to a jeweler?
Yes. Many studios post out a small kit with a sealed pot and a prepaid return envelope, and ask for only the amount they need. Send the smallest quantity requested, keep the rest at home, and ask how any unused ashes are returned before you post anything.
Is fur jewelry durable?
Fur set in resin is sealed and protected, so it doesn't shed or fade quickly, though strong sunlight can yellow some resins over the years. Loose fur in a glass-fronted locket lasts well if kept dry. Ask the maker how much fur they need; it's usually a small lock.
What can I keep if my pet had communal cremation?
Everything that doesn't use ashes: fur clippings, clay or ink prints, whiskers, their harness or hidey house, and photos. If you still have the body, take those before handover. Fur-in-resin jewelry and paw-print charms made from a photo or print are good alternatives to ashes pieces.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] 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.
- [2] An ashes pendant holds only a pinch of cremated remains (the retailer says at most about a teaspoon; most pendants hold far less), and most come with a small funnel fill kit. Memorials.com – Pet ashes necklaces, 2026.
- [3] Ashes-in-glass pet memorials use only about 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon of ashes. Funeral.com – Ashes in Glass for Pets, 2026.
- [4] A median-weight adult pet rabbit (2.1 kg) would be expected to return about 74 g (2.6 oz) of cremated remains. Our estimate: 2,100 g x 3.5%. How we calculate.
- [5] A median-weight pet guinea pig (1.05 kg) would be expected to return about 37 g (1.3 oz) of cremated remains. Our estimate: 1,050 g x 3.5%. How we calculate.
- [6] Cremation jewelry that holds pet ashes typically costs $30–$300+. Memorials.com – Pet Cremation Cost Guide 2026, 2026.
- [7] Urns.com's sterling silver pet cremation jewelry ranged from $109 to $529, with a median around $129 across 19 listed pieces. Urns.com – Sterling silver pet cremation jewelry, 2026.
- [8] Bath Aqua Glass in England charges £170 for a pet-ashes glass pendant and £195–£240 for a pet-ashes paperweight. Bath Aqua Glass – Pets ashes into glass, 2026.
- [9] 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.
- [10] Paw print and nose print pendants at Memorials.com start at $99.95. Memorials.com – Pet print jewelry, 2026.
- [11] Ashes-in-glass studios typically ship pieces 2–8 weeks after receiving the ashes. Funeral.com – Ashes in Glass for Pets, 2026.
- [12] 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.
- [13] 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.
- [14] An Ohio pet preservation studio charges $1,250 to freeze-dry a 1–2 lb pet and $2,095 for 2–6 lb, with 6–8 month turnaround. Animal Family Pet Preservation – Pricing, 2026.
- [15] Freeze-drying costs about $850 for a bearded dragon, $950 for a hedgehog, rat or ferret, and $650–$1,350 for a small bird at one Ohio studio. Animal Family Pet Preservation – Pricing, 2026.
Plan cremation with keepsakes included
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.