Some companions simply belong together.
Perhaps it's two dogs who spent their entire lives side by side, a pair of rabbits who were rarely seen apart, or a cat and dog who somehow became the most unlikely of friends.
When you've shared your home with more than one pet, you'll know that the relationships they form with each other can be just as meaningful as the ones they shared with us.
And when the time comes to say goodbye, it's only natural to wonder whether they can continue to be remembered together.
The short answer is yes. Two pets can share one memorial urn, as long as the urn has enough internal space for their combined ashes. You can choose to keep their ashes in separate sealed bags inside the same urn, or combine them if that feels right to you.
But before making that decision, there are a few practical and personal considerations worth noting.
We hope this guide can help you explore the options and find an arrangement that feels right for you and your companions.
Why do families choose to keep two pets together?
For many families, choosing a shared memorial isn't simply about saving space or having fewer urns at home.
It's about preserving a relationship.
We often hear about companions who seemed inseparable. Two dogs who grew up together, always following one another around the house. Rabbits who spent their afternoons curled up beside each other. Or perhaps two pets who arrived years apart but eventually became the very best of friends.
When they've spent so much of their lives together, the idea of sharing a final resting place can feel quite natural.
At Oat & Paw, we often receive commissions from families wishing to commemorate lifelong companions together.
What we have come to appreciate is that these memorials are not simply about remembering two individual animals. They're also about remembering the bond they shared.
Of course, a shared urn isn't always the right choice.
Some families prefer separate memorials, particularly when each pet had a very different personality or when their ashes hold individual significance.
There is no right or wrong approach here.
What matters is finding a way of remembering them that feels meaningful to you.
Can you mix the ashes of two pets together?
Yes. If both pets have been individually cremated and their ashes have been returned to you, their cremated remains can physically be combined in one container.
But sharing an urn doesn't necessarily mean that you need to mix their ashes.
There are two main approaches that are available to you.
Keeping their ashes separate inside one urn
This is often the more flexible option.
Each pet's ashes remain inside their own sealed pouch, with both placed inside a larger memorial urn.
The ashes are kept together in one resting place without being physically mixed.
Some families prefer this because it allows each companion to retain their own separate remains, while still sharing the same memorial.
It also makes things easier should you ever wish to move their ashes into individual urns, divide them between family members, or make different arrangements in the future.
If you're considering this option, make sure that the urn has enough internal room for both sealed pouches, not just the estimated volume of ashes.
Combining their ashes together
Other families may prefer to combine both pets' ashes in a single sealed container.
For some, the idea of their companions remaining together in this way feels particularly meaningful.
However, it's worth remembering that once the ashes have been mixed, separating them again isn't realistically possible.
So we would encourage you to make this decision only when you're comfortable with it.
If you're unsure, keeping the ashes separate inside the same urn is a perfectly reasonable alternative.
And if you'd prefer not to handle the ashes directly, you can ask your cremation provider whether they can assist with the transfer.
How big should a memorial urn for two pets be?
This is probably the most important practical consideration.
A memorial urn that comfortably accommodates one pet's ashes may not necessarily have enough space for two.
When choosing a shared urn, you'll need to consider the combined volume of both pets' cremated remains.
A commonly used starting guideline is approximately one cubic inch of urn capacity for every pound of body weight before cremation.
For example, imagine that you're choosing a memorial for two dogs:
- Your first dog weighed 20 lb (9.1 kg).
- Your second dog weighed 30 lb (13.6 kg).
- Their combined weight was 50 lb (22.7 kg).
Using the general sizing guideline, you would begin by looking for an urn with at least 50 cubic inches (approximately 820 ml) of internal capacity.
However, this is only an estimate.
The actual quantity of ashes can vary depending on the animal and the cremation process. You should also allow additional room if you're keeping the remains inside their original sealed bags.
Our recommendation is to confirm the approximate volume of ashes with your cremation provider, then choose an urn with some additional space rather than one that only just meets the estimate.
Pay particular attention to internal capacity rather than external dimensions.
Two wooden urns may look similar from the outside but have very different amounts of usable space inside.
And when selecting a custom memorial, don't assume that a larger sculpture or figurine necessarily means a larger compartment for ashes.
If you're unsure about sizing, it's always worth asking before placing an order.
You may also find our guide on how to choose a pet memorial urn helpful when comparing different sizes and materials.
Can two different types of pets share the same urn?
Absolutely.
A shared memorial doesn't have to be for two dogs, two cats, or even two animals of the same species.
Perhaps you had a dog and cat who were inseparable, or a pair of companions who developed a particularly special relationship despite their differences.
There's no practical reason why their ashes couldn't be kept inside the same urn, as long as the container has enough room.
The important consideration is their combined shared space, rather than their species.
For smaller companions, such as rabbits, hamsters and birds, the amount of space required may be considerably less than for larger dogs.
However, even with smaller animals, we would still recommend checking the actual capacity rather than assuming that any small keepsake box will accommodate both pets' full ashes.
It's also worth thinking about how you'd like them represented.
A personalised memorial could feature two figurines resting together, each capturing the individual appearance and character of your companions.
Or perhaps you'd prefer a more understated wooden or ceramic urn, with both names engraved on its surface.
Sometimes, the simplest designs can be just as meaningful.
What if my pets passed away years apart?
This is another question worth thinking about, especially if you've recently lost one companion while another is still with you.
You might already know that you'd eventually like them to share a memorial.
And there's nothing wrong with planning ahead.
In this situation, you could choose an urn with enough capacity for both pets, keeping the first pet's ashes safely contained until the time comes.
Alternatively, you might prefer to keep their ashes in separate urns for now and decide on a shared arrangement later.
You don’t have to make that decision immediately.
After all, the relationship between two pets doesn't disappear simply because one has passed away before the other.
And a shared memorial can still be created many years after both companions have gone.
If you're considering commissioning a custom urn in advance, make sure that its capacity will be suitable for both pets rather than only the one whose ashes you currently have.
Creating a personalised memorial for two companions
At Oat & Paw, much of our work begins with photographs.
These photographs help us understand the details that make each pet recognisable. Their markings, the way their ears sit, the little expressions they seem to make without even realising.
When creating a memorial for two companions, we believe those details become especially meaningful.
Perhaps one was always the more adventurous of the pair, while the other preferred to sit quietly and observe.
Maybe your rabbits were constantly resting beside one another, or your dogs had a familiar way of sleeping together.
Rather than simply placing two identical figurines on an urn, the aim is to preserve something of their individual personalities and the relationship between them.
If you're considering a two-pet memorial, we would recommend preparing a selection of photographs of both companions.
Individual photographs are useful for understanding their markings, proportions and expressions.
But photographs showing them together can be particularly helpful too.
They can tell us something about how your pets interacted, the poses they naturally adopted, and how you remember seeing them side by side.
Our custom two-rabbit memorial urn is one example of a design created to commemorate two companions together.
As with any shared memorial, the urn's internal capacity should be checked separately to make sure it can accommodate the amount of ashes you wish to keep.
And if you're still deciding on the photographs to send, we've also put together a guide on the photographs that help us most when remembering your pet.
A final thought — remembering a bond that continues
One of the things we've come to appreciate through creating pet memorials is just how different every relationship can be.
And when we talk about our pets, we aren't only remembering the relationship we shared with them.
We're also remembering the relationships they shared with one another.
The little habits they developed together. The places where they always slept. The way one might instinctively look for the other whenever they were apart.
These are the moments that become part of our memories of them.
A shared memorial can be a lovely way to honour that bond.
But whether you choose one urn, two separate urns, or simply a photograph of your companions resting together, the meaning behind it remains the same.
There is no obligation to keep their ashes together, and no need to make the decision before you're ready.
What matters isn't whether they share the same resting place, but that the relationship they shared continues to be remembered.
And we hope that, whatever form your memorial takes, it brings back a little of the warmth and happiness your companions brought into your home.
With love,
Oat & Paw Studio