Self done cremation

Status
Not open for further replies.

angryrectangle

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
115
Purraise
1
Location
Currently driving around South America!
Today my boyfriend Josh and I cremated our sweet little Pelusa. I wanted to share some photos and info about how it went for future reference of anyone else considering doing your own cremation.

First, a little background information.

Our little kitty was a travelling kitty. We found her in Quito, Ecuador and she'd been travelling with us since she was 3 weeks old, when we found her. When she died she was almost 6 months old.

A few nights ago Pelusa consumed something, somwhere that was poisonous, and she died fairly instantly.

A more detailed account of Pelusa's life and death is here.

Since Pelusa was a travelling cat, and the town we're in is not particularly special we wanted to get her cremated so she could come with us on the rest of the trip. We called all the vets and Funeral homes in town (even stopping by the graveyard) only to discover that cremation services are NOT offered in the town we're in OR the neighboring town. We'd have to go to Lima (a few days drive) if we wanted it done, and even then we'd have to try and convince a human cremator to do our cat.

My boyfriend's uncle cremated his own cat once a few years before, so we figured there must be a way. After alot of brainstorming we came up with a few ideas and decided it was worth a try. If it failed, we'd have to bury her and leave her here anyways. Both my boyfriend and I felt that if we buried her here it would feel like leaving her behind.

We figured we'd need something that would burn quite hot, and Josh knew of a particular fertilizer (Potassium Nitrate) that he'd used to make smokebombs out of as a kid, which burned really hot.

So we got two flower pots, some Potassium Nitrate, ALOT of firewood, and some gasoline and set off to a desolate stretch of beach.


Our original plan was to sort of have Pelusa in the pot under the fire along with some Potassium Nitrate to make sure she burned properly and was fully contained (it was our worst nightmare to think we'd discover only part of her had succesfully burnt.. ack!) but in the end things changed a bit.

So, we dug a hole on the beach where we first put a layer of Potassium Nitrate, then five large hardwood logs since they burn at quite a high temperature. On top of that we put a ceramic plate (since all flower pots have holes in the bottom) and the two flower pots (one on top of the other so that it was sealed inside) inside the flower pots was Pelusa, her favourite sweater, and her favourite little ball.. with a bit of gasoline to ensure the fire would start burning there.


Unfortunatly I forgot to take photos of the actual setup before the fire started.

After the pots we put on a few layers of wood, doused the whole thing in Gasoline and set it ablaze.


Unfortunatly the flower pots broke almost instantly and there was not along we could do about keeping her ashes properly contained.

We let the fire burn for quite awhile and threw in a few handfuls of Potassium Nitrate here and there. After a few hours the fire had died down and we were sure she was cremated succesfully.

Unfortunatly since the pots broke her ashes were not properly contained. We spent another few hours digging through the fire put finding bits of ash where we new she'd been burning and a few bits of bone. We put her in the little urn we'd bought for her and crushed it up to have a bit more "ashy" a texture.


It was certainly a very personal way to see your cat go, especially searching through the fire pit and finding little bits of bone to keep. I do not regret doing it, and I'm happy that we definitely have some of her to carry along with us. We did the best we could (considering we're NOT professionals) and managed to get her cremated to take along with us.

For future reference, I would reccommend the following things:

- Do not put flammables inside the pots with the kitty! I'm sure this is the reason the pots broke so instantly. Let the fire work it's way in on it's own.

- I would think maybe building sort of a mini brick oven with proper ventilation so the fire can get in and the smoke can get out would be a good idea.

- When using Potassium Nitrate, be careful since it will sometimes harden instead of all burning off (leaving it stuck to some stuff!)

If anyone is ever considering a home cremation I am happy to answer any questions you might have about the process. I guarantee it is not at all horrifying (you don't see any flaming kitty and there's really no smell) and rather it's quite a personal way to see your cat off. I am not an expert, and our attempt was by no means perfect, but she was cremated nonetheless in a place where cremation opportunities are scarce (latin america is mostly catholic.)

I know that some people may find it strange or disrespectful but it wasn't that way at all. I am very happy we did it, and I know she would've been happy at the great effort we put in to honouring her death and making sure she comes with us for the rest of the trip.
 

laureen227

Darksome Duo!
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 3, 2003
Messages
19,260
Purraise
387
Location
Denton TX
i posted in you other thread... i think it was a lovely tribute to the love you had for her. personally, i wouldn't be able to do that... but i respect you for finding a way to keep her with you for the rest of your trip
 

krazy kat2

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 14, 2001
Messages
8,085
Purraise
41
Location
Somewhere in Georgia
First let me say that I am sorry for your loss.
In a way it seems a little strange, being American and having access to crematoriums, but in a way it feels like you are right in that it is a very personal way to say goodbye. I am not sure I would have it in me to be able to do it, though. You did what was right for you and gave your kitty a respectful beginning to her trip to the Bridge, and that is what matters. The urn you placed her in is beautiful. Once again, let me say I am sorry for your loss.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

angryrectangle

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
115
Purraise
1
Location
Currently driving around South America!
Originally Posted by krazy kat2

First let me say that I am sorry for your loss.
In a way it seems a little strange, being American and having access to crematoriums, but in a way it feels like you are right in that it is a very personal way to say goodbye. I am not sure I would have it in me to be able to do it, though. You did what was right for you and gave your kitty a respectful beginning to her trip to the Bridge, and that is what matters. The urn you placed her in is beautiful. Once again, let me say I am sorry for your loss.
Thank you. It wasn't easy, and certainly not my first choice but we really wanted her cremated.

The urn we put her in is actually a handmade sort of tourist souvenir pot.. we thought it was fitting in a way.

Here's another shot of it,
 

joshoisasleep

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
11
Purraise
1
We were really scared at the thought of not doing a good enough job and then having our beloved little kitty half burned to deal with. One comforting thought to that and the whole idea of setting her alight was something I came across in my search for information on doing this... one poster on what appeared to be a forum for pet chickens said that they thought of the body as only a vessel, and that what happened with it was not all that important compared with the life and soul of their beloved friend. Although we felt it important to us to take some of Pelusa with us, this was a comforting thought when considering what was to be involved in her cremation.

Everything involved in doing this was very difficult, but we comforted ourselves knowing that whatever happened we were doing our best. We could not bear the thought of willingly leaving her behind. Putting ourselves through the extra difficulty and possible discomfort of this was something that to avoid was unthinkable to me, as the final sendoff for someone so beloved in our lives is an important thing that to me could not be avoided no matter how difficult it might be to carry out. If it weren't for my uncle I probably would not have thought to do it ourselves, but I knew that he loved his very old cat Tea more than anything, and they had been together through many of life's experiences. My uncle in fact had been in America (he probably wouldn't mind me describing him as a bit eccentric)... in the past we had a kitty friend cremated professionally, and if that had been an option we would have gone that route. I hope you all understand that we went this route not just out of frustration and lack of options, but out of the deepest respect for our beloved friend.

Although I would not recommend this route to anyone who has another option, I must say that it did turn out to be a very personal experience for us. It certainly felt good if nothing else to be making such a great effort for our little friend's final sendoff - it took basically two full days between planning, getting the materials, preparation, and the final event.

Thank you all for your kind words.
 

clixpix

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 9, 2004
Messages
14,540
Purraise
2
Like others, I don't know if I could do it, but I think what you did was a lovely tribute to your beloved baby.

RIP Pelusa
 

deedeemay

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Messages
2,456
Purraise
1
Location
South Coast, UK
Deeply Sorry for your Loss


What you did for Pelusa was so wonderful, and your kitty will be forever grateful.
May Pelusa Rest In Peace, and play happily at the Bridge
 

rosiemac

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 3, 2003
Messages
54,358
Purraise
100
Location
ENGLAND... LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY!
I admire you for what you've done, and it must have beed difficult for you because i couldn't do it, but i can see why.

At least you still have your little girl travelling with you


________________________________________
 

tab

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 10, 2008
Messages
1,963
Purraise
2
Location
South Coast, UK
Originally Posted by Rosiemac

I admire you for what you've done, and it must have been difficult for you because i couldn't do it, but i can see why.

At least you still have your little girl travelling with you
RIP sweet pelusa, play happily across the bridge.
 

prettytiny

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Messages
1
Purraise
1
Deeply sorry for your loss

I just lost my kitten and I can't afford to cremate him so I want to cremate him myself can you please help me with more information how to do it my self and where could I this..
 

nurseangel

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 6, 2007
Messages
10,132
Purraise
4,820
Location
1 Happy Place
I'm so sorry for your loss.  I am glad you found a way that you were comfortable with as a final honor for your Pelusa.  I admire your boyfriend, too, for helping you through a difficult situation.
 

jcat

Mo(w)gli's can opener
Veteran
Joined
Feb 13, 2003
Messages
73,213
Purraise
9,851
Location
Mo(w)gli Monster's Lair
Deeply sorry for your loss

I just lost my kitten and I can't afford to cremate him so I want to cremate him myself can you please help me with more information how to do it my self and where could I this..
I'm very sorry for your loss. The member who started this thread hasn't posted in over a year, so it's unlikely that she'll respond.
 

glencatman

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 1, 2014
Messages
140
Purraise
11
Sorry for your loss. as far as I'm concerned, you did the right thing and it went well. That's a real nice urn you picked out. I might consider doing that for my 12 year old Minnie when her time comes, but I would want to do it right the first time.
 

Triniry

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Aug 11, 2017
Messages
1
Purraise
0
If your putting her in a urn dose it matter that all the bones are not all grinder down I am planing to create my dear baby girl when she goes she pretty old now and that's why I am reading up on cremation at home beffore she dose go I love her too much I can't Berry her since we live in rented place if I move I would not be able to take her to come back to visit
 

pushylady

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 26, 2005
Messages
16,398
Purraise
451
Location
Canada
This thread is very old and the original poster is unlikely to see it.
If you do go the route of DIY cremation, I wouldn't think it would matter that much if all the bones were ground done. As long as they've been burned clean and then sealed in the urn.
 

Sally9394

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Feb 20, 2018
Messages
1
Purraise
0
If anyone sees this, I've been trying to google self cremation for my baby iguana but haven't found anything. Would anyone recommend this way?
 

Norachan

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
32,666
Purraise
32,854
Location
Mount Fuji, Japan
This is a very old thread S Sally9394 I don't think any of the original posters will see your question.

I'm sorry, I don't know anything about home cremation. For what it's worth, natural decomposition in a shallow grave is a much more environmentally friendly option. I guess a baby iguana is quite small. Even if you don't have a garden of your own you could bury him in a large planter. Or maybe bury him in a local park?

I'm sorry for your loss.
 

vyger

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jun 24, 2017
Messages
810
Purraise
1,434
Location
Northeast Montana
There is a safe and effective way to do this but it would not involve the process that the thread starter used. People have been using home made forge's to melt scrap metal like aluminum into bars. The same type of process would work for cremation. You would need to make a temporary oven. For this all you need are fire bricks. Not the regular bricks because they can have air pockets that can make the bricks break if they get to hot. Anyway stack the fire bricks to make an oven. They do not need to be held together with cement or anything. Just stack them so there is enough room inside. You need to leave a hole in each end large enough that a pipe can fit through. Then you use a propane burner and a tank to provide the flame. You put the torch in one hole, the smoke and gases come out the other. Keep the burner going until there is nothing but ash left. If you want to get it hotter inside you can inject extra air using a small shop vac set to blow and not suck. You can achieve temperatures of 1,000 degrees and more with just propane gas so it can get plenty hot enough to do the job. Just be very careful you don't have anything combustible nearby. Do not use anything like gasoline because it is way to explosive and the vapors will flow across low areas and then spread fire everywhere. Anyway, that is a basic plan, so to speak. It can be done safely but you do need the proper propane burner. They use them at cattle brandings to get the irons red hot so they are available.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top