Pet paw print kits capture something irreplaceable — the exact shape of a paw at a specific moment in your pet’s life. Whether you’re creating a keepsake for a healthy pet or a memorial after loss, choosing the right kit makes a difference.
Two Main Use Cases
1. Living Pet Keepsakes
Capturing a paw print while your pet is healthy — whether as a puppy/kitten milestone, a moving-house memory, or simply because you wanted one. Living pets can be uncooperative but you have repeated opportunities, so the easiest, lowest-stress kit usually wins.
2. Memorial Prints
After a pet has passed, capturing a paw print is often part of saying goodbye. Many vets and crematoria offer this service, but home kits give you privacy, time, and the ability to take the print at home before transport. Inkless wipe kits and clay kits both work; ink pad kits are usually less appropriate.
The Three Kit Types
Inkless Wipe Kits
The same chemistry as baby inkless kits: a clear wipe that develops on reactive paper. Mess-free, no clean-up, and gentle — the wipe doesn’t feel cold or unusual to your pet. Best choice for nervous animals and for memorial use where you don’t want any visible mess.
Ink Pad Kits
Skin-safe water-based ink. Sharper prints than inkless but requires you to clean the pet’s paw afterwards. Cats are usually unimpressed; large dogs are fine if properly socialised. Always use a pet-specific kit, never a craft ink pad.
Clay or Salt-Dough Kits
Pet pushes paw into clay, leaving a 3D impression. Most kits include a frame. Brilliant result, particularly for memorial use where the dimensional impression has more emotional weight than a flat print.
What to Look For
- Pet-safe materials: Always non-toxic. Cats groom themselves so any chemical residue is risky.
- Paw-sized pad / paper: Generic kits aimed at babies sometimes don’t accommodate large dog paws.
- Multiple attempts: Pets often refuse the first try. Have 2–3 attempts available.
- Includes a frame for memorial kits: A loose print is harder to emotionally process. Framed kits help.
- Discreet packaging for memorial use: Some sellers post in unmarked packaging on request — helpful if you’re receiving the kit shortly after a loss.
Tips for a Good Print
- Calm environment. Quiet room, no other pets, calm voice.
- Have help. One person to hold and reassure, one person to handle the kit.
- Reward immediately. Treats and praise make the next attempt easier.
- Try when pet is sleepy. Mid-afternoon naps are ideal for cats.
- Wipe paws before starting. A quick wet-wipe reduces fur mess in the print.
Memorial-Specific Advice
If you’re using a kit for memorial purposes, take a few minutes alone with your pet first. Many people find it helpful to take both a paw print and a small lock of fur. Both store easily in a keepsake box and complement each other emotionally over the years.
Browse Our Pet Range
We stock pet paw print kits including inkless, ink pad, and clay options, plus pet memorial keepsake boxes designed for UK pet owners. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.