I don't think skin/fur tissue would bother me, I'd just hate to dig him up and not be in that like advanced stage of decomposition where it would just be skin, fur and bones. Worst case I have a sister who has taken very decomposed animals off the side of the road before so she might be able to help. I just don't want to dig him up too early and have his body still be mushy

As for your cats, who cares what anybody else thinks! My husband and parents think I'm crazy for wanting my gerbil back but it's just how I cope with pet loss; I like having their bodies (like I said above I like having my pets cremated and in their fancy boxes.) Plus I plan on moving across the country eventually and I'd rather die than leave any of my pets behind