Collecting and preserving your pet’s fur for memorial jewellery: a step‑by‑step guide
You can keep a little of your pet’s fur before deciding whether to have jewellery made. The important starting points are to keep it dry, clearly labelled and somewhere safe. If you are ordering from Fur & Forever, follow the instructions supplied for your chosen piece before sending anything.
This guide covers collecting and keeping fur at home. Once you have placed an order, our guide to sending fur, hair or ashes explains the next stage.
What can I do with my dog’s or cat’s fur after they die?
You can keep a labelled clipping at home or use some in a keepsake when you feel ready. If you still need a clipping, speak to your veterinary practice or crematorium promptly before further arrangements go ahead. Keep the fur dry and safely stored; you do not need to choose jewellery now. For ways to use it, see our pet fur keepsake ideas.
1. Collect fur in a way that feels manageable
For a keepsake celebrating a living pet, loose fur gathered during their usual gentle grooming can give you something to keep. There is no need to cut close to the skin or put your pet through an unfamiliar grooming routine for a keepsake. If you are unsure how to collect fur safely, ask your groomer or vet for help.
If your pet has died and you would like a clipping, speak to the veterinary practice or crematorium promptly about what is possible before further arrangements go ahead. You can ask someone you trust to make the enquiry for you. You do not have to choose a jewellery design at the same time.
2. Keep the fur clean and dry
Handle the fur on a clean, dry surface and keep it separate from other items. Avoid sticking adhesive tape directly to the strands. If you already have a clipping wrapped by a vet or groomer, keep its label with it.
If you think the fur needs cleaning or treatment, contact us before altering it. If the material you have is damp, soiled or fragile, contact us for advice before packing or posting it. We can discuss the material available rather than asking you to alter an irreplaceable keepsake without guidance.
3. Label each pet’s fur separately
Keep fur from different pets in separate, clearly labelled containers or packets. Write the pet’s name on the outside. If you have placed an order, follow your supplied instructions for adding order details too.
If you hope to include fur from more than one pet in a piece, ask us about your chosen design first. Keeping the fur separate lets you make that decision later; it does not commit you to a particular arrangement.
4. Keep a portion at home
You do not need to send all the fur you have. The amount required depends on the design, and your UK Inclusions Pack or international send-in email will explain what to send. Keep some safely at home whenever you can.
If you have only a few strands, very short fur or a clipping you are worried about parting with, contact us before ordering or posting. Tell us which piece you are considering, describe the amount and condition of the fur, and mention if it is all you have. A clear photograph can help explain what you mean, but cannot guarantee how the fur will look once set. Do not assume you need to obtain more, or that every design will suit the material available.
5. Store it somewhere dry and secure
Keep the labelled fur somewhere dry, away from direct sunlight, heat, spills and household activity. Use a clean container that keeps the strands together and can be stored safely. Avoid loose storage in a pocket or handbag, where the fur or its label could be lost.
You do not need to commission jewellery immediately. If you already have fur stored from years ago, get in touch about the condition and amount before making plans. Storage cannot guarantee that every clipping will remain unchanged or suit every design.
6. Choose the design before preparing a parcel
The hair and fur jewellery collection shows the current range. If you are considering a ring, our pet hair ring guide explains width, sizing and metal choices. Your choice determines the instructions you need.
For orders delivered to a UK address, wait for your complimentary Inclusions Pack and use the instructions and return packaging provided. It includes prepaid Royal Mail Tracked 48 return postage. International customers receive instructions by email, arrange suitable packaging, and pay for their own tracked postage. Inclusion packs and ring sizers are not sent internationally.
Before sending anything, check your order details and the current instructions. We always return any unused inclusions. The frequently asked questions cover the wider ordering process.
Take it at your own pace
Collecting fur may feel comforting, difficult or simply practical. You can pause, ask someone to help or decide against a keepsake. A small labelled clipping can leave the choice open without requiring you to decide everything now.
