Many pet parents are surprised when they first receive their beloved pet’s ashes:
“Why is it not powder? I thought the ashes would be fine and gray.”
We completely understand your confusion. Most people’s image of ashes comes from movies or television, where cremated remains are often shown as fine powder. In reality, however, not all ashes look like that.
At our facility, the ashes are handled in accordance with Penang’s traditional cremation practices. We preserve the actual shape of the bones as much as possible after cremation, and only lightly process them if necessary, depending on the family’s request. This approach is similar to how ashes are treated in many human funerals in Penang, and families who have experienced this with human loved ones often understand our method.
Of course, different service providers may have different practices. Some may grind the ashes into fine powder for easier storage or scattering. There’s no right or wrong — just different philosophies. We choose to retain the natural form of the ashes because we believe it’s a more tangible way to honor the love and memory.
Why Does the Amount of Ashes Seem Less Than Expected?
This has to do with the composition of bones:
Water content (10%–20%): Completely evaporates during cremation
Organic matter (around 30%, mostly collagen): Burns off under high heat
Inorganic minerals (50%–60%, mainly calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate): This is what remains — the white or grey fragments we see
Especially for smaller pets like cats or small dogs, their bones are lighter and fewer in volume, which naturally results in less ashes.
💛 Please know: no matter what form the ashes take, they carry your love, care, and farewell.
In this final journey, we treat every pet with care and compassion. What matters most is the eternal bond you shared — not the form, but the heart.