Cat Memorial Gifts: 12 Keepsakes to Remember a Cat

Cat memorial gifts are keepsakes that help someone remember a cat that has died: a portrait of the cat, a piece that carries its name, or a gesture made in its memory. The gifts that people keep use one detail only that cat had, such as its tabby stripes, its name or the window it watched from.

Below are 12 cat memorial gifts. The first seven are embroidered pieces we stitch from a photo, the same designs you will find among our pet memorial sweatshirts. The last five are keepsakes anyone can arrange, and each one goes well with a card.

What makes a good cat memorial gift?

A good cat memorial gift names the cat or shows it, so the person sees their own cat and not a generic one. Cats are recognized by small things: the coat pattern, the eye color, a crooked ear, the bell on the collar. A gift that keeps one of those details says that you knew the cat too. Our guide to gifts for someone who lost a pet covers the five kinds of pet loss gifts and when to give them; this page lists the cat-specific ideas.

Which embroidered cat memorial gifts do we make?

We make seven embroidered cat memorial gifts, each stitched to order in the USA from a photo after you approve a free design proof with unlimited edits:

1. A cat face sweatshirt with an angel paw: our embroidered cat sweatshirt stitches the cat’s face in full color from the photo, with a name or short line under it and an optional name on the sleeve with an angel paw or a heart.
2. A memorial hoodie for one cat or several: the cat memorial hoodie holds up to four pets with their names, and the sleeve can carry a heart or initials.
3. A quiet line drawing: the line art cat hoodie traces the cat’s face into a clean outline in one thread color, a choice for someone who prefers a subtle tribute.
4. The name and the years: the custom cat hoodie with a varsity name arches the cat’s name above a full-color portrait, and the short text on each side can hold the year it came home and the year it died.
5. All the pets together: the multi-pet portrait sweatshirt stitches up to four dogs or cats, so a cat that died can stay next to the pets still at home.
6. A portrait cap: the pet portrait baseball cap puts the cat’s face on a washed cotton cap, a small gift for someone who will not wear a sweatshirt.
7. A tortoiseshell design that needs no photo: the tortie cat beanie shows a black and caramel tortie face on the cuff, for a tortie owner when no good photo exists.

What other cat memorial keepsakes can you give?

Five other cat memorial keepsakes need no portrait, and anyone can arrange them:

• A digital memorial page: Best Friends Animal Society lets people create a digital cat memorial with favorite photos to share with family and friends.
• A donation in the cat’s name: a gift to the shelter or rescue the cat came from, or a cat memorial donation through Best Friends, which says the gift helps homeless pets.
• The collar in a shadow box: the collar, the tag and the bell framed with a photo of the cat.
• A paw print or a lock of fur: a clay or ink paw print, or a fur clipping in a small locket. If the cat has not been cremated yet, you can ask the vet or the crematory whether they can take one first.
• Something for the favorite spot: a plant for the sunny sill, a small framed photo in the window the cat watched from, or a wind chime; Best Friends also sells personalized cat memorial wind chimes.

For ideas the owner can do themselves, such as a memory box or a garden stone, see our list of 15 pet memorial ideas.

How do you match a portrait to the cat’s coat?

You match an embroidered portrait to the cat’s coat by sending a photo that shows its markings clearly and checking them on the proof. Each coat has one detail to watch:

• Tabby: the “M” on the forehead and the stripe pattern, which need a sharp photo in daylight.
• Tuxedo: where the white starts on the chin, chest and paws.
• Calico and tortie: the position of each orange and black patch, which differs on every cat.
• Black cat: the eye color and the shape of the ears; a photo near a window keeps the fur from turning into one dark shape.
• White or cream cat: the pink of the nose and ears; a garment in a mid or dark color makes the portrait stand out.

If you are giving the gift to someone else, a family member or the photos they shared online can supply the picture. We email the proof to you, so you can check the markings before we stitch. Our guide to choosing a photo for embroidery explains what makes a photo work.

Which cat memorial gift fits which person?

The right cat memorial gift depends on whether you have a good photo and how the person likes to remember. This table compares the 12 ideas:

Frequently asked questions

What do you write in a card with a cat memorial gift?

Write the cat’s name and one memory, such as how it greeted people or where it slept. Our pet sympathy card messages give short lines you can adapt for a cat.

When should you give a cat memorial gift?

A card can go in the first days, and a keepsake can follow a few weeks later. An embroidered portrait is made to order, so send the card first and let the portrait follow.

Is a cat memorial gift right if the cat died years ago?

Yes, a memorial gift can mark an anniversary, a birthday or the first holiday season without the cat. A gift on one of those dates shows the person that you remember the cat too.

What if the person is still struggling with the loss?

Keep the gift simple and let the card carry most of the message. Our guide on how to cope with losing a pet explains how pet grief works and lists support lines you can pass on.