How do I preserve my pet's fur in a meaningful keepsake?
- ✓ Popular choices include hidden-compartment jewellery, glass vials, frame pressing and art pieces using fur.
- ✓ Store fur in a labelled paper envelope; keep cool, dry, and out of direct sun until you make your keepsake.
- ✓ For daily-wear pieces, consider secure ashes & hair jewellery.
Losing a pet can be very difficult, but keeping small keepsakes helps to keep that memory alive. Honouring a pet’s memory can help to ease the passing and help you to cope after losing an important part of your life.
Keeping a clipping of your pet’s fur is incredibly common as it offers a simple but effective link to your lost pet. Their fur is also strongly linked to your memories, as it’s the tactile way that you interact with them every day.
With this in mind, we’re sharing four of our favourite ways to transform your pet’s hair into a beautiful keepsake that you can use to keep their memory alive in the future.
Memorial keepsake jewellery
You don’t have to have cremation ashes to create memorial keepsake jewellery. We can also place fur inside the hidden compartment to create a beautiful keepsake you can carry with you for comfort and reassurance. This is a popular way to feel close to your pet after their death and it can help you to have something small and tactile to reach for when you need a moment to yourself. (Explore ashes & hair jewellery)
Glass vials
Another popular way to keep pet fur safe for years to come would be to place it in a small glass vial. These can be turned into keychains so you can keep your pet with you, or you could add one to the Christmas tree so they can be part of the festivities long after they are gone. Glass vials are great as they allow you to see the colour and texture of the fur.
Frame pressing
A small double sided glass frame designed for flower pressings is the perfect home for your pet’s fur. You can arrange this in an attractive fan shape and then press the fur between the layers of glass. You can then display this in your home or keep it on your desk as a touching reminder of your pet.
Pet hair painting
Commissioning a portrait of your pet and then asking the artist to add the fur into the paint would be a beautiful way to capture their memory. The fur will add texture to the piece and provide a creative challenge for the artist to include the fur in a meaningful way.
Pet fur keepsakes: quick comparison
| Option | What it is | Pros | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden-compartment jewellery | Fur placed inside a sealed chamber in the metal. | Discreet; secure; suitable for daily wear. | Choose a style you’ll be comfortable wearing every day. |
| Glass vial keepsake | Fur displayed in a small vial (e.g., keychain or ornament). | Visible texture/colour; display at home or on the go. | Not ideal for rough, daily handling. |
| Frame pressing | Fur arranged and pressed between glass layers. | Elegant display; easy to keep dust-free. | Home/display piece rather than wearable. |
| Art with fur | Artist incorporates fur into a portrait or painting. | Highly personal; unique tribute. | Commissioning cost; consider framing/protection. |