Cat urn size comes down to one calculation: about 1 cubic inch of urn capacity per pound of your cat's body weight before cremation (1 cu in = 16.39 ml), plus a margin. Most adult cats weigh 8–12 lb, which means a 350 ml urn fits nearly every cat comfortably. Below: the full conversion chart, breed examples for Maine Coons and other larger cats, full vs keepsake urns, and the personalized styles — photo, portrait, name and dates — that turn a container into a memorial.
What size cat urn do I need?
The standard used across the cremation industry is 1 lb of body weight ≈ 1 cubic inch of urn capacity. Since urns are sold in millilitres, multiply cubic inches by 16.39 to convert. A 10 lb cat produces roughly 10 cu in ≈ 164 ml of ashes.
The recommended column below already includes a 15–25% margin. Ashes are returned in a sealed bag that takes up more space than loose ashes, and two cats of the same weight can differ in frame — a lean Siamese and a stocky British Shorthair aren't identical inside.
| Cat weight | Minimum (cu in) | Minimum (ml) | Recommended capacity | LovaPaws size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitten – 5 lb | 5 cu in | 82 ml | 130–200 ml | XS (170 ml) |
| 6–10 lb | 6–10 cu in | 98–164 ml | 200–270 ml | XS (170 ml) to S (350 ml) |
| 11–15 lb | 11–15 cu in | 180–246 ml | 250–350 ml | S (350 ml) |
| 16–20 lb | 16–20 cu in | 262–328 ml | 410–500 ml | M (800 ml) |
| 21–25 lb | 21–25 cu in | 344–410 ml | 500–660 ml | M (800 ml) |
| Two cats sharing one urn | Combined weight | — | Add both, then add margin | M (800 ml) or L (1,500 ml) |
In LovaPaws sizes: XS (170 ml ≈ 10 cu in) suits kittens and very small cats up to about 8 lb once margin is allowed, or a partial portion of any cat's ashes. S (350 ml ≈ 21 cu in) is the right size for most adult cats, up to about 17 lb. M (800 ml ≈ 49 cu in) covers the largest Maine Coons and works when two small pets share one urn. L (1,500 ml) is rarely needed for a single cat.
When in doubt, size up. A little extra room is far easier to live with than discovering the lid won't close once the urn has already been personalized.
Breed examples, if you don't have a recent weight
Breed is a shortcut, not the answer — the urn holds a volume, not a breed. If you know your cat's actual weight, trust it over this table.
| Breed | Typical adult weight | Suggested size |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Shorthair | 8–12 lb | S (350 ml) |
| Siamese | 6–10 lb | XS (170 ml) or S (350 ml) |
| Persian | 7–12 lb | S (350 ml) |
| Russian Blue | 7–12 lb | S (350 ml) |
| British Shorthair | 9–17 lb | S (350 ml) |
| Ragdoll | 10–20 lb | S (350 ml) or M (800 ml) |
| Maine Coon | 12–25 lb | M (800 ml) |
Full urn or keepsake urn: which do you need?
A full-size cat urn holds all (or nearly all) of your cat's ashes. Most families choose one primary urn as the "home" for their cat's memorial, usually placed on a shelf, mantel, or quiet corner.
A keepsake urn holds only a small portion of ashes. Keepsakes are chosen when ashes are shared between family members, when a portion is scattered and a portion kept, or as a gentle sympathy gift — a way for someone to keep their cat close without a full-size piece.
Many people end up with both: a full urn at home, and a smaller keepsake for another family member. Our guide to splitting ashes between urns covers how families usually arrange it, and if you're deciding whether to keep the ashes at home at all, this guide answers that directly.
Types of personalized cat urns
Modern cat urns no longer look like plain containers. These are the styles cat parents choose most, all made to order from your cat's photo.
1. Watercolor portrait urn
A soft watercolor portrait of your cat, created from the photo you upload and applied to clean white ceramic with a wood lid. On a shelf it reads as art first, urn second — which is exactly why it's our most popular cat urn. Our watercolor portrait urn guide explains how the portraits are made.
2. Photo cat urn
For many people, seeing their cat's actual face matters more than an illustration. A photo urn is printed with your cat's picture, name, and dates — the photo becomes part of the urn itself, not a sticker.
3. Portrait urn in four sizes — for Maine Coons and larger cats
If your cat was at the heavier end — a Maine Coon, a large Ragdoll — most cat urns run too small. This style comes in four capacities from XS (170 ml) up to L (1,500 ml), with your choice of clean line art or a detailed realistic portrait, plus name and years. It also has a moisture-proof lining inside.
4. Cat-shaped keepsake urn
A ceramic urn shaped like a resting cat, printed with your cat's name and years. It holds a portion of ashes and looks like a quiet figurine — many people place it somewhere their cat used to sleep.
5. Wooden cat urn box with photo frame
If you prefer wood to ceramic, a memorial urn box pairs a framed photo on the front with your cat's name below. It's a full-size urn with a warmer, more traditional feel — similar in spirit to a small memory box. Wood is more sensitive to humidity and direct sun than ceramic, so see our wooden pet urn box guide for placement and care.
6. Floral-lid ceramic keepsake urn
A softer keepsake option — smooth white porcelain finished with a sculpted floral lid and personalized with your cat's name. It holds a portion of ashes rather than all of them, which is why it's also one of the most common pet loss sympathy gifts: it's private, quiet, and asks nothing of the recipient except that they keep their cat near.
Prefer a different look? Other ceramic styles include a white ceramic urn with dark wood lid, a soft teal urn with portrait and dates, and a pink urn with a paw print lid. Comparing materials? Our guide to the best material for a cat urn puts ceramic, wood and metal side by side.
What can be personalized?
Most LovaPaws cat urns are personalized from a single photo you upload, which becomes a printed portrait or watercolor illustration on the urn. Depending on the style you can also add your cat's name, the years they were yours, and a short message. Keep the wording simple — a name and dates often say more than a long quote, though our cat memorial engraving ideas are there if you want a line. A clear, front-facing photo works best, and yes, older photos can usually work too. The step-by-step personalization guide walks through the whole order, including the free preview before production begins.
The right cat urn isn't about size or price. It's the one that lets you look up from the couch and feel, for a second, that they're still in the room.
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Ceramic, wood, and keepsake cat urns for ashes — personalized with your cat's photo, name, and dates. Made to order with care.
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