How Much Is a Fur Keepsake or Paw Print?

From free to a few hundred rand

A fur clipping costs nothing — you can take a small lock yourself before cremation, and it’s the one keepsake that can’t be arranged afterwards. A fur-keepsake keyring that holds the clipping is inexpensive, often included by coordination services. An ink paw print is cheap or free if asked for upfront; a clay or plaster impression is a small add-on.

The key with prints is timing: they must be taken before cremation, so ask for them at the start.

The pricier keepsakes, on your own timeline

From the ashes, you can later commission memorial jewellery, glass art or a framed paw-print canvas — these range from a few hundred to a couple of thousand rand. There’s no deadline; ashes keep indefinitely, so decide nothing in the first raw weeks.

A framed paw-print canvas, for families who want something for the wall, typically runs around R1,950 finished and delivered.

What to arrange now versus later

Before cremation: the fur clipping and any paw print. After, whenever you’re ready: anything made from the ashes. That order is the only thing that’s time-sensitive.

Getting it arranged without the guesswork