Paw Prints, Nose Prints and Fur: What to Ask For Before Cremation

Some keepsakes can only be made while your pet's body is still with you. Once the cremation has happened, a paw print or a lock of fur is gone for good, and many families only realize it afterward. The good news is that these keepsakes are simple, often free, and easy to arrange if you ask in time. Here is what you can ask for, who usually includes it, what it costs when it is extra, and how to make one yourself.

Quick answer: Ask for a paw print, a nose print and a lock of fur before cremation, because they cannot be made afterward. Many in-home vets and crematories include at least one: on our city pages, Lap of Love's teams include a clay paw print and a lock of fur in their base price, while others charge $30 to $45 for a clay print.

Why do you need to ask before cremation?

Because there is no second chance. The vet, the clinic or the crematory can take a print or a clipping at any point while your pet is in their care, but nobody will do it unless it has been requested, and the cremation itself destroys the chance.

Keepsakes like these are a recognized part of good end-of-life care. The AAHA end-of-life care guidelines list giving the family "a memorial item (paw print, fur, nose print)" among the ways a veterinary team can support a grieving client.

Is a print always possible?

Usually, but not always. Very small paws, swelling, injuries or bandages can make a clean print hard, and some providers promise prints only "when possible." If a paw print matters to you, ask for a backup: a lock of fur, an ink print of the other paw, or a few close-up photos of the paws and nose.

What keepsakes can you ask for?

• A clay paw impression. A three-dimensional print pressed into soft clay, which is then dried or baked. It is the most common keepsake, and it can be fragile.
• An ink paw print on paper or card. Flat and easy to frame. An ink print is also what a jeweler, engraver or tattoo artist will usually work from.
• An ink nose print. Less common, and often a favorite with families who ask for it.
• A lock of fur. A small clipping sealed in a bag or envelope. Jewelers can set fur in a pendant instead of ashes.
• A digital or photo print. Some providers scan or photograph the paw and send you the image.
• A shadow box or display piece, combining a print and fur in a frame.

Who includes keepsakes, and what do they cost?

Many in-home vets and crematories include at least one keepsake in their price. These are published examples from providers on our city pages, checked in September and October 2026:

Before you pay for a keepsake separately, ask both your vet and your crematory what their price already includes. Some families end up with a clay print from the vet and ink prints from the crematory, which is no bad thing, but it is better to know in advance.

Should the vet or the crematory make it?

Either can, and the best choice is whoever sees your pet first after you have asked. With an in-home euthanasia, the vet usually makes the print at home, often while you are there, which many families find meaningful. If the vet arranges cremation, the crematory may make it instead as part of its package. Our guide to preparing for your pet's euthanasia covers this and the other decisions worth making before the day.

Clay or ink?

• Clay captures the shape and texture of the paw, but it can crack or crumble over time, especially air-dry clay.
• Ink is flat and less striking, but it lasts, frames easily, and is the format jewelers and tattoo artists need.

If you can only have one, ink is the more versatile choice. If you can have both, take both.

Can you make a paw print yourself?

Yes, and it is a lovely thing to do while your pet is still alive, on a calm and comfortable day, especially during hospice care. Paw print kits with clay or inkless pads are sold widely online and by many pet stores.

A few tips that make it easier:

1. Practice on paper first, and plan for several attempts.
2. Make sure the paw is clean and dry. Gently spread the toes and press straight down, without rolling.
3. Use the kit's ink or a non-toxic, washable ink, and wipe the paw afterward.
4. For a nose print, dab ink lightly on the nose and press the card gently against it.
5. Ask for help. One person holds and comforts, the other presses.

After death, a print is usually easier soon rather than later, before the body stiffens. If your pet has died at home, your vet or crematory can still take a print for you before cremation, as long as you ask.

What can you do with a paw print later?

A paw print can become many things. Families frame it with a photo, keep it in a memory box with the collar and tag, or have it engraved or cast. Our guide to pet cremation jewelry covers paw print and fingerprint pieces, some of which use no ashes at all. Our memorial keepsakes collection has frames, shadow boxes and paw print kits, and a tattoo artist can use an ink print as the design. Our guide to pet ashes tattoos covers paw print tattoos with and without ashes.

What should you ask when you book?

• Do you include a paw print, a nose print or a lock of fur, and which kind?
• If not, what does each cost?
• Will you make it at home, or at the clinic or crematory?
• What happens if a clean print is not possible?
• When and how will I receive it, with the ashes or separately?