We welcome Cara Imperato as our Cat Memorial Ideas guest curator to make your search for the perfect pet remembrance a lot easier. Cara sources cat-inspired and handmade goods by independent artists and crafters.
Memorial ideas can be tough to find. Whether it’s a memorial for your own cat or a pet memorial for a friend, grief can get in the way of finding the best memorial gifts.
NOTE: As Carla is no longer curating and the demand is still constant for good memorials I am adding a limited range of fresh high-quality suggestions for pet memorials.
Dog Memorials as well as Cat Memorials
Cara has curated a timeless collection on a subject that touches every cat lover, but you will discover that many artists are happy to undertake dog pictures as well. She includes remembrances and pet memorial ideas for those animals we love. [Cara uses affiliate links – which we are happy to include.]
Looking for Pet Memorial Ideas
As every cat lover knows, losing your feline companion is truly heartbreaking. Each cat leaves a permanent imprint on your soul, whether they’ve been part of your family for years or only a few months. Pet memorials are a healthy way to grieve the loss of your friend. It’s also a caring way to show support to someone you love who has lost a pet.
I’ve carefully chosen some unique pet memorial gifts, handcrafted by talented artists who are also animal lovers. Sharing your photo with the artist, talking a bit about your cat’s personality and watching your memorial come together is a beautifully therapeutic process. I found that sharing and appreciating cat-inspired art helped me work through the loss of my beloved cat, Callie. She only lived five short years, but her loving presence helped me survive the most turbulent period of my life. My blog, Kitty Curator, is an ongoing memorial to her beauty and unconditional love.
I look forward to hearing your favourite Pet Memorial Ideas in the comments!
Ink Lane Design
Elaine (above) is the talented graphic designer behind these adorable digital illustrations. I love the whimsical feel. You send a photo and any requests for the background and wording. She even provides a proof in case you’d like revisions before it’s finished. Available as a digital file or high-quality print. Starts at $59.99, depending on the number of pets and printing options. (Etsy).
Jasmine’s Craft Cottage
For British pet owners, the exquisite small memorials from Jasmine’s store are a delight to warm the heart. The simple model is handcrafted and comes with an optional halo, and/or a silver base. Colours can be customised to Black, Siamese, Tuxedo, Grey or Rustic White Shimmer.
Base price is £20 and custom cats are available – price on application to Jasmine.
Smittens Knuffels
I don’t know about you, but having a huggable version of my cat after he/she passed would be tremendously comforting. Anna of Smittens Knuffels hand makes each stuffed animal in her home in Amsterdam. As you can see from the picture, she takes great care to match the coat for a sweet representation of your furry companion. These pet stuffies are made to order for $60.81. (Etsy)
Flower Floozy Designs
You can tell right away that Karen Earnhardt, owner of Flower Floozy Designs, is a caring animal lover who will take great care to represent your beloved pet. She says, “Each piece of stained glass is cut and applied to the portrait to create a beautiful likeness of your special baby.” This custom-made mosaic is $200, and would certainly be a treasured memorial. Etsy. Maybe commission a cat mosaic headstone or image to be mounted on a headstone.
Vumap
If you’re seeking something out the ordinary with a vintage feel, Silvia Beneforti (ab0ve) can create a gorgeous representation of your cat on an antique book page. She will hand paint in watercolor and tempera based on the photograph you provide. $40.00 for a signed, original piece. Handmade @ Amazon
Irene is a young illustrator from Spain who adds a soft sweetness to her digital portraits. She is more than happy to customize little additions like flowers or bow ties to best represent the personality of your pet. She is an animal lover herself, and wants to create something that really captures your cat’s essence. Digital file for $46.44, more depending on number of pets. Etsy
Peony Peacock Studio
Imagine having an original watercolor of your sweet cat inside a beautiful necklace that you can wear close to your heart. Sowmya makes every pendant from scratch – from the first sketch to the last stroke in her NYC home studio. The cat painting is sealed under clear glass and antique silver for $59.95. Also available as a key ring.
Artsy Emmy the Crafter
These beautiful miniature portraits are 1.25″ X 2″ before framing. The artist, Emmy, creates them using watercolor, acrylics, colored pencil and India ink. She then mats and frames your portrait with real wood picture molding. I chose to include this one because it’s affordable due of its size, but with all the attention to detail you’d expect for a quality portrait. $44.99 Etsy
J Beth Bish
If you’re a fan of pop art (or perhaps your cat had a very colorful personality…) – Jillian can create a custom piece of art for you. She’s happy to work with you until you’re happy with the image. She sends as a digital file, which you can then print on anything you’d like. $38.00, more depending on a number of pets.
Felted Animals Studio
Linda is the Latvian felt artist behind these incredibly realistic custom cats. You must view her other creations on Etsy to get a sense of how much time and effort she puts into crafting an exact likeness of your beloved pet. There is even a wired skeleton so you can move the tail, paws and head. These custom cat figures are $70.00. Etsy
Silhouettes by Elle
The steady hands of artist Elle transform your photo into a beautiful hand paper cut out in black acid-free paper. I’ve often gazed at the shadow of my cat sitting at the window. This would make a unique and beautiful memorial. Elle can customize the size and background color as well. $35.00 Etsy
Shari Fawn Art
I’m personally a fan of folk art, so I had to include a cat portrait in this style. It offers lots of room for adding fun cat quirks. The artist Shari will hand paint your portrait using acrylic on canvas. You’ll receive a sketch to approve before she begins painting. $70.00, $10.00 to add your pet’s name. Etsy
Lianne Illustrates
Mixed media and collage is also a huge favorite of mine, so forgive me for including yet another of my personal styles! I love the quirkiness of Lianne’s creations. She will create a sketch for your approval first, then begin the process of gluing the collage to high-quality paper. $51.95, additional depending on number of pets. Etsy
Nichole Alvarado
My confession – I think if I could only have one of these portraits, it would be this one. Who knew the level of detail and expression you could achieve with embroidery? Nichole Alvarado is very talented and often has a waiting list. She puts 9-12 hours into each creation. $135.00 Hoopla
Nichole Piar
Nicole Piar’s cat portraits are just magical. Her style of watercolor, along with her natural intuition, comes together to create something truly unique. She works closely with you to understand your cat’s personality to bring it to life in a gorgeous painting you can cherish. $250.00 Artist Own Site.
Nico Made Me
Nicoleta makes these delightful portraits entirely out of polymer clay. As she explains, “each detail is a tiny piece of colored clay added by hand. The process doesn’t involve painting, which makes it more difficult, but the finish is more realistic and the colors last longer.” $65.00 for one cat, additional depending on number of pets. Etsy
Thanks to Cara for some inspired pet memorial ideas.
