A tribute video doesn’t need special skills. It’s your favorite photos of her, in an order that tells her story, set to one song. Your phone can do it for free in under an hour. This guide walks through it gently, step by step, and covers a few other ways to honor her too.
It’s fine to stop and come back to this later.
Step 1: Gather her photos and clips
Collect everything into one album first, so you’re choosing from one place:
- Your phone’s camera roll (search her name or “cat” in the Photos search bar)
- Old message threads with family
- Photos friends and family took of her. Asking is a kind way to share the loss.
- Live Photos and short videos, which add moments of real movement
You don’t need every photo. Pick the ones that feel most like her.
Step 2: Put them in an order
Two orders work well:
- Her life story: first day home to her last good days. This is the classic tribute.
- A day with her: morning stretches, favorite window, the spot on your bed. Lighter, and good if her time with you was short.
Aim for about 3 seconds per photo. 20 photos make about a minute; 40 make about two minutes, roughly one song.
Step 3: Choose one song
Something that reminds you of her, or a gentle instrumental. If you’ll post it on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, add the song inside that app from its music library, otherwise the video may be muted.
Step 4: Make the video with a free tool
- iPhone, Apple Photos: select the album, tap ⋯ → Play Memory Movie, then change the music and length. Easiest option.
- Android, Google Photos: tap + → Highlight video (or Movie), choose the photos, and pick a soundtrack.
- CapCut or Canva: more control, with ready-made memorial templates. Add a slow zoom to each photo for a softer feel.
- iMovie (Mac or iPhone): good for longer videos with titles.
Step 5: Add a few words
At the start or end, a simple title card is enough:
Luna, 2012 to 2026. Thank you for every morning.
Her name, her years, and one line. Less is usually more.
Optional: a closing moment with her
Some people end their tribute on a moment of her alive and looking at the camera. If you don’t have a clip like that, WigglePet’s Memorial template creates one from a single photo: she appears in a calm scene, such as the Rainbow Bridge, above the clouds, a garden, a starry night or a sunbeam, and speaks a few words you write. That could be a goodbye, a thank you, or something only your family would understand.
You hear the voice first, and nothing is made until you approve it. Save the clip, and add it as the last scene of your slideshow. See the pet memorial video page for more about how it works.
If you’d simply like to see her move again, without words, our guide on seeing your late pet moving again from old photos covers that.
Other ways to honor her
Not everything has to be a video:
- A photo book of your favorite pictures, printed.
- A paw print keepsake (many vets offer clay or ink prints).
- A plant or tree in her favorite sunny spot.
- A donation in her name to a local shelter or rescue.
- A framed portrait of her, painted or printed.
Sharing on social media
If you want to post her tribute:
- Write a caption about who she was, not only how she died: her quirks, her favorite spot, the thing she always did.
- Pin the post or save it as a Story highlight so it stays at the top of your profile.
- It’s okay to turn off comments, or to post only to close friends.
- Some people post each year on her birthday or gotcha day.
Grief doesn’t follow a schedule. If it feels heavy, many veterinary schools run free pet-loss support lines, and your vet can point you to one.
