Arranging your cat's cremation in London
If your cat has just died, start with the first step below and leave the rest for later. If you're planning ahead in London, this page will help you choose without pressure.
- Help for multi-cat households
- Private cremation confirmed in writing
- Options for community cats too
London, Ontario
Who handles cat aftercare in London
London sits in a snowbelt area, and squalls blowing in off Lake Huron can bring heavy snow with little warning. Clear the front path before a collection if you can, and expect delays on snowy roads. From December into March the ground is frozen, which pushes any backyard burial into spring, and many London families decide cremation is simpler than waiting.
Many London families have seen the same vet for years, and that clinic is often the easiest first call, since most arrange cremation and can keep your pet for a day or two. You can also request quotes independently, particularly if a private cremation with the ashes returned matters to you. Ask for a written total covering collection, cremation and any container.
Costs in London usually sit close to national typical ranges for cats, but they vary with what's bundled in. One quote might include collection from home, a small wooden urn and a clay paw print; another lists each separately and looks cheaper at first. Neither is wrong. Ask for everything in writing, then compare like for like: private versus private, the same pickup, the same container.
London is home to about 422,000 people, the 6th-largest of the 15 Ontario communities we cover. Some of the providers who serve London are based about 72 miles away in Hamilton, the nearest larger centre, so collection times reflect that drive.
If you want to compare providers, look at Guelph (63 miles), Hamilton (72 miles) and Burlington (77 miles). Distance matters because pickup fees and the time until the ashes come back both grow with the drive.
81.1%[1]
CANA projects the Canadian cremation rate will reach 81.1% by 2030.
clinic $158; home $359; cremation $180; burial $566[2]
CareCredit's 2025 study put US cat euthanasia at $158 in clinic and $359 at home, cat cremation at $180 and cat cemetery burial at $566.
3-5% of body weight[3]
Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight.
We built the this numbers from CareCredit (Synchrony) and Embrace Pet Insurance, and both are worth a look if you want the detail.
Why cremation is familiar in Canada, or isn't
With about 81.1%[1] of people in Canada choosing cremation, you'll rarely need to explain your decision. It also shapes what's on offer. Providers in high-cremation areas often stock small urns sized for cats, keepsake lockets and whisker or fur vials, because families ask for them. Look at the full range before you choose; with so little ash, even a tiny keepsake box will do.
The Canada percentage above is from CANA Industry Statistical Information (2030) and refers to human funerals. Treat it as context for London, not as a count of pets.
What the seasons mean for cat owners in London
Seasonal weather also shapes what happens afterwards. Scattering in wind or burying ashes in wet or frozen soil is harder than it sounds, so many families in London keep the urn at home for a while and choose a calm, dry day for any outdoor memorial. There's no time limit on ashes.
Cat cremation costs around London
Canadian cats see the vet about 1 visit/year[4] on average, half as often as dogs, so many owners don't have a close relationship with a clinic when the end comes. That's fine. In London, you can call a pet crematory directly, ask for the private price for a cat and whether collection is included, and arrange everything yourself.
We keep the detailed Ontario price table on one page so it stays current: see Ontario prices.
Free tool
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
What Ontario allows: burial, scattering and more
Before you bury, scatter or plan a memorial, it's worth checking what Ontario allows. Keeping ashes at home is allowed everywhere we know of. Burying a whole cat and scattering in public places are where rules come in, usually to protect water supplies and shared spaces, and renters normally need the landlord's permission for any garden burial.
Canada has more pet cats than dogs, about 8.2 million[6], and most cremations are arranged through the family vet, though crematories deal directly with owners too. Winter matters: in much of the country the ground is frozen for months, so many families cremate first and bury a cat's ashes in the garden in spring. Some SPCA branches offer bundled euthanasia and communal cremation for cats.
The rules that apply across Ontario (home burial, scattering and who oversees pet cremation) are summarized on our Ontario page. London may add its own conditions, so check with the city or county before digging.
The first 48 hours, step by step
- Book the appointment at a time when everyone who wants to be there can be, and ask whether the vet can come to your home, where your cat is calmest.
- Decide on aftercare beforehand, rather than being handed the question at the hardest moment. The usual choices are a burial in the garden, communal cremation or private cremation.
- Ask the vet to arrange collection, or tell them which crematory you've chosen yourself.
- Prepare a quiet space with your cat's bed or favorite blanket, somewhere warm and familiar, and a few treats they love.
- Settle paperwork and payment first if you can, so there's nothing to sign afterwards.
- Stay as long as you need once your cat has gone. Nobody will hurry you.
- Check the written confirmation while the vet is still there: cremation type and the date the ashes are due back.
Ways to remember your cat locally
London, Ontario, is known as the Forest City, and many pets here share homes with big, tree-lined yards in older neighbourhoods like Old South and Wortley Village, or in newer subdivisions on the city's edges. Students and young families also rent apartments near Western University and downtown. In a rental, check who controls the parking and the building door before arranging a collection.
Our services overview lays out every option side by side, browse in-depth guides or recent articles, or compare your instinct with the poll results, run the numbers with the free planning tools. If you live between London and Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Brampton, either page applies. Every other community in Ontario, and all of Canada, is listed too.
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.
For your cat, would you want their own ashes returned?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If you have more than one cat, did the others see the cat who died?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
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Free tools to help you plan
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Urn size calculator
Find the urn volume you need from your pet's weight, plus keepsake and sharing options.
Ashes weight estimator
See roughly how much ash to expect back, by species and body weight.
Questions people ask
Is cremation common in Canada?
For people, yes: about 81.1%[1] of Canada deaths end in cremation, according to CANA Industry Statistical Information (2030). Nobody publishes the same figure for pets, but in our experience pet choices in London follow the human pattern closely, so cremation is the default most families here start from.
Will I have to travel to Hamilton to arrange things?
Not usually. Providers based in Hamilton (roughly 72 miles from London) collect from here as a matter of routine, and the paperwork is done by email or phone. If you want to be present for a witnessed cremation, that is when the drive matters.
Can a provider from a neighbouring town collect from London?
Usually yes. Guelph is about 63 miles away, Hamilton is about 72 miles away and Burlington is about 77 miles away, all inside a normal collection radius. Get the mileage written into the quote so there is no surprise on the day.
Can I bury my cat in the garden in Ontario?
In many places you can, with conditions such as depth, distance from water and owning the property. Rules vary within Ontario, so check with your city or council before digging. Dig deep enough to keep foxes, coyotes and dogs away. If you rent or might move, cremation lets you keep your cat with you and bury the ashes later if you wish.
Should my other cats see the cat who died?
Many owners let their other cats sniff and sit with the body for a few minutes before collection, and it does no harm. Some cats show interest, others walk away; both are normal. Afterwards, keep feeding and litter routines steady. If a remaining cat stops eating for more than a day or two, call your vet, as cats don't cope well with going without food.
Why did my cat hide before they died?
Hiding is instinct. A cat who feels ill or weak looks for somewhere small, quiet and protected, like under a bed, in a closet or beneath a deck. It doesn't mean your cat was frightened of you or that you missed something obvious; cats are very good at concealing illness until late. Many owners find their cat this way, and it's okay to need help with what comes next.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] CANA projects the Canadian cremation rate will reach 81.1% by 2030. CANA Industry Statistical Information, 2030.
- [2] CareCredit's 2025 study put US cat euthanasia at $158 in clinic and $359 at home, cat cremation at $180 and cat cemetery burial at $566. CareCredit (Synchrony) - Cat Euthanasia: Understanding Your Options and Costs (2025 ASQ360 procedural cost study), 2025.
- [3] Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight. Embrace Pet Insurance - Bury or Cremate Your Dog? Costs, Pros & Cons, 2025.
- [4] Canadian cats visit the vet about once a year on average. Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) 2024 Canadian Pet Population Survey, 2024.
- [5] UK and US survey evidence converges on roughly two-thirds of bereaved owners choosing cremation (UK 67%; US 68% ever) and about 29-32% choosing burial. Our estimate: mean(67, 68) = 67.5; burial range 29% (UK) to 32% (US). How we calculate.
- [6] Canada was home to an estimated 8.2 million pet cats in 2024. Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) 2024 Canadian Pet Population Survey, 2024.
Get help arranging your cat's cremation
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