[The Reality of Pet Cremation] A Cat Owner's Experience and "How to Choose a Pet Funeral Home Without Regret"

Compared to a decade ago, more pet funeral homes now value the dignity of animals. However, with the rising demand, it's crucial to research thoroughly to avoid choosing a disreputable pet funeral home.

This time, I'll share how to choose a trustworthy pet funeral home and the real-life experience of my beloved cat's cremation day.

Key points for choosing a pet funeral home you won't regret

① Clear explanation of how remains are handled

To preserve bones, precise temperature control during cremation is essential. Especially for pets who were on medication for illnesses, you might worry if their bones will remain intact, just like with humans.

Pet funeral homes that can provide clear answers to such questions are often highly experienced, which reduces the likelihood of issues concerning the return of ashes.

My cat, Jiji, was on medication for about four years and had tumors and pleural effusion, so I was worried if her bones would be properly preserved.

However, when I shared this information, the staff member provided specific examples of cremations for pets in similar situations and reassured me by saying, "We've been able to preserve bones even for pets with cancer."

They also said, "During cremation, we will carefully control the temperature to ensure as many bones as possible can be returned," which was very reassuring.

I believe that a pet funeral home that fosters such an approachable atmosphere will likely provide a satisfying cremation experience.

② Courteous response to inquiries

You can also judge the reliability of a pet funeral home by their response to inquiries.

For example, similar to animal hospitals, pet funeral homes that explain pricing and the day's procedures in easy-to-understand language without using jargon, while also listening to the owner's wishes, are highly recommended.

Honestly, right after my cat passed away, I couldn't fully comprehend the pricing explanations. However, it's crucial to choose a pet funeral home that thoroughly explains not only the cremation fees but also detailed costs such as transportation fees for mobile cremation.

Conversely, avoid pet funeral homes that explain things unilaterally without giving the owner a chance to respond. This often leads to communication breakdowns and problems later, such as feeling that "this isn't what I expected."

In my case, when I made the inquiry, the staff member started by saying, "Thank you for reaching out during this difficult time. I offer my deepest condolences." At that moment, it felt as if my cat's passing was being handled with great respect.

③ Staff hold the "Animal Funeral Director" qualification

The Animal Funeral Director certification is offered by the Japan Animal Funeral and Cemetery Association. There are Level 1 and Level 2 certifications, but when choosing a pet funeral home, you should check if there is a Level 1 Animal Funeral Director on staff.

This is because Level 1 requires at least three years of practical experience. Their accumulated experience means they are more likely to offer solutions when you have questions. Therefore, I believe it makes it easier for owners to arrange the cremation they desire.

Indeed, my assigned staff member was a Level 1 Animal Funeral Director. Perhaps due to their extensive experience, their empathy for my grief was incredibly thoughtful and gentle; there were even moments when we both teared up during our conversation.

They listened to stories about Jiji's life and gently stroked her deceased body, and their warm response was truly comforting.

④ Has a physical office and is a registered corporation

In reality, while mobile pet cremation services require local government approval, there are no specific mandatory qualifications to start such a business. This is why dishonest mobile pet cremation operators exist.

Choosing a dishonest mobile pet cremation service can lead to problems such as being charged exorbitant fees or not having any ashes returned.

To avoid such issues, it's crucial to choose a pet funeral home that has a physical office as a base and is incorporated. If they are corporately registered and have a physical location, it's less likely you'll be left without recourse after an incident occurs.

[Real Flow of Pet Cremation] Impressed by the thoughtful response to inquiries

Jiji was individually cremated at home two days after her passing. Since we wanted the whole family to say goodbye, we arranged for her body to be picked up the day after she passed and kept at the pet funeral home for one day.

During the inquiry, we were also informed that due to power lines around our home, the cremation might need to take place a little distance away from the house.

When picking up Jiji's body, the staff member asked if consideration for neighbors was needed. Although our next-door neighbor is my parents' house so it wasn't necessary, I was deeply moved by how meticulously they considered every detail to prevent potential neighborly issues.

When meeting Jiji's body, they put their hands together in prayer and gently stroked Jiji, saying, "You were so loved." I was touched by their heartfelt and non-perfunctory approach.

The casket was a cute basket shape, which eased the pain of placing her inside. When moving her into the basket, the staff member kindly asked, "Can you move her yourself?" showing consideration for my emotional state, for which I was grateful.

One of Jiji's legs was stiffened after death and extended beyond the basket, but the staff member said, "Jiji, your legs are long, aren't they?" with a positive tone.

Because they said that, I didn't have to blame myself, thinking, "It's my fault I couldn't put her back in a pretty shape right after she passed away."

Come to think of it, even though Jiji was a Munchkin, she always made a point of having long limbs, often putting her paws together or stretching them out diligently. Perhaps she wanted to convey, "I have long limbs," until her very end, which brought a slight smile to my face.

\\\あたしはこんなにも手が長いので、マンチカンではありません/// pic.twitter.com/g16rmTwItz

— ゆあ ｜ ライター🖊 (@yunc24291) November 17, 2019

By the way, it was helpful that they told me beforehand what could be placed in the coffin when they came to pick up the body. Blankets were not allowed, but Jiji loved to carry a bath mat in her mouth, so I wanted to put it in the coffin and consulted with the staff.

They told me, "It's difficult to put a whole one in, but it's okay if you cut off a small piece," which made me happy.

🦝ジジファンの方へ。
ようやく、ジジがバスマットを持って来るとき（ほぼ毎日）の鳴き声を収めることができましたので、暗いですが、音量を大にしてお楽しみください。

運んだあとの「なにもしてませんけど？」的な顔が、個人的にいつも笑います。 pic.twitter.com/dP47sqlFeD

— ゆあ ｜ ライター🖊 (@yunc24291) February 19, 2024

Jiji would always make a "kyakka" sound as if saying "here you go" when carrying the bath mat, so I thought cutting it into a small piece would make it easier for her to carry, even now.

[Unexpected truth revealed upon return of ashes!] Bone picking after 1-hour cremation

On the day of the cremation, we were given ample time to say goodbye. The staff member said, "It will take some time to prepare for the cremation, so please put anything you wish into the basket (coffin) and take your time to say your final goodbyes," which reassured me not to rush.

Once we were ready to say goodbye, they allowed us to take her to the cremation vehicle ourselves, so I didn't feel pressured thinking, "I need to hurry because they're waiting." I was able to decorate the coffin beautifully and say everything I wanted to say until my heart was content.

This was the last time. Thinking that, no matter how many times I kissed her cheek or forehead, it wasn't enough.

During the cremation, we were asked, "Would you like to press the ignition switch as a family?" Emotionally, I couldn't do it, so my husband pressed it. It felt like we were able to send her off with our family's hands until the very end.

The cremation took about an hour. Afterward, we picked up the bones. Just like with humans, we picked up the cat's bones with chopsticks and placed them into the urn.

The staff member only offered assistance when needed, like when I couldn't properly place a bone, so I felt satisfied that "our family was able to pick up the bones."

However, I was glad that they clearly explained things like, "This is the tailbone," and "This is a toe bone."

When they said, "Jiji, your tail was really long!" I realized a unique trait I hadn't known before. Jiji probably would have thought, "You finally noticed, it took you long enough."

It's difficult to pick up all the bones during bone picking. Fine bones cannot be fully collected. I thought the remaining ones would probably be treated as waste, but that it couldn't be helped.

However, the staff member said, "Please rest assured that the remaining bones will be interred in our company's tree burial ground, alongside other dogs and cats."

It made me very happy to think that the Jiji whose bones we collected would continue to live with us, and the Jiji whose bones were tree-buried would live lively with other pets. Jiji got two kinds of enjoyment.

Since the first cremation can be very unsettling, I encourage you to compare various pet funeral homes and choose one that offers services you are satisfied with.

Immediately after a pet's passing, it can be difficult, both emotionally and time-wise, to thoroughly compare pet funeral homes. Therefore, while your pet is still alive, please try to find a pet funeral home that will treat your "child" with care until the very end.