Ghostly encounters with animals is not an uncommon subject in paranormal enthusiast discussions. There is even a couple televison shows based soley on these beliefs that animals can be the cause of the same style haunts that they believe are human. This includes intelligent, residual, and even some cases of shapeshifting!
The very first experience I ever had with the paranormal was with a kitten that had died after being in my care for a short week. It had been abandoned by its mother and I was the sole provider for it after I had found it.
One night I was trying to show my mother a quilt I had just made, when I was sitting there playing with my current cat at the time. I was suddenly acutely aware of something in the room when she turned in my direction and began to hiss. I looked to just the left of my leg and when I looked down I saw the impression of small paws walking across the quilt. As shocked as I was I didn't say a word, when there was a heavy push on my leg and then it slowly dissipated. I was overcome with a wonderful sense of relief and understanding that it was the kitten that had passed.
This is a very positive intelligent haunting style that is experienced in many cases of paranormal pets.
In another instance, recently my mother-in-law had to put down her cat of 17 years. I was with her when he passed, and when returning to the house, there was an overwhelming feeling that Bella had entered the room just as all the animals in the house began to growl and whimper. We just said 'we love you Bella' and it was gone. After a couple weeks, she started noticing that the rug in the bathroom would randomly be warm where Bella had enjoyed relaxing. After many tries to debunk the warmth, it still continues to this day with no explanation.
Much of this is more a residual haunting style. This is a common occurrence when much energy has been deposited into the same spot and then replayed back into the world on repeat like a recorder. Many abandoned animal testing facilities report still hearing the cries of the animals that were hurt in the laboratories, as referenced on the episode of The Haunting on Animal Planet called Lost Souls of the Asylum, where they continue to hear rattling cages and experience tugging on their clothing. There was even a reference to bite marks showing up mysteriously.
In many cases of personal pet passing, there is a reference to animals crossing the Rainbow Bridge, which by definition is an idyllic place where the pet is reunited with the owner in the afterlife. This is such a belief I wish to cherish because I have many I would love to see again. But no matter what you believe, cherish the time spent with your pets because they ground us as humans and remind us just how powerful love is.
