A cat's absence often shows up in small, quiet places: the empty spot on the windowsill, the chair it claimed, the greeting in the kitchen every morning. The best cat memorial gifts honor those small things: the cat's name, its face, its favorite spot. Below are keepsake ideas, a note on flowers and plants for homes with other cats, and words that help.
For ideas that work for any pet, see pet memorial gifts.
Keepsakes
The collar
A small shadow box frame for the collar, the bell or the ID tag, with a favorite photo, turns them into a quiet memorial instead of something hidden in a drawer.
A paw print or a lock of fur
Veterinary Medicine at Illinois notes that many veterinary clinics provide keepsakes after euthanasia: "they may make an impression of the pet's paw print in a piece of clay or using ink on paper, or they may clip a lock of the pet's hair." A small keepsake box or a frame for the paw print makes a gentle gift.
A whisker or a tuft of fur
Some owners keep a whisker they found around the house, or a little fur from a favorite brush, in a small glass vial or a locket. A simple locket is a thoughtful gift for someone who would like to keep that close.
The favorite spot
A framed photo or a small engraved plaque for the cat's favorite window or chair marks the place where it spent its days.
A memorial portrait
A portrait with the cat's name and dates keeps its face in the home: the eyes, the markings, the expression it had when it was content. You need one clear, well-lit photo of the cat's face.
Full disclosure: PawSums, the team behind this site, makes memorial portraits on canvas. You upload one clear photo of the cat's face and type its name and the dates or a short line. We create a soft watercolor-style portrait with AI-assisted digital art, check it by hand and email you a preview with the name and dates in place before anything is printed. Reply within 24 hours if you would like one free change; if we don't hear from you, the portrait goes to print. We use the words exactly as you type them, and if you spot a typo in the preview, we fix it for free. The canvas is 12" x 16" for $64.99 or 18" x 24" for $94.99. Economy shipping in the US is free and takes about 9 to 16 business days, Standard is $4.99 and takes about 7 to 13 business days, and during the holiday season it can take a few days longer.
Flowers and plants in a home with other cats
Sympathy flowers and memorial plants are a natural choice, but if the household has another cat, choose carefully.
- Leave out lilies. The FDA says lilies in the "true lily" and "daylily" families are very dangerous for cats, that "the entire lily plant is toxic: the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase," and that lily poisoning can "cause your cat to develop fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days." Check every flower in a bouquet before sending it to a home with a cat.
- Check a plant before you give it. The ASPCA keeps a searchable list of plants that are toxic and non-toxic to cats. Spider plants and African violets, for example, are on its non-toxic list.
More about keeping a home cat-safe is in our guide to cat-safe holidays.
A donation to a cat rescue
A donation in the cat's name to a local shelter or cat rescue helps another cat find a home. Ask the rescue for a card that names the cat, so the owner knows.
What to say
Use the cat's name and, if you can, a real memory. A few ways to start:
- "I'll always remember Milo supervising everything from the top of the bookshelf. I'm so sorry."
- "Thinking of you and Cleo. She had the best life with you."
- "I know how much Oliver meant to you. I'm here if you want to talk about him."
Avoid suggesting a new kitten soon, or anything that makes the loss sound small. A short note with the cat's name is enough.
When another pet is left behind
If the home has another cat or a dog, they may notice the loss too. Krystal Newberry, a licensed social worker at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, says: "A pet parent may notice other pets at home seeming tired, depressed, or wandering aimlessly. These are normal behaviors seen in pets after the loss of a housemate." After a euthanasia, she suggests that owners can bring "a blanket, toy, and/or collar home" for the other pets to smell, because "it is believed that a pet may give off a scent at death that other pets will recognize." If a surviving pet's behavior worries the owner, their veterinarian can help.
Support for grieving cat owners
Grief after losing a cat is real. Two university pet loss hotlines are staffed by volunteers: the Cornell University Pet Loss Support Hotline at 607-218-7457 (hours vary by season, so call for current hours) and the Tufts University Pet Loss Support Helpline at 508-839-7966 (6 pm to 9 pm Monday through Thursday Eastern time, with voicemail at other times). Cornell notes that its hotline "is not a mental health hotline." If grief feels like too much, or you are worried about someone's safety, contact a doctor or call or text 988 in the US to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is free and available 24/7.
Frequently asked questions
What do you give someone whose cat died?
A card that uses the cat's name, plus something small and personal if you like: a portrait with its name, a frame for its collar, a locket for a whisker or a tuft of fur, or a donation to a cat rescue in its name.
Are lilies safe to send as sympathy flowers?
Not to a home with a cat. The FDA warns that the whole lily plant, including the pollen and the water in the vase, is toxic to cats and can cause fatal kidney failure. Choose a bouquet without lilies.
What can I do with my cat's collar after it dies?
Some owners frame it in a shadow box with a photo, some keep it with the cat's ashes, and some put the tag on a key ring. There is no right way and no deadline.
Do cats grieve when another pet dies?
Some owners notice changes. Krystal Newberry of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine says other pets may seem tired, depressed or wander aimlessly after losing a housemate, and calls these normal behaviors. If the changes worry you, talk to your veterinarian.
Sources
- Veterinary Medicine at Illinois: Euthanasia: Why, When, and How to Say Goodbye to a Pet (February 21, 2024)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination (content current as of September 16, 2021)
- ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List: Cats
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Pet Loss Resources and Support
- Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine: Pet Loss Support Helpline
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org