Have you been seeing cats that aren’t there? Having any other cat-related visions and hallucinations?
I don’t blame you for trying to figure out why you’re seeing cats and what, if any message or meaning there may be behind it.
I have to say right off the top that I’m not a medical professional.
There could be any number of reasons for seeing cats that aren’t there, and you should always seek the advice of a medical professional.
With that said, however, I can give you a few possible reasons why you’re having these visions:
You’re Hallucinating
This is the medical explanation, and will almost certainly be true for most people.
The explanation behind seeing almost anything that isn’t really there can be as a result of a hallucination.
It’s the reasons behind why someone hallucinates and what they see that differ a lot. It’s also the most interesting aspect as some people believe there are meanings behind hallucinations.
According to Healthline, the main causes of hallucinations are:
- Lack of sleep
- A side effect of medications
- Substance use
- Mental health conditions
- Other health issues
If any of the above sound likely, as I said; you should talk to a medical professional.
It’s a Spiritual Sign
I’ve read a couple of interesting articles around cats being divine messengers and taking the form of an angel to deliver a message.
People that have lost a cat, might see images of their pet that has passed. This can symbolize that they are trying to send a message or communicate with them in some way.
Related – Read this post for 10 signs of a cat spirit after death.
What Do Cats Symbolize?
Cats have a long and storied history. Revered as gods thousands of years ago in Egypt, there is something special about these curious creatures.
As for general symbolism, cats symbolize resurrection and rebirth. This ties into the folklore that they have 9 lives, and their uncanny ability to survive dangerous situations.
Black cats, in particular, are also commonly portrayed as being associated with witches and all things spooky.
This is why if someone who isn’t comfortable around cats is seeing images of black cats it can distress them.
One can jump to the conclusion that it’s a bad omen. Like something bad is going to happen. This has never been the case as far as I can tell though.
Related – A look at what it means if a black cat crosses your path.
What to Do If You’re Seeing Cats That Are Not There?
Well, this depends on whether you believe in the spiritual world, science, or maybe a bit of both.
If You Think You’re Hallucinating
If you think you’re hallucinating due to one or more of the reasons I coved at the beginning of the article, you have to see a medical professional.
It may be something as simple as changing some medication you’re on. Or, it may be a sign that you have a medical issue that you’re not aware of.
This sounds scary, I know. But either way, it’s better you get checked out so your doctor can give you some professional advice.
If You Think It’s a Spiritual Sign
If you think it’s a spiritual sign it might be worth seeing a medium.
Now, this is something you need to approach with caution, there are loads of bad mediums out there, you need to find someone that comes highly recommended.
Trust me, I’ve had my own experiences with good and bad mediums and the difference is everything.
If you’ve never had an experience with a medium before, basically, they are people with psychic abilities. They have a natural ability to communicate with the spirit world.
If you’ve been having spiritual experiences, they are best qualified to be able to help you understand what it is you’re experiencing.
There is no way to really prove whether or not a medium is really “receiving” spiritual communications. It’s up to you to go into it with an open mind and make up your own mind.
If You Think You’re Grieving Over Your Cat That Passed
Is it one of your cats you’re seeing that has passed? Or are the images too quick or hard to see so you’re not sure?
If you’ve lost a cat recently, you might be seeing images of them. This is a lot more common than you may think.
You may be going through one of the stages of grief. It’s said people go through;
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression, and
- Acceptance
Sometimes our minds play games with us. We might think we see our cat due to familiarity, a need or want to see them again, or just because we’re grieving.
All I can really say right now is that it will get easier. Trust me it will. If you are struggling to come to terms with your loss you need to reach out to loved ones and talk about it.
There are also professional bodies that help people grieving over pets. You’ll need to take a look at what’s available depending on where you live.
Ultimately you’ll arrive on acceptance, the final stage of grief. Once you reach this stage, if this was the cause for your visions they’ll stop happening.
I’ve Been There, I Understand
I just want to let you know that I truly understand the grief associated with losing a cat.
I used to hear one of my cat’s meowing in the night. Except, she had died weeks earlier.
I was so sure I could hear her in those first few weeks after losing her, I got out of bed and looked for her the first couple of times.
It took me a few months to really get past all the stages of grief. I still don’t say that I’m “over” losing her, because I’m sure I ever will be.
But I have come to terms with life without her, and I no longer see or hear her.
In Summary
I really hope this article will help some of you who are seeing images of cats that aren’t really there figure out why you’re having these visions, and a solution so it no longer bothers you.
If you’ve had any experiences yourself, please feel free to reach out and share them in the comments below.
It might just help some of the other members of the community to better understand their own situation. Thanks.
Resources
Image credits – Header Photo by Jaeyoung Geoffrey Kang, cat with blue eyes by Pacto Visual, and white cat by Chyntia Juls on Unsplash
Cats as Divine Messengers – LearnReligions.com
