Grief can be boundless after losing your pet hamster but the dead body still needs to be disposed of in an ethical and healthy way. While most of us are used to burying these little rodents, a section of hamster parents may prefer alternative methods such as cremation.
Can hamsters be cremated? Hamsters can be cremated either individually or communally in a professional crematorium depending on your budget. Self-cremation may also be possible if you have access to high temperatures to cremate the dead body.
There are multiple ways to dispose of the poor little guy’s body after death. But if cremation is your preferred choice, this guide can point you in the right direction.
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Can Hamsters Be Cremated?
Pet cremation services are becoming more popular by the day across various cities. Regardless of where you live, there’s bound to be one of those in the locality.
Like humans and larger pets, creation typically involves exposing the dead hamster’s body to high temperatures (1600F). The extreme heat initially eliminates fluids like blood until it is left with the basic elements of the body.
The leftover bone fragments popularly known as cremated remains may come in a gravel and sand-like manner, often in grey or similar colors. Like humans, the hamster’s cremated remains are typically checked with magnets for signs of leftover metals.
Once the presence of metals is ruled out, the remains are further ground in a pulverizer and disposed of according to local laws or handed to you in an urn depending on the type of cremation service chosen.
How Long Does the Hamster Cremation Process Take?
The timeframe for cremating hamsters can be as short as 30 minutes when conducted individually. Communal cremations may take a few hours depending on the volume as it typically involves multiple animals of different sizes.
While it can take 5-6 hours to cremate and process a human body, the timeframe for small rodents such as hamsters often pales in comparison.
Types of Cremation for Hamsters
There are several types of cremation available for dead hamsters and other pets. Each comes with specific advantages and disadvantages so pay attention.
Self-Cremation
This involves the cremation of the dead rodent at home by yourself. While it may be the cheapest option, it can be the most complicated because it requires access to high temperatures to be successful. This option may be easier if you have no desire to keep the ashes as that can pose additional problems.
Several state laws may come into play during self-cremation so you may want to seek legal advice to ensure you don’t end up on the wrong side of the law. Setting up high heat environments at home can also come with lots of safety risks so keep that in mind.
Communal Cremation
This is the cheapest way to get pet rodents cremated without paying an arm and a leg. The hamster’s body is cremated alongside other dead animals at the same time without any sort of separation. The remains of the cremated animals are ground up together.
Any ashes collected are typically mixed up with that of the other animals so most hamster parents pass up the opportunity. Typical costs can range from $50-$100 which is relatively affordable compared to the other options below.
Individual Cremation
Individual cremation involves pet rodents being placed in the same cremation chamber with other animals but separated with dividers to ensure each one’s remains come out separately. You may be able to arrange a private viewing of the process at an additional fee depending on the crematorium.
Individual cremation services can cost anywhere from $100-$200 depending on the hamster’s body weight and location.
Customized Cremation
Customized or Personalized cremation services are a no-brainer for those with unlimited budgets thanks to the kind of experience offered. The hamster is placed in an individual chamber for viewing as the cremation process goes on.
It is the most expensive type and can cost up to $1,000 since it takes up a lot of time and the crematorium’s resources to get it done. However, it may be well worth it if money is no object as it can provide an avenue to say a proper goodbye to your beloved hamster.
When Cremation is Preferred to Burials
While traditional burials still remain the most popular option for the disposal of dead pets, cremations are gaining more fans by the day. Here are a few instances where cremating pets makes more sense than burials.
Freezing Ground
Do you live in a cold city where the ground freezes regularly? Burying a dead hamster during winter may not be viable. Since no one wants to be digging up the frozen ground, cremation may be your best bet. It can allow hassle-free disposal of the little guy’s body even in the most unfriendly weather conditions.
Rains
Is it raining consistently in your city? Burial plans for dead rodents may have to be put on hold until good weather returns. Cremation can be a smart alternative to say a final goodbye to your beloved little guy after a few years of deep friendship.
This can give you the closure you need in a timely manner compared to having to wait for the rains to stop before disposing of the dead hamster’s body.
Keep the Ashes
The idea of burying dead animals is to allow them to return to nature but what if you don’t want the little guy to be physically erased from your life completely? Getting hamsters cremated guarantees their remains can be held onto for as long as desired.
While your beloved furball may be gone, he won’t be forgotten as long as the ashes are kept intact. The ashes can be kept in a fancy urn at home or even made into jewelry such as a necklace or bracelet for daily wearing.
How Do You Dispose of The Hamster’s Cremated Remains?
Some services such as Communal Cremation may not include the return of the hamster’s ashes to you. Once the service charge is paid after delivering the little rodent’s body, you can go home rest assured that everything will be taken care of.
The crematorium often disposes of the little guy’s ashes according to state laws. However, the hamster’s ashes are often returned when you opt for Individual Cremation.
You can either bury the ashes in your backyard, throw them into the ocean, or even have them made into jewelry such as necklaces or bracelets. The jewelry can serve as a constant reminder of your beloved pet and the good times you shared in the past.
How to Find a Pet Crematorium
Pet cremation facilities are popular in most cities so there are bound to be a few near where you live. Here are a couple of tried and tested ways to find the nearest one.
Veterinarian
If your hamster dies via vet-assisted euthanasia, you can always ask for referrals on where to get him cremated. Even if the hamster died through natural causes or humane euthanasia at home, vets can still be a helpful resource to find a good local pet crematorium.
Local Animal Shelters
Do you have any experience adopting hamsters or other pets from local animal shelters? They can be a good reference point to find the nearest pet cremation services. Even if you’ve never worked with them in the past, a quick phone call can help you find a local pet crematorium.
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement
The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement’s website can be a great source of information about pet cremation businesses in your locality. They typically list pet cremation facilities by state so you can scan through to find the closest one.
A quick Google search for terms such as “Pet cremation near me” can help you uncover the best hamster crematoriums closest to your location. Most users leave independent reviews of each service so you can get a good idea of the most suitable facilities for your needs.
Once you settle on a few options, speak to them to find out the exact nature of services they provide as well as the costs involved. Ask for a written document detailing the entire cremation process so you can be sure of getting what you pay for.
How Much Does Cremating a Hamster Cost?
Most rodent cremation services are charged by the dead animal’s weight. Since hamsters are not some of the heaviest out there, you can expect to pay up to $100 for basic communal cremation.
Pet crematoriums offer premium home pick-up services where they readily come to pick up the dead hamster from the comfort of your home for a fee typically around $50. You may decide to follow up for private viewing at extra charges or pick up the remains once the process is complete.
However, dead pet hamsters may be cremated in 2-3 days if the facility has a busy workload. If you’d rather get the poor little thing cremated on the same day, extra charges of a couple of hundred dollars may apply.
The additional charges are applied to offset secondary costs that may come up from the disruption of the crematorium’s business caused by the same-day service they’re conducting for your hamster.
If you want to view the cremation process, be prepared to fork out an extra $25 in most cases. Watching the process can be a way to get closure after losing your beloved hamster through natural causes or euthanasia.
The last consideration is whether to ask for the remains of the pet rodent. You may provide containers for the hamster’s ashes or purchase one of the urns available for sale at the crematorium.
Urns may cost anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on how fancy it is. Engraved options often cost multiple hundreds of dollars.
Do I Need a Casket to Carry My Dead Hamster for Cremation?
No, you don’t need a casket for a dead hamster’s remains for cremation. Most people wrap the dead body in several layers of plastic bags for transportation. Others may even decide to wrap the plastic around the hamster and freeze it for a couple of days until they’re ready to approach a crematorium.
No crematorium demands that the dead animal’s body is placed in a casket before the process begins because the presence of a casket does not affect the cremation process in any way.
Can My Hamster’s Favorite Toys Be Cremated With Him?
Some pet crematoriums may allow hamsters to be cremated with their favorite toys while others do not because it is against local laws. You can always ask the crematorium in advance to avoid any surprises but be prepared to pay additional costs when toys are allowed to be part of the cremation.
How Can I Be Sure the Ashes Received Are My Hamster’s?
The only way to be sure that you’re receiving your pet rodent’s ashes is to pay for a private viewing of the cremation process. This guarantees that your hamster is cremated alone and the ashes can be trusted to be his own.
If money is tight or private viewing is not viable due to one reason or another, choosing a reputable crematorium can give you the necessary peace of mind. You can always seek a referral from a vet or friend with a past experience of getting a dead pet cremated.
Conclusion: Can Hamsters Be Cremated?
Hamsters can be cremated as a personal preference or when burial is not viable due to reasons such as bad weather. Seeking a reputable pet cremation services provider can ensure the whole process is as smooth as possible.
Most vets are linked to local crematoriums so they’ll be able to provide good referrals. Alternatively, a Google search can reveal reputable cremation businesses in your locality. Once you find one, seek information on the various services provided as well as the costs so you can select the most suitable option.