Tell us about your little one, and we'll find options near you
Fewer than half of UK cremation buyers, just 47%[1], recall being told about all their options. Send us a few lines and we'll email back the small-pet choices we can find where you live.
- A reply by email, no phone calls
- Options sized for pets under a pound
- Burial advice too, if that suits you better
A few details help
What to include so we can help quickly
You don't need to write much. A couple of sentences is plenty, and it's fine if you're upset or unsure. These details make the biggest difference to what we can find:
- What kind of pet, such as a Syrian hamster, a Roborovski, a pair of rats or a degu.
- Roughly where you are: a town, ZIP or postcode is enough. We don't need your street.
- Whether you'd like ashes back, or whether communal cremation or burial is fine.
- How many pets, if cage mates have died close together.
- Anything that matters to you, such as a child who wants to be involved, a tight budget or a wish to drop your pet off yourself.
If you don't know your pet's weight, that's OK. A kitchen scale gives a close enough figure, or you can use the typical weights in our ashes weight estimator.
After you press send
What happens after you send your message
- We read your message and look for small-animal aftercare in your area, including crematoria that take owner drop-offs and any published small-pet prices.
- We reply by email with the options we found, what each is likely to involve and the questions to ask before booking.
- You choose. You can contact a provider, ask us a follow-up question, or decide on home burial. Nothing is booked for you.
While you wait, it may help to read about each aftercare option or run the cremation cost calculator so you have a rough figure in mind before speaking to anyone.
Worth the extra step
Why asking around matters, even for a tiny pet
It's easy to accept the first option the vet mentions, and most people do. In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority found that 89%[2] of cremation buyers didn't compare providers, and only 52%[3] recalled being given price information. Much of that is because 78%[4] bought through their vet or on the vet's advice. Across all bereaved UK owners, by our estimate only ~6%[5] compare cremation providers before buying. With a rodent, that can mean paying a small-dog rate for a pet that weighs a few ounces.
Asking one or two more places often turns up a small-animal price, a crematorium that uses a proper tray for tiny bodies, or a simpler container that doesn't add to the bill. Our list of questions to ask a provider takes a few minutes to read, and our local pages note what's typical where you live.
Would you spend more on aftercare than the pet itself cost?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
In the meantime
Looking after your pet while you wait for our reply
Our reply comes by email, not instantly, so it helps to know your pet can wait safely. Wrap them in a soft cloth or paper towel, lay them in a small box with a lid, and keep the box somewhere cool, away from sunlight, radiators and other animals. A fridge, not a freezer, is fine for a day or two if you're comfortable with that.
If you have other rodents in the same enclosure, watch them over the next few days. Social species like rats and gerbils can go quiet after losing a companion, and a sudden illness can sometimes affect more than one animal. Call your vet if a surviving pet stops eating or seems unwell, and wash your hands after handling the body or bedding, as the CDC advises for small mammals.
Your details
How we handle your details and your privacy
We use what you send only to answer your request. We ask for an email address so we can reply, and a rough location so the options are local. We don't need your phone number, your full address or your pet's medical history.
Please don't send payment details, passwords or ID documents through the form; we'll never ask for them. If you'd like us to delete your message after we've replied, just say so in the email thread.
Setting expectations
What we can help with, and what we can't
| We can | We can't |
|---|---|
| Find small-pet cremation and burial options near you | Collect your pet or carry out a cremation |
| Explain private, communal and home burial in plain words | Give medical advice or decide on euthanasia |
| Suggest questions to ask and what fair answers sound like | Promise a price, date or availability for a provider |
| Point you to guides for children and classrooms | Act on behalf of a school or vet practice |
If your pet is still alive but unwell, please call a vet who sees small mammals first. The RSPCA's pet-loss survey found most owners grieve before the death as well as after, so it's fine to reach out early. When the time comes, our pre-planning guide and the classroom goodbye guide can help you get ready.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
Which little companion are you remembering or planning for?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Did you (or would you) compare more than one provider?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Who made (or will make) the aftercare decision in your household?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Do I have to book anything if I contact you?
No. We reply with information and options, and the decision stays with you. If you read it and decide on a garden or planter burial instead, that's completely fine. Nothing is booked, and no provider is told to expect you unless you contact them yourself.
How will you reply?
By email, to the address you give in the form. We don't phone or text. If you don't see our reply, check your spam or promotions folder, and add our address to your contacts so later messages in the thread arrive normally.
Can you help if my pet hasn't died yet?
Yes. Some people like to know their options while their rat or hamster is still with them, especially with a pet that's slowing down or has a tumor. Tell us that in your message and we'll focus on what to arrange ahead of time, without any pressure.
Can a teacher contact you about a classroom pet?
Of course. Mention that it's a classroom pet and roughly how old the children are. We'll suggest simple, age-appropriate options, but please check your school's own rules about animals, parental consent and how death is discussed with pupils before going ahead.
What if more than one of my pets has died?
Tell us how many and whether they lived together. Some families want cage mates cremated together with one set of ashes, others want them kept apart in separate vials. Either is possible with many providers, and we'll point out where a per-animal price or a same-day discount might apply.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] Fewer than half (47%) of UK cremation buyers recalled being told about a range of options, including communal cremation or home burial. UK Competition and Markets Authority - Veterinary services for household pets, Provisional decision report Part A (Oct 2025), 2025.
- [2] 89% of UK owners who bought a pet cremation did not compare different providers; 9% did. UK Competition and Markets Authority - Veterinary services for household pets, Provisional decision report Part A (Oct 2025), 2025.
- [3] Only 52% of UK cremation buyers recalled receiving information on the price of the service and different packages. UK Competition and Markets Authority - Veterinary services for household pets, Provisional decision report Part A (Oct 2025), 2025.
- [4] In total 78% of UK cremation buyers purchased through, or on the recommendation of, their vet or out-of-hours provider. UK Competition and Markets Authority - Veterinary services for household pets, Provisional decision report Part A (Oct 2025), 2025.
- [5] Only about 6% of all bereaved UK pet owners compare cremation providers before buying. Our estimate: 67% cremate x 9% compared = 6.0%. How we calculate.
Send us your pet's details
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.