Ghost cats
I am not sure why, but almost every location I visit has a story or a sighting with what you would describe as a 'Ghost Cat'. That is, people feel they have either seen or are picking up on the energy of a ghost that is a cat. If our human soul lives on and if in theory that is what a ghost is, could the same apply to animals?
Some religious people believe that a soul is exclusive only to a human being, while other cultures and religions worship animals almost as gods. The pharaohs in ancient Egypt believed that animals had souls and in fact make up a major part of their belief in the afterlife. In Egyptian art, a soul was often represented as a bird or a cat. When you look at the traditional Christian faith, they teach that only pure souls were allowed through the kingdom gates of heaven. They taught that animals did not have souls and therefore were not allowed into heaven.
Image Source: freepik.com
When we look at our cherished pets such as cats and dogs (and everything in between), they have their own personalities. They have a heart, a brain, they express emotion. They are capable of love, fear, and empathy. To me, I believe that if there is such a thing as a soul, they would absolutely have one. The love a person has for a pet in a lot of ways is the same love they have for a fellow human being. The loss of a pet can be heartbreaking. There still remains a bond that has not been broken and spiritually they may still be connected. Many people will tell you that after a beloved pet dies, they can still hear it bounding up the hallway or they can feel them brushing up against their legs. Sometimes they even feel an indentation on the couch or bed they are sitting on. Long story short, they feel they are around.
What is it though about cats?
Cats and spirituality
Cats themselves are a lot harder to study due to their reputation of not being as well trained when it comes to scientific study. They just don't co-operate. I must admit, I am not much of a cat lover, so this information comes as no surprise to me, however, this is a trait a lot of cat owners love. Each to their own! Spiritually speaking, the Ancient Egyptians worshipped cats due to their sacred connection to Bastet the goddess of protection and warfare. Cats were a symbol of protection. For this reason, some people believe that cats act as spiritual protectors and ward off evil spirits. They are thought by some to be a conduit of positive energy and can help rid any negative energy in your home. When the cat rubs itself against your leg, it is said that they are trying to share their energy with you. If you shoo them away, the transfer apparently does not complete.
Stories of ghost cats
Many locations have a story or sighting alluding to a ghost cat. Even Black Rock House has had people saying they feel they are picking up on the spirit of a cat walking around the stables or hiding behind the horse and cart.
Below are submissions I have received to my Experiences with apparitions series where people have had a sighting of a ghost cat.
I saw my mother's recently deceased cat walking towards me for a pat like used to when he was alive. He was about two and a half metres away in a brightly sun lit room and vanished before he got within two metres away. I saw him for maybe two or three seconds
We have several cats. This one was in the kitchen in front of the refrigerator. Lighting was dim.
I turned to look at my sister who was just entering the room to my left, family all sat in front of me (Grandma's living room). As she entered, I was aware of a cat scooting in to the room from under her legs, the cat came over to me and brushed my legs (I did not feel anything). I watched it them walk in front of me, and disappear into the wall on my right side.
Everyone in the room had noticed my face change, I commented that I'd just seen a cat (Grandma did not have a cat). Grandma then simply said "ah that'll be Smokey Yum-Yums, I see him quite often. My Grandma had lived in the house for some 50 years, my father born there (on the drive in fact in deep snow!).
Smokey Yum-Yums belonged to their neighbour when my Dad was a child. The family name of the cats guardians was Onions, but Dad could not pronounce that as a child.
Smokey was hit and killed by a car on the road outside the house when Dad was 10. He was now 47. My Dad's family never had their own cat, but Smokey Yum-Yums used to come and visit in return for fuss and treats (as cats do!). He used to enter the house through the back door, walk through the hallway and into the front room.
Smokey was as clear as day. No one else saw him at the time. Although Grandma would often remark she had seen him since.
Anonymous submissions to Encounters of an apparition series - collected by Sarah LLIFS
What could it be?
Aside from the obvious, it is a real cat, if they saw a cat, it would likely be in solid form so most people would think it is just a cat roaming the area. Most people don't see a transparent apparition in the way it is presented in movies or TV. Often people see an apparition as a solid form. So let's give the benefit of the doubt here that people know they are not looking at a real cat. If they do see a solid cat, it is likely either in a place like their home where they don't have a cat, or more commonly, it is a cat known to them who is deceased.
So when a person is saying they are sensing or feeling the energy of a cat psychically, does it mean that there is a ghost cat? If it is our beloved family cat as an example, people often report feeling them around or even seeing them when they need comfort because that is what the cat would usually do. Remember above we talked about that emotional connection. On an unconscious level, your brain is seeking the comfort you are so used to so it could also make you feel like the cat is around to give you the comfort you seek. What if this emotional connection triggers some sort of act of psychic projection and you are creating your own ghost cat in a moment of need?
It could also potentially be a psychic vision. It could be linked to a type of residual playback of a cat that used to walk through the area on a daily basis that you are somehow getting a glimpse of? If your cat used to come and sit next to you on the couch at night for example, in a lot of ways it makes sense that people feel this presence when they are sitting on the couch. It is a common pattern. What would be difficult of course is determining if you really do have a ghost cat roaming the area so it is a case of relying on witness testimony, and there seems to be A LOT of that to the point I feel like we need to take notice.
There are many unknowns here as to why there are so many ghost cat sightings or experiences, but what we do know is that a lot of people have at least one ghost cat story, or know someone that does. What is it about ghost cats?
So what do you think? Can our beloved pets come back as spirits or is there something else going on?
Tell me your ghost cat story in the comments below!
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Comments
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Amy Hards 3 years ago
I have an experience that I have always wondered about. When I was 12 my cat was hit by a car and passed away. I dreamt about him later that night and in my dream he was returning/walking back to me. I was very upset about it and the dream really unsettled me.
I always dream about pets when they pass away but none of them have had a big effect on me like that one did. I like to think it’s our way of saying goodbye.
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Susan 3 years ago
Since you mentioned Birds here is my story. I had 2 Lorikeets that grew up together, One was a red lory the other an ornate lory. So Otis the red lory had a stroke, he was 22yrs old. Otis Died. Willy the ornate lory walked around the house saying Yoo Hoo Otis Kiss kiss I love you. I see you kiss kiss. Otis? For an entire year Willy did this eventually he stopped. Made a believer out of me!!!!!!!!!!!
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Melissa Martin 3 years ago
I moved into my apt in 2009. in the first year 6 different people, none of whom know each other but were friends or business acquaintances of mine all saw or thought they saw a cat walking through my kitchen. My friends knew I wasn't partial to cats and so they were all surprised by what they saw. I personally did not see the cat until a year ago. Late one night I awoke to get a glass of water. While I was standing drinking the water I looked back towards my room and under the door leading to my exit right beside my bedroom door I saw movement. Like walking. I put the glass down and walked towards the door thinking of my cat (who is black) that I have for 4 years now. Was standing there and I said what are you doing awake? Well as I got closer there was nothing there. I stopped and looked back towards the kitchen and went to see where my actual cat was. She was asleep in the living room in the cat tree. She could not have walked by me while I was getting my water I would have seen her. After 9 years of living in this apartment, I finally saw the ghost cat. My cat reacts to something I can't see from time to time. Usually up high and sometimes my table creaks like there is pressure on it. Its an old table and makes the same sound when she jumps on it.
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Natalie Vujovich 3 years ago
When I visited Monte Cristo Homestead in Junee, we had walked into one room and I felt a cat brush against the back of my legs. As an animal lover (crazy dog lady, but love cats too) I looked around to pat the cat, but there was no cat to be found. Just then, Reg started telling the story of how his wife would find cats in that room when they came back from being away, even with all the doors and windows locked. Spooky. I agree that animals have souls and they definitely have a presence so why wouldn't there by ghost cats, and dogs (though not as often mentioned).