Cost of getting cat cremated

dcfc91

My elderly cat seems to be coming to the end of her life, she has stopped eating and lost a serious amount of weight in the last month. She has been to the vet but despite treatment, she hasn’t started eating on her own again and is only being kept going by syringe feeds. It’s looking more and more like kidney failure. She also has congestive heart failure which she is on medication for. At this stage it seems her systems are shutting down and the kindest thing to do for her is to let her go.

I am of course absolutely devastated but want to do what is right by her. I’ve had her since I was a child, she’s always been with me and is very special to me. Thus I would like to have her cremated and have her ashes returned to me. This obviously isn’t the cheapest option but it’s the one that will give me the most comfort as I simply cannot imagine my life without her. I’m am however a student and the costs of her veterinary treatment over the last number of months have left me in a hole financially. So I will have to take out a small loan to cover the costs of her being put to sleep and her cremation. Can anyone give me any idea of what kind of money I will be looking at here so I can get my application in? Thanks.

Courtn2

Hi, info is 2 to 3 yrs old, but I had a cat cremated through the vet. He was sent to Kerry and the cost was 150. In the end the vet was decent enough not to charge as I had a lot of bills prior to the event!!

dcfc91

Courtn2 wrote: »

Hi, info is 2 to 3 yrs old, but I had a cat cremated through the vet. He was sent to Kerry and the cost was 150. In the end the vet was decent enough not to charge as I had a lot of bills prior to the event!!

Thanks for that, anything at all just to give me an idea of what I will be looking at.

Carry

I think the 150 Euro are about right for a cat.
I've got my departed dog cremated recently, it was 175 Euro.
The cremation place in Kerry charges according to size (they have small, medium, large and XL). My dog was "medium".

You get a cute little wooden box with the ashes and a nameplate on it. I find it very comforting to have my dog in the house, so to speak, and not rotting in the garden. The money was really worth it.

The vet will organise it and the box will be send back to him where you can collect it. Otherwise you can ask directly at "Pets to Rest" in Kerry: https://www.petstorest.org/

dcfc91

Carry wrote: »

I think the 150 Euro are about right for a cat.
I've got my departed dog cremated recently, it was 175 Euro.
The cremation place in Kerry charges according to size (they have small, medium, large and XL). My dog was "medium".

You get a cute little wooden box with the ashes and a nameplate on it. I find it very comforting to have my dog in the house, so to speak, and not rotting in the garden. The money was really worth it.

The vet will organise it and the box will be send back to him where you can collect it. Otherwise you can ask directly at "Pets to Rest" in Kerry: https://www.petstorest.org/

Thanks for that info, much appreciated. I’m in a houseshare at the minute, which obviously won’t be permanent. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her behind if I moved so there is no way I will be burying her here. Thank god for cremation services, I know I’ll get a measure of comfort from it.

cocaliquid

<snip>

Cocaliquid, your post has been deleted as it's pretty insensitive in this particular context, given the upsetting situation the op is in.
If you wish to have a general discussion on pet cremation, start a new thread, although the subjects you raise have been discussed here before so you could inform yourself better via the forum search facility.
Thanks,
DBB

DBB

What part of the country are you in op?
There's another pet crematorium in Trim, Co. Meath, also a few options in Northern Ireland.
I found the people at Trim to be very good, kind and understanding. They're OK with you delivering your pet's remains to them personally, and they can get the ashes back to you very quickly... In my case I picked up my dog's ashes 24 hours after bringing her to them. I found it somewhat more comforting to be "in control" of this bit. I had also found with pets that had gone before, that getting the ashes back 1-3 weeks later kinda opened up healing wounds again. If you've no option but to go this route, just be prepared for this
The owner at Trim brought us through the whole process, and I can assure you that there's no question that it's your own pet you receive back, despite what some people pessimistically assume.
I also don't remember them being quite as expensive as what's been suggested so far, but I'm absolutely open to correction on that because my memory on the price is a bit hazy.
http://www.pawprintscremationireland.ie

I've been told by other owners that at least one of the NI crematoriums also permit personal delivery and collection. I don't know about the place in Kerry simply as I've never used their services, but worth asking if it's an option you'd prefer.

Courtn2

Just re: price. I remember the carriage cost to and from the crematorium being significant, but can’t remember the %. If you can call there, it should be cheaper. From their website, it looks like this is an option for Kerry also.

dcfc91

Thanks guys. I would love to take her and be with her through the process of at all possible. Kerry would be the closest to me but still quite far away.

I’m very short on time this week as it is study week so I have assignments to hand in and exams to prepare for. In a way that is good because it’s keeping my mind off things, I can also be at home most of the time so getting to spend lots of cuddle time with her. I will have to take the day off to go to Kerry but I would like to be with her every step of the way.

boomerang

My heart goes out to you, OP.

Carry

dcfc91 wrote: »

Thanks for that info, much appreciated. I’m in a houseshare at the minute, which obviously won’t be permanent. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her behind if I moved so there is no way I will be burying her here. Thank god for cremation services, I know I’ll get a measure of comfort from it.

That's even more a reason to get your cat cremated - you can take her ashes whereever you go. A friend of mine was really upset when he had to leave a place where he buried his dog, his companion for many troubled years.
I feel for you because I've been there, still am.

DBB wrote: »

(...)I had also found with pets that had gone before, that getting the ashes back 1-3 weeks later kinda opened up healing wounds again. If you've no option but to go this route, just be prepared for this
(...)

Same here. It took about three weeks to get my dog's ashes back. It was again an emotional moment, but it was also kind of closure having her ashes back.
I never understood the term "closure" until this moment.

It might sound all a bit weird and cheesy to people who don't have an attachment to their pets. But an animal that was your companion for their lifetime and usually a big part of your own life is just that - a part of your life. My dog was a rescue in a double sense. She rescued me as well through tough times, gave me purpose and reminded me of being responsible.

We owe our pets not only a good life but a good farewell and remembrance, too.

aonb

OP, you dont mention where you are located, but there is another Pet Cremation service in Co Kildare. Have a look at their website below - they say they offer a same day service, if you are thinking of bringing your cat yourself.

http://www.maguirespetcremation.ie/

cocaliquid

<snip> Content removed.
Cocaliquid banned for idiot-level trolling.
Thanks,
DBB

dcfc91

Hey,

Just want to thank everyone flr the advice so far. It’s very much appreciated. Having my last night with kitty tonight have appointment to pts tomorrow. Tried ringing the cremation services in Kerry and Meath today but wasn’t able to get through. Will try again tomorrow and will post the outcome of what I decide on to this thread, just for future reference should anyone need it.

bertsmom

Thinking of you. Be kind to yourself and reach out if you ever need to. Lost my small dog two yrs ago and it can still catch up on you at times.
Try and keep the Good times ye had together to front of your mind. Sometimes letting go is the kindest gift you can give.

dcfc91

Again, many thanks to everyone. Yesterday was tough, there were plenty of tears, I’m still feeling quite raw at the minute but I know it will get easier in time. Still can’t bring myself to tidy away the water and food dishes and litter tray just yet but that will come in time.

I got some paw prints at the clinic yesterday after she had passed, it’s lovely that I will always have them, they immediately went into a plastic folder for safe keeping when I got home along with her collar and name tag.

As for the cremation, I decided to go with Pets at Rest in Kerry after talking to the very nice, very frank Kerry man who owns it. I asked him lots of questions and he was helpful with every one of them and talked me through the whole process. He even picked her up from my house after finding out that I was close by to a route that he takes and has offered to drop her back next week. Which was very decent of him. Just for reference the cost was €135.

For now I’m going to just be as kind to myself as I can and get stuck into exam prep as sadly life must go on.

boomerang

Life must go on, but you will carry her with you in your heart. xx Take care, OP.