Cat cremation where you live: what changes from place to place

Where cats rule

Countries where cats outnumber dogs, and why that matters

In much of the world the cat is the default pet. Europe is home to roughly 108.3 million^[1] pet cats, according to the FEDIAF European pet industry survey, against about 89.6 million^[2] dogs. Germany alone has around 15.7 million^[3] cats, and France about 14.9 million^[4]. In New Zealand, 40%^[5] of households have a cat, making it the country's most popular pet by a clear margin. Dividing Europe's cat population by a typical cat lifespan, we estimate that ~9.2 million^[6] pet cats die across the continent each year, so demand for small-pet cremation is steady everywhere.

Japan tells a similar story: about 8.847 million^[7] pet cats in 2025, against roughly 6.82 million^[8] dogs. Where cats dominate, crematoriums tend to publish a clear small-pet price band, and memorial customs built around cats, such as small shrines at home, are common. Where dogs dominate, cat owners sometimes have to ask for a cat price because the list starts at a small dog.

UK and Ireland

The UK and Ireland: vet chains, independents and new rules

The UK has about 13 million^[12] pet cats, according to UK Pet Food's population data, and by our estimate ~1.1 million^[13] of them die each year. Most owners arrange cremation through their vet, and the price depends a lot on which kind of practice that is. The competition regulator found large vet groups charging a median of GBP 186.87^[14] for an individual cat cremation, while independent crematoriums often list less. It has since required every first-opinion practice to offer a communal option and publish its prices^[15].

In Ireland, which has around 371,000^[16] pet cats, crematoriums often price by weight band, with the lowest band covering most cats. Garden burial is allowed in much of both countries, provided the grave is deep enough and away from water sources; check with your local council if you rent or live near a watercourse.

Japan and Asia

Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore: different customs, different options

In Japan, pet funerals are a mature industry and individual services are the norm. In one survey, far more owners preferred an individual pet funeral to a joint one: over 60% against just over 10%^[20]. Many temples and pet cemeteries offer ash storage and yearly memorial rites. Some city wards also collect pets for a small fee, but that route means communal cremation with no ashes returned, as in Tokyo's Shinjuku ward, which charges JPY 3,000 per animal^[21].

Because deceased pets have no special legal status in Japan, and burying an animal in a park or forest is illegal, most owners either cremate or bury on private land. In Hong Kong and Singapore, space is so limited that private cremation with a columbarium niche or an urn at home is the usual path, and a small cat takes up little room on a family altar.

Getting the most from local pages

How to use your local page to compare providers

1. Open the page for your city, or the nearest larger town if yours isn't listed.
2. Check the local price range and note what's typically included.
3. Read the local notes on pickup distance, after-hours fees and burial rules.
4. Use the questions on the page when you call a provider, or send us a request and we'll gather options for you.

If you're comparing prices across a region, read how to compare cat cremation quotes first. For an overview of everything on offer, the cat aftercare services page explains each option before you look locally, and our contact page explains what to send if you'd like us to search for you.