Is it okay to split a pet's ashes?
Yes. There's no practical or ceremonial reason you can't divide your pet's ashes, and for pets there are no legal restrictions to worry about. Splitting ashes lets more than one person keep their companion close — which, for many families, is exactly the point.
It's one of the most common things families do: a primary urn stays in the home, and smaller portions go into keepsakes for the people who loved them.
Why families divide ashes
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1To share among a household or family. Each person or home keeps a meaningful portion, so no one has to be without.
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2To give each child a keepsake. A parent keeps the main urn while each child receives a small keepsake of their own.
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3To keep a portion at a second home. A small keepsake urn is easy to move and can live wherever you spend your time.
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4To set some aside for scattering. Keep part at home and scatter part in a favourite place — you don't have to choose one or the other.
Common ways to share a pet's ashes
| Arrangement | How it works |
|---|---|
| Main urn + keepsakes | A full-size urn stays at home; small keepsakes hold portions for family members. |
| Two-household split | Two larger partial portions so each home has a meaningful share, plus an optional keepsake. |
| One keepsake per child | A parent keeps the primary urn; each child receives their own small keepsake. |
| Keep + scatter | Part stays in an urn at home; part is scattered somewhere meaningful. |
How to actually divide the ashes
You have two easy options. Many families simply ask the crematory or funeral home to separate the ashes into multiple containers before collection — the simplest route. Or you can do it yourself at home: work over a clean surface, use a spoon or small scoop, and gently transfer portions into each keepsake, funnelling carefully. There's no wrong ratio — divide in whatever way feels right.
Not sure how much each keepsake holds? A small keepsake urn suits a modest portion; see our size guide for the main urn, and our types of urns guide for keepsake options.
Keepsakes for sharing ashes
Frequently asked questions
Can you split a pet's ashes between two or more urns?
Yes. Dividing a pet's ashes among multiple urns is common and accepted, with no legal restrictions for pets. Many families keep a main urn and share smaller keepsakes.
How do you divide ashes between urns?
You can ask the crematory or funeral home to separate the ashes into multiple containers, or do it yourself at home using a small scoop over a clean surface, funnelling portions gently into each keepsake.
What kind of urn is best for sharing ashes?
Small ceramic keepsake urns are ideal for holding a portion of ashes, alongside a full-size main urn kept at home.
Is it disrespectful to split a pet's ashes?
Not at all. Sharing ashes lets more people keep their companion close, and is widely considered a meaningful, loving choice.
How many keepsake urns do I need?
As many as the people who want to keep a portion — one per household or child is common. You can pair several small keepsakes with a single main urn.
Keep them close, together
Personalised main urns and keepsakes, made to order — so everyone who loved them can keep a part close.
Browse pet cremation urns
