I'm waiting to pick up some cremation remains from a pet cat. It'll be the third time I've paid for cremation of a pet and getting their ashes. It cost roughly $300 for the euthanasia, "private cremation" and ashes just secured in a sealed cardboard box. For me honestly it's not super important and more symbolic, but I was wondering if anyone involved in the biz knows for sure if the ashes people pay for are the ashes people 'want to have'?

None of the cremations have been through the same vet due to moving through life. One was done through a vet I knew socially and they said it was "definitely their ashes", but knowing them awhile it wouldn't surprise me if they shined me on a bit, and one vet I joked a bit with gallows humor after my pet died and they seemed horrified I would even suggest it. The recent one I didn't even bring it up. But I imagine it's easier to just throw a bunch of dead bodies into a large oven for a cremation and just divvy up the remains.

The same questions applies to human remains. One of my brothers died a couple years ago and was cremated. My sister-in-law asked me if I wanted some of his ashes afterwards. I didn't have any interest but was wondering about human cremation as well as pets. I'm not a scientist but I can't imagine DNA etc would survive cremation.

edit : But also, I would imagine most current crematoriums couldn't do more than one human body at a time per burner unit?

Thanks!