Do Cats Have Souls?
Yesterday, when I announced the passing of Norton, our Cat of the Year for 2006, I was reminded of a poem I quoted years ago in a memorial to one of my own cats:
-
A WRITER'S CAT
I remember the day a favorite cat died.
At dawn I carried him into the garden and laid him on a bed of mint,
Still breathing.
The eyes I had known for almost thirteen years followed me about.
When the post arrived, he gave a short purr.
It had been his habit since a kitten.
It was his last link with my world of manuscripts and books.
Our parting would be soon.
Later when I wrapped him in an old cardigan
I thought of Anatole France and St. Mael's
baptism of the penguins
And how St. Catherine had said:
"Give them souls -- but tiny ones."
I will settle for that
For my cat.
By Neville Baybrooke
Do you believe cats and other non-human creatures have souls? Your opinions are important to me.
Comments
According to most christian teachings,humans are the only living things granted a soul. Animals have spirits, but they are also supposed to have a place in heaven when they die. For my part, I believe our pets will wait patiently for us in heaven.
i believe cats have souls also.
think about it, when a human gets kicked does it not cry?
same as a cat if you kick it, it has feeling and will cry.
meaning it has a soul. if you have emotion you have a soul. if a cat meows its because it wants something.
cats arent vegtables. they have souls. i agree!!
Thanks so much for your comment, JetGirl! I don’t know the difference between souls and spirits, but that’s good enough for me.
If one can get beyond the teaching of the man-made rules and teachings of organized religions, then that the very spark of life that unites us all shines both in our eyes and in the animals which share this world with us. Its more a question of what happens to the souls when it exits the mortal vessel – Eastern thought holds for the evolving and reincarnated soul – Western thought has become more finite and doctrinal. Personally, I believe that we will be surrounded after this current life by a pack of souls, animals and humans included that we hold dear. I hope to see all my dogs and cats. And all loved ones.
I see no evidence that such a thing as a soul exists at all. The evidence supports the hypothesis that all things die, and that nothing survives its own death.
Therefore, this life (and the life of my cats) is very precious to me, since it appears that it is all I will ever have.
I would like to recommend a book for all to read by Sylvia Browne and her son Chris Dufresne. Called “ANIMALS ON THE OTHER SIDE” So good and it will really get you to thinking and believing. Yes animals, all of them have souls and spirts.
When I get ready to retire for the evening and my kitty is by my side when I am reading scripture, that is when she is the most loving. God created certain animals to be our companions and it also says in the bible, “God breathed the breath of life into them.” If you have the breath of life you have a soul. A soul is the way we communicate with our Lord. So yes I believe!
I don’t know if cats have got souls like ours, but The Creator surely loved to create them, such nice purring creatures. I just hope to find my Gorby waiting for me by the ternal gates.
In the Bible, when God told the Jews not to eat meat with the blood in it, it was because the soul is contained in the blood. The word spirit is related to breath. Therefore, cats have both souls and spirits. The Bible also mentions horses coming from heaven and all creatures both in heaven and on earth giving praise to God.
I voted “do not know” because I do not know whether humans have any “soul”, either. Moat likely, it is “here and now” for both of us. The cats try to make the best out of it, and the humans should follow them.
I think any animal that is “aware” has a spirit. If my cats show empathy by comforting me when I am sad, are they not aware? My husband who does not subscribe to such things even reluctantly admits that certian animals have “bright eyes” and that is how you can tell.
Too many *incredible* things have happened to me and my cats, Camillo, Olaf and Fig for me to ignore the very indelible and palpable fact that yes, cats have souls…as do all living things.
I don’t know how anyone who has really KNOWN any animal – in my case dogs and horses as well as cats – can deny them a soul.
I’ve had too many dear four footed friends to have any doubts.
First of all, I would like to say that my wife and I have been cat owners for many years. My wife takes in all strays whether they are healthy or sick. I really don’t know if cats have souls, spirits, or anything else. But I do know they have feelings like we do- they feel pain like we do-they get hungry like we do-they feel comforted(as evidenced by the wonderful sound of purring)like we do. They also feel anger, fear and God only knows what else. Though they can’t express these feelings with words like we do, they still have them, and I only wish they could tell me more. I don’t know if they have a soul or not but they do have feelings.
Cat Training
There is absolutely no doubt but that cats DO have souls. This is an e-mail I sent to my family and friends after my feline soulmate died four years ago. I know it’s long, but it’s necessary to read my entire message:
Yesterday morning, I asked God to give me a sign (that I would recognize as
His response) that Cheyenne was content in His presence. I know the [Catholic] Church doesn’t believe in such things, but I can’t imagine our loving God, who cares even for the smallest bird, not planning something for all of the animals who give us so much love. Anyway, I went to “theanimalrescuesite.com,” as usual, to do my daily “click” for the animals, and the picture on the site was Cheyenne’s twin. I’ve been clicking for the animals at least five days a week for almost a year, and there has NEVER been a picture that looked like Cheyenne before. NEVER. A little later, I decided to send a link to Amy and Katye to show them . . . although I went back to the site no fewer than 50 times, that picture did not come up, again. Not even once. . . .
Last evening, I planned to write computer checks, but I ended up not being able to start as early as I’d wanted to. While I was outside throwing the ball for Kaya, Amy came rushing out with a plastic bag containing an old antenna wire. I’d packed it inside a larger bag with some other wiring and put it away. The cats had dragged the big bag out of the cabinet yesterday, torn it open, and removed only one item — the smaller bag with the antenna wire. That bag had “Cheyenne Snyder” written on it . . . .
I don’t listen to the radio very often; I listen to The Morning Show on my radio and tv every morning. This morning, for some reason, I decided to
clean the litter box in the bathroom before I switched to The Morning Show.
“Cheyenne Song” was the first song I heard.
Coincidence? I don’t think so. God works in mysterious ways to show His
love for us!
/Frankie
Scientists have been able to prove that all living things are made up of the same thing, energy. This means that the couch, the cat and I are made up of the same things, atoms, molecules. However, the cat has feelings just like I do, while the couch does not. All living creatures have souls. My cat Botero, has a soul, I believe it with all my heart and soul
How presumptious of humans to think they are the only ones “good” enough to have a soul. It makes me so angry to hear people say that others behave like “animals”. Animals do not wage war and create weapons of mass destruction and hate. Animals are not cruel. They are sweet, gentle creatures full of love. Look in their eyes, they have souls filled with only goodness.
Perhaps it is the humans who do not have souls and who cease to exist upon death. We are violent and uncontrolled. The creatures at our feet, constantly abused by the humans with their “higher intellect” may be the ones who will survive in the afterlife. If “god” whoever he is, is good, then he certainly wouldn’t want humans surrounding him in “heaven”.
I believe cats as well as other animals have souls. How can some people be so obstinate as to think animals don’t have feelings..they don’t have souls. I believe with all my heart that my cat Rachel will be there for me when I leave this world. She was my best friend and my companion for 18 years. She was spry as as kitten. She had more spunk and was was more agile than her “step bothers and sister” who were 5 years younger than she was. One of my neighbor’s sons got a BB gun for Christmas..he came down our driveway and shot my sweet baby in the throat and killed her. That was almost 2 years ago. My heart still aches for her. She used to sleep with me. She would walk up to the head of the bed and put her paw on my face and mew quietly as to check to see if “I” was alright. God put her in my life and I believe that she will be there in the end. I miss her so very much….
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, yes they have souls. When you have used the power of your concentration powers to return a lost animal to its home and when your pet has thrown its paws around your neck and licked the tears falling from your cheek when you are upset, how can anyone say they do not have souls.
Dear Franny, I have recently written a book relating to this topic, titled, “Does GOD Ever Speak through CATS?” I believe your readers would find it interesting. (For reviews and readers comments, see Amazon.com). I definitely believe cats have an important part in our spiritual lives. Do they have actual souls? Yes, I believe so. One thing I believe strongly is that God is great at delegating, and sometimes He delegates important work to cats! I know he delegated some important work to my cat!
David Evans, David@DavidEvansCommunications.com Dec. 27, 2007
I think God made all of his creatures to have a soul. Maybe our cats souls are small, but they still have them. I surely hope to see them again when they are no longer with me on this earth. Eternity would be a much more wonderful place if I could spend it with them as well as my family.
Its only humans that are so taken with themselves that they believe that God could only love them……….made in his image and all that crap.
All animals go to heaven…..or that other dimension……..what ever you want to call it…….
How could it ever be called Heaven without my fur children…….?
I believe they do! And the happiest part is that God has said heaven is a wonderful place where we WILL be reunited with loved ones. My kitten is soooooo loved!
I believe that cats have souls and I know when I die they will be there to meet me.
I was feeding a stray–I called him Tonut and his buddy, Mr. Boots. Well Tonut didn’t come around for a few days and showed up in a box in the front porch. Someone poisioned him and he went to sleep. I buried him in the backyard. A while after that while I was out in the garage getting ready to feed the birds, squirrels, and Mr. Boots I felt Tonut rub up to my leg.
I miss him so much. He was much too young to die.
I will see all my babies again.
The day I took my Doberman to be put down, a man walked into the clinic, immediately bent down and started to pet and talk to Andy. He said, “Soon you will be running free and no pain” and then he walked out. My son and I were too upset at the time, but afterward we talked about this man and wondered if he was one of those angels people talk about. After all these years, his appearance that day is still a mystery. I would like to believe he knew my dog was going on to an afterlife and that we will be reunited with our loved ones, the pets and humans we held dear to us.
Souls or Spirits? What is the difference? We are all God’s creatures, big or small. I truly believe that my previous pets will reunite with my spirit in the after life. After all, all that love doesn’t disappear. That kind of energy lasts a lifetime (and then some!)
I know cats or any other animals have souls and will be with us in heaven! Imagine not having them to keep us company as they do here on earth. It wouldn’t happen! They have to go with us or I don’t want to go either! Lol.
brandy Sch, you said it all. I feel the same way. Sitting here now looking at assassination of Bhutto. Why are humans so violent? We’re supposed to be the most intelligent species. All of the major religions promote peace,but our species has not gotten that lesson yet.
Conservationists speak of the disruptions of nature’s balance when key species are killed off or vanish. What would happen if our species vanished ? The earth would be cleaner, more peaceful, & animal life would go on as it should. We wouldn’t be missed I’m sure.
Do animals have souls? You bet. I have 2 cats & they’re sweet & loving. Every dog & cat I’ve had has shown depths of feeling,compassion,gratitude, loving kindness, & an ability to think.
They’ve been more humane than many people I’ve known. God in his goodness created soulful beings that will stand by us when our own kind won’t.
Check out this tribute to a dog
http://www.sniksnak.com/ac/dogtribute.html
and this tribute to a remarkable cat
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1919725/posts
In my opinion…..animals have souls and come back to be our guardian angels after they die.
I have a shelter for cats and a few dogs, and I don’t think I could go through all the things, if I didn’t believe that my wonderful fur friends had souls! They are all like my children, very special!! I want to be wherever my pets are!! My animals are so good to each other and to me, I can’t believe we won’t always be together!!
I have 19 rescued cats and over the years have lost a lot! I still feel them in my heart and miss them terribly. One of my cats went outside one cold morning. She was starting to slow down a little. Although I didn’t know how old she was when she adopted us. She was hit by a car 15 min. after she went out. Her name was Star. I know her spirit was still here for days after. She was a loner and use to hiss at most of the other cats in the house. Especially one , his name is Ernie. He slinked around looking at the air….. Kept acting like he was seeing something I couldn’t! I know Star was still here. After that accident I decided ALL my kitties were going to become housecats. SO I have 19 all indoors. I live in the country and feed the birds. So they get to watch them through the window now.
Anyway I truely believe that they have souls, spirits whatever one wants to call it. I have a lot of heartache to go with so many babies. I can’t take on anymore so always pray that no one drops any more off for me to love. i would have to find a home and that would be SO hard for me!!
GOD BLESS THEIR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THEY GIVE TO US!!
My beloved cat was sleeping next to me. I woke up at 4:15 and sat up in bed. When I checked him he wasn’t breathing. He had already left this world.I believe that his soul somehow touched mine when he left and that is why I awakened at that time.
If you look around the Internet, you’ll see that many religions support the concept of animals having a soul.
I believe Descartes and Kant made a muddle of this when they decided that animals had no rational thought, and were therefore little more than machines. This is rather arrogant thinking, since rational thought only accounts for a small portion of life’s wonders – instinct, intuition, imagination, dreams, fantasy – all these are not part of rational thought, yet they are essential to a happy life.
The measurement of rational thought is pretty difficult to determine. What’s rational for me may be nonsense to you. So animals do posses rational thought, but it is geared toward their situation in life — which I think Descartes and Kant missed.
Cats are alive, have personality, imagination, and so on, things we all enjoy in our beloved companions. They aren’t all that different from ourselves, and in some cases, they are smarter than we are. Certainly, their sensory faculties are much more advanced than ours. They are hardly machines and things to be used.
If by soul one means “spirit”, meaning personality, an anima life force, emotions and more, then obviously, cats, and all animals that have feeling have souls.
If you go by “anima” the life force, then all living things have souls, including plants. Many religions believe this as well. Who is to say one is right over the other?
As to being reunited in Heaven, that’s a topic up for much discussion among different religious believers.
The religious implications aside, life is energy, or an expression of energy, and science teaches (it can’t prove it) that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only change from one form to another. When you turn on a light, the electricity flows through a filament, this creates light and heat (and sometimes sound if the light is “humming”) which is the change of state of energy. So if life is energy, then death makes only a change in state, not an end.
What happens after that, well, I have no idea!
But I think the most important thing about cats is that those of us who have them as companions and love them, let us remember that time can never be bartered. The time we have together is precious, let us make the most of it.
So with that thought, I shall go and play with Eddie Cat who wants me to “work” his little cat toy for him.
St Gertrude is the patron Saint of cats.
http://www.saintspreserved.com/gertrude.htm
St. Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things. “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” And there was testimony in the cause for St. Clare of Assisi’s canonization that referred to her little cat!
St. Frances preached to the birds as well as all the other animals, he called them his brothers and sisters, that is good enough for me. They will be with us in heaven no doubt about it.
All living creatures with the BREATH OF LIFE have a soul and a spirit. “Let everything that has breath PRAISE THE LORD!” declared David in the Psalms. Animals have breath. Humans have breath. We all give praise to God those who have the breath of life. Let’s look together at Revelation Chapter 4. In John’s vision, God allowed him to see into the very throne room, where he (John) observed ANIMALS SPIRITS praising God. (Lion, Ox, Man, and Eagle) These are all spirits that are actively praising God, even this moment as we read this, and forevermore. Let’s all be comforted in knowing, too, that Jesus will be riding the Spirit of a White Horse upon His return to this world. Animal spirits are already IN heaven now. Our heavenly father said he would give us the desires of our hearts, and I know everyone who loves and cherishes the animal companions desire to see them in heaven. And so we shall. Thank God!!!
There are so many excellent books out there on this subject that show from a biblical perspective that cats and other animals absolutely DO have souls. I believe this 100% and heaven would not be heaven without our beloved animals there to share it with.
According to the teachings of many ancient Christian Lodges which have existed since the beginning of the planet, such as that of the Rosicrucian Society, Theosophical society, the Initiatic Tradition, The human has an individual soul and cats share a collective soul. So as to your question, yes you will see your animal companion in the higher realms upon your departure of this earthly plane.You say that there is no proof but there are thousands of people who have vision, psychic vision and mystical experiences who can affirm this.
JESUS WAS A COOL CAT AND HAD A SOUL SO THE ANSWER IS YES RD1064
Yes, I believe with all my heart that God gave animals souls. I cannot believe any person who has ever shared their life and loved an animal would doubt that they did. I have, however, questioned whether a few people I’ve met have had one…
The very last sentence in 1 Corinthians 15:44 says “If there is a natural body, there is a spiritual body.” NIV
And Job 12:10 says “In whose hands is the soul of every living thing…” KJV.
The Bible also talks about animals believing in God and praising God. The same Bible says “Whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life” John 3:16.
So yes, animals have souls and we will see them again.
According to Jainism, all life, be it plant or animal, has a soul. Just because it’s not concsious, doesn’t mean it’s not alive. While I’m not particularly religious, I do have a strong belief in that! So, when it comes to my beloved cats, there’s no doubt in my mind. When you die, or when your cat dies, the soul moves on, be in reincarnation or heaven, it doesn’t matter. It’s the very thing that defines your existence and who you are.
I beleive that all creatures have a soul and that there is a heaven for them. I lost a cat last year. She was very special to me. She had been very sick all of her life and never really was able to play like my other cats. I took her to the vet on a Thrusday with what I though was just a cold. I left her there because the vet thought that would be best. I was not worried because Halfpint had always gotten better but this time she didn’t. I went to see her on Saturday (I had called every day to ask about her) and I knew something was not right. She was too cold. The vet said that they were have trouble getting her tempature up. That night at work I was setting at my desk and had just dozed off and I felt her on my shoulder like she had been earlier. I was petting her when I woke. The next night she pass in the arms of my vet. Even now I can feel her present at times. It is hard to explain the feelings. She helped me through some really tough times. I beleive that she is with someone else now helping them. What is realy strange is that 2 months after she died her brother dropped dead from a blood clot.
I do beleive that animals have souls and they are here to help us.
Laura
I beleive that all animals have souls. God made all the animals as well as people and I am sure he gave them souls also. Our pets comfort us when we are sad, if they didn’t have souls and care about us they wouldn’t.
Casey
the eyes are the mirror of the soul ora pro nobis
I truly believe that animals have souls. I used to show my 5th graders the movie “What Dreams May Come” because they all experienced some form of violent death in their families. In the movie, the family dog is reunited with the owners. That scene gave many children comfort in knowing their pets went to heaven and that they would see them again. When my beloved Fuzz passed away 7/29/07- I held him in my arms for 8 hrs. until he passed because I didn’t want him to leave this world alone. I gave him love until his last breath and buried him with all the respect and dignity he deserved. My other 4 cats still look for him everyday and have even become even closer to each other – always staying in pairs and looking out for the other. This leads me to believe that they do not live only in the moment and that their souls are God’s gift to man.
Oh yes, I believe that all living things will be re-born (reincarnation) within 7 weeks of their earthly death. All living beings are “recycled” in that way, is my belief (Tibetan Buddhist). And the form of our rebirth (animal, human) depends on the good karma we accumulated during our previous life. Cats seem to live pretty good lives, at least the ones who are loved by humans. I do believe our spirits are re-united in future lives!
A friend adopted an aged golden lab. It began to have trouble climbing stairs. In our country, there is lots of snow. The lab had a deep bed with lots of soft layers and covers. The last day, she climbed the stairs carrying her friend and put her friend into the covers. Late that night, as she was reading, a small golden cloud lined with purple floated in front of her book, and then up and out through the ceiling. No She was not Asleep! Ah, she thought, there he goes to his next place. She checked, and of course, he had died, softly, warmly, peacefully. And she saw it. Lucky lady to be so open……
I HAVE to believe my cats have souls, for what would a hereafter be without them?
I believe that cats and other animals do have souls. They show love and they feel pain and all the emotions that humans do, so why people think they DON’T is beyond me. They were created by God, along with humans, so it just makes sense to me that He would give them the same.
In truth, I believe animals are the closest things to God that is here on earth. We are always thinking of God as all loving & unconditional and isn’t that what are cats give us every day we are blessed enough to have them with us. So yes, I believe with all my heart & soul that our feline furbabies most certainly do have souls.
Perhaps a better question to ask would be, do humans have souls? Or are we just the sum of our biology?
All I can say is that if humans possess souls or a lifeforce, then cats, as living creatures who share this Earth with us, must also have the same thing. Cats feel all we feel and more.
What wonderful people cat lovers are, after reading all your comments, it is so uplifting and gives one a sense of spirituality and love.
I believe cats have souls, their presence is unique and so rewarding, treasure every moment you can share with them, love them, bond with them treat them with kindness, you will be given so much in return. They are only on this earth for a short time, you will miss them and remember their memories. Oh how wonderful it would be to meet them all again some day.
Rene. P.
How could my beautiful, intelligent and sensitive cats not have a soul? Of course they do, and I know we will meet much later on; by the Rainbow Bridge, I believe! After I had my beloved Jack put to sleep (kidney failure), I was so despondent, but every night after that I could feel his paws walking across the king sized bed…I would look up to see nothing there, but I wasn’t imagining it. My younger cat looks at the air and seems to be seeing him, also.
To paraphrase an old adage;” No heaven would never Heaven be, unless my cats were there to welcome me”. Pure love from them makes up for all the unkindness in this world.
According to most christian teachings, humans are the only living things granted a soul. Animals have spirits…..
…..and therein lies the problem. Who appointed Christians as the spokespersons for the universe? Just exactly what is the difference between a spirit and a soul? None, I think. There are many more religions, other than Christianity, that do, in fact, believe that ALL living creatures have souls (or spirits, or whatever one wishes to call the everlasting entity of a life). Life is energy, and energy never goes away, it simply changes form. How can a true Christian believe that a any being created by their almighty god, or a supreme being of some sort, would not have this essence of everlasting life that many of us, regardless of our religions, choose to call a soul? Is not a human merely another animal species? If one believes otherwise, then that one is residing in “Lalaland”. Of course cats have souls, and to deny that, contesting that god granted the human animal an “exclusive” right to a soul, is the highest and most arrogant form of specieism and naivety.
And no, I am not an atheist.
Dear Franny,
Please know your beloved fur babies do indeed have spirits and souls, just like we do. God created this to be so.
I’ve spent time on the other side of this life when I had a near-fatal car accident many years ago.
I’ve felt, seen and heard my little ones who were passing or had just passed from this life. I’m thankful I know they are “alive in spirit”, because last year some people took all my cats from my home and killed them (I didn’t find out officially for 2-3 weeks). I mourn for them even now, as I miss them physically, but know they are OK and we’ll be reunited at some point in time.
For those that don’t believe….read the Bible.
I send you human hugs for your ‘loss’…I know they may not be as good as their hugs, but they come from the heart.
Jetgirl86, thank you!!! I agree with you 100%!!! I am a saved Christian, and for *my* part, I believe that since God knows how much we love our pets, that He will allow them to be there at Home with us!
If we humans have souls, then my cats have souls. Some say that cats have no sense of humor – no real rational thought. But I had a cat who used to do things to scare my other cat – his playmate. He seemed to think them out and when properly done, he would laugh. Well, his whole mouth would turn up and he would sort of snort and wiggle his head around. I’m sure it was a feline version of laughter!
For believers and non-belivers alike, I too recommend the book ANIMALS ON THE OTHER SIDE by Sylvia Brown. It is especialy comforting to give it to someone who has just lost their pet. Our pets are God’s ambassadors who are here to teach us about unconditional love. I expect to see every one of mine on the other side one day.
I’m sure cats have souls. Our Sumo who died this year was such a gentle cat that birds would land beside him and he would just turn his head and look at them. I’d hate to think that birds aren’t doing that somewhere, still
Why wouldn’t animals have souls? Although most are different anatomically to humans they require the same invisible source of life. At the top end of the ‘animal’ species, I strongly believe that we have a responsibility to care for them as we would of our fellow human beings. You bet they have souls,
It has been uplifting to read the comments on animals having souls. I believe also that animals will be in heaven along with our human loved ones.
Hi, it is shocking to me that there are still such humans in the world who arrogantly believe that it is humans alone who are in possession of souls. I have received such warmth and love from animals all through my life and somewhat pity the humans who are ignorant of the depth of love between animal and human. Also, are we not just another species of animal? I certainly do not see humans as higher that other life forms…many of our deeds as a
species would indicate that we are much behind other species in terms of living harmoniously within our environment.
Without getting in to a great theology debate, my opinion is that all animals have souls, but they do not have spirits. There is confusion today of what a soul is and what a spirit is; they are not the same thing. Animals have souls – self-awareness, personality, feel pain, etc., but no spirit as such to commune with God/Jesus Christ. They were not made in the image (spirit) of God as men and women were. All men and women have spirits, however, if they have not been “born again” through Jesus Christ then their spirits are “dead.” When a person trusts the Lord Jesus Christ as his/her savior and all that implies, that person’s spirit is “quickened” by the Lord and the Holy Spirit indwells with your spirit forever; that is where you commune with God.
The Bible says that the greatest thing in the universe is Love. It surpasses anything and everything. Therefore, I believe with all my being that if a “born again” Christian wants/wishes his/her animal to be in heaven with him/her, that animal will be there; love will see to it.
Also, just because Adam and Eve sinned (and the rest of mankind) that does not rule out the possibility that since animals did not sin, that God will have a special place for the animal kingdom, and surely our beloved pets.
To me, a soul is the ability to love without conditions, without reservations, whether the time allotted to the body that houses it has minutes or years.
The only difference between a human soul and a cat’s is the purity of the love.
May we all try to love so unconditionally.
I believe cats have souls. I believe God loved animals and instructed Noah to take 2 of each kind and put them on the ark so they could later reproduce. I include my living cat and all my deceased pets in my prayers daily. I truly believe that all my pets who have gone before me will be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge.
Do cats and other animals have souls. The next time the come up upon your lap start to purr and look into your eyes with, dare I say love THAT should tell you the answer. Who really cares if they do or don’t have souls but they are more capable of love, caring and bonding than most humans.
I have such love for all my kids, departed and the ones still sharing my bed……I don’t want to go anywhere if we can’t be together….and I believe that 1000’s of yrs ago, animals were not part of the family so were not included in any important writing of the time…………
I certainly believe that cats have souls. They have independent thought, feel pain and pleasure, love and dislike, and give comfort and pleasure to their owners. We have four cats, all unique in their own way. Our first cat died of lymphoma after a year of chemotherapy. He fought a brave fight and finally told us when he had enough. If there is a God he must be the God of all of his creatures, not just humans. For what it’s worth, I’ve met many a human who appears not to have a soul.
~~Oh most certainly cats have souls! They know when we are sad, in pain and need some extra loving. Our 3 cats are more loving and have more of a soul than some people I know. How could anyone say or believe that cats or even dogs are souless?
Absolutely, cats and animals have souls! Without them, how could they possibly be the unique personalities, angels, and emotional beings they are?! There is no doubt about it. Thinking otherwise is ignorant and a myth of generations ago when humans didn’t have the capability or understanding to believe otherwise.
As I sit here reading the comments as to whether animals have souls I have tears in my eyes remembering my cats & dog who are now waiting for me at Rainbow Bridge. T truly hope so! Sometimes I have doubts. Thanks.
i believe in a paradise after this life. what would paradise be without our beloved animals? i never knew a kinder soul than my little “shadow”.i know i will be with her again someday and she will be waiting for me, right along with the rest of my family that has already gone to heaven
I believe that all of God’s living creatures have a soul I see it everday in my girls. To have no soul is to have no heart and I believe that our pets, whatever they maybe are god’s gift to us to teach us how to live with a soul.
I have always subscribed to the belief that all of God’s creatures have souls. I have a hard time trying to understand people who think that humans are greater than another creature.
I absolutely believe that cats (and other animals) have souls. I am more spiritual than religious, and have had many a debate with folks who have been “brainwashed” by their places of worship who teach only humans can have souls. Many cultures including the American Indians believe animals have souls. So, yes I definitely do believe they do – be it soul, spirit, afterlife.
PS: I just went back and read many of the other comments: Frankie – I got the goosebumps reading all the “signs” you got about Cheyenne! Really a message there; Tracy – thanks for recommending Sylvia’ book.. I am going to find it as I like her books. Thanks.
This comment by Randy Alcorn appeared in “Christianity Today” some time ago, and it was the best explanation I ever heard:
Humorist Will Rogers said, “If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” This statement was, of course, based on sentiment, not theology. However, it reflects something biblical: a God-given affection for animals.
That’s why the question of whether pets will be in heaven is not, as some assume, stupid. Animals aren’t nearly as valuable as people, but God is their maker and has touched many lives through them. It would be simple for him to re-create a pet in heaven if he wants to. He’s the giver of all good gifts, not the taker of them. If it would please us to have a pet restored to the New Earth, that may be sufficient reason.
We know animals will be on the New Earth, which is a redeemed and restored old Earth, in which animals had a prominent role. People will be resurrected to inhabit this world. Romans 8:21-23 assumes animals as part of a suffering creation eagerly awaiting deliverance through humanity’s resurrection. This seems to require that some animals who lived, suffered, and died on the old Earth must be made whole on the New Earth. Wouldn’t some of those likely be our pets?
In her excellent book, Holiness in Hidden Places, Joni Eareckson Tada says, “If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn’t surprise me. It would be just like him. It would be totally in keeping with his generous character … Exorbitant. Excessive. Extravagant in grace after grace. Of all the dazzling discoveries and ecstatic pleasures heaven will hold for us, the potential of seeing Scrappy would be pure whimsy—utterly, joyfully, surprisingly superfluous. … Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness of joy of our great God, who delights in lavishing love on his children.”
In a poem about the world to come, theologian John Piper writes:
And as I knelt beside the brook
To drink eternal life, I took
A glance across the golden grass,
And saw my dog, old Blackie, fast
As she could come. She leaped the stream—
Almost—and what a happy gleam
Was in her eye. I knelt to drink
And knew that I was on the brink
Of endless joy. And everywhere
I turned I saw a wonder there.
We needn’t be embararassed either to grieve the loss of our pets or to want to see them again. If we believe God is their creator, that he loves us and them, that he intends to restore his creatures from the bondage they experienced because of our sin, then we have biblical grounds for not only wanting but also expecting that we may be with them again on the New Earth.
So let’s not “correct” our kids when they pray they’ll be able to see their pets again. The answer to that prayer is up to God. He loves to hear the prayers of his children, and there is scriptural reason to believe he may answer those prayers. Remember that our children’s instinctive grasp of heaven—and what we should look forward to there—is sometimes better than ours.
All living creatures have souls.This is quite evident to anyone who has had and lost a beloved companion animal.There is even a day reserved for the “blessing of the animals”.Why would the church do that if it was not agreed that animals have souls.The breath of the spirit is in all animals.
I too believe that our lovely pets have souls. What a beautiful place heaven must be when we again are joined by all who have touched our hearts in some way.
Here’s an experience someone told me about.: Her black and white cat was killed when hit by a car. Years later another black and white cat that looked a lot like the cat that was hit by the car showed up in the yard and her house became the new cat’s home. Sometime after one black and white cat was killed and and before the other black and white cat showed up she bought the house she had been living in and renting and some remodeling was done. Part of the remodeling involved changing the entrance door hinges from one side of the door to the other. The black and white cat that showed up years after the other black and white cat was killed insisted on going through the door way as if the door was still hinged on the side it used to be hinged on. Coincidence? Maybe.
My experience.: Around late August or early September of 1973 when I was visiting someone else’s apartment during a party I was bored enough to fall asleep on the couch. When I woke up I
Not sure what happened. continuing from previous.: When I woke up I observed an unusual looking calico cat on the couch. I was petting the kitty and the kitty was meowing and giving me some kitty rubs. I went back to sleep for a while before getting up and going home. Next time I ran across someone who lived at that apartment I asked her how her cat was. She said she didn’t have a cat. In late August 1981 a calico kitten was born at a friend’s apartment(different friend, different apartment) along with two other kittens. At that time I had no thoughts of any correlation or idea what was going to happen but before a year went by I went from going to that apartment to visit the person who lived there to going to that apartment to visit the cat who lived there. When the person who lived there moved away in 1983 I moved in. In 1990 I checked out some astrology and found out that like who turned out to be my favorite singer, Rasper was born with Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Virgo and Venus in Libra, a combination that happens about 1 to 3 times in about 10 to 12 years. When I looked in the ephemeris I found out 1973 was one of those years that Sun, Moon, and Mercury were in Virgo at the the same time Venus was in Libra. An astrological theory exists that whoever enters the world enters the world when the astrological conditions fit and that the the inner planets pertain to the self. From time to time since Rasper kitty died in early August 1999 I have been asking my alternative doctor, who seems to be a psychic, if various cats I have run across are Rasper. So far the answer has always been no except when I asked him about the spiritual cat I had run across in 1973, the answer was yes. Since Rasper died August 8th. of 1999, Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Virgo at the same time Venus is in Libra hasn’t happened except for a very short time window of a few hours or less but in September 2010 it will happen for about two and a half days. It remains to be seen what will happen but it makes sense to me that if people can reincarnate(I’ve had indication they can), cats and all other living beings should also be able to reincarnate and you don’t need to wait for Rainbow Bridge.
Very interesting stories, Henry! I can only say that I pray in 2010 you’ll run into another Raster. Sounds like the odds are good that you will.
“I think God will have prepared everything for our perfect happiness in heaven,” Evangelist Billy Graham writes In Remembrance of A Special Dog. “If it takes my dog being there, I believe he’ll be there.”
The same must be said for my cats as well.
Exploring the topic more deeply . . .
The possibility of non-human morality raises all kinds of questions. It’s hard to deny that some higher animals, such as elephants, dolphins, cats, and dogs, lack altruistic impulses and moral sensibilities. And it’s clear to me that the least ethical man is far inferior in his morals than the most ethical ape. I recently read a news account of a child who had fallen into an ape pit at a zoo. A larger ape gently pulled the unconscious child to safety while fending off the more rowdy juvenile apes. While it’s possible that the ape’s mothering instincts might have kicked in, it seems to me that it was just as possible for her more brutal instincts to kick in as well that would have resulted in the death of the child. In other words, it seems to me that the ape made a moral choice. If it’s true that animals have a moral sense, should we follow in St. Francis’ footsteps and preach to the birds? Do snails have souls? Can animals be redeemed and have a redeemer? (My interlocutor sarcastically asked me, “What are you saying? Is there a Jesus rabbit and a Jesus fox and rabbit crucifixion and a fox crucifixion?”) If there is the spark of the divine within beasts, what then should our relationship be to them? Does human contact with some animals—such as my affection for Rex—imprint on that creature in some way a moral sensitivity? Can we teach animals morality? Should we avoid all foods that once had faces? Ban vivisection? Liberate the barn and zoo animals and pray over the burial of our leather shoes and fur coats? What about intelligent non-human life elsewhere, perhaps in other solar systems? Did they too undergo the passion pageant and if not, how should we regard them? As our moral superiors? (I suspect that if we have the means, we’ll probably try to kill them. But this is an academic question as we have no basis whatever to believe that such life exists. Although I’m an avid science fiction fan, I find no convincing evidence from 7,000 years of recorded history to support the belief that UFOs are real or that space aliens exist, and I consider the search for extra terrestrial life to be a waste of effort and money.) What about artificial life? It may be merely a matter of time before we can code robots to have cognition, consciousness, feelings, superstitions, and theistic longings. Can we manufacture a soul? Can we program an android to have free will? Should we still treat them the same we treat a toaster? I don’t think I have many answers for these questions. But, in general, I think we should treat animals, aliens, and even androids and appliances ethically, as our actions reflect for better or for worse our ethics or our lack of ethics.
In the Turing Game, proposed by Alan Turning in the 1950s, two players are behind a curtain communicating with you by a console. If a robot can be substituted for one the players and it is impossible for you to determine that, presumably that robot will have reached the level of conceptual thought. But I think that this test doesn’t scratch the surface in emulating genuine human consciousness. It would also be more impressive if the android interactions reached the level of self-initiated perfidy, as in the case of HAL, the computer in the movie 2001, or self-directed superstition in the movie AI. Human self-consciousness would have to include all the virtues and vices that we manifest, as well as our inner world of thought, doubt, confusion, dread, greed, dishonesty, intentionality, dreams, speculation, and mysticism. I see no basis for assuming that we are anywhere near that point, even at a rudimentary conceptual level.
If man is merely a more complicated machine that the lower orders going down the smallest bacterium, is man therefore truly unique? What is it exactly that makes man a little lower than the angels and a little higher than the orangutans? And why does this matter so long as we are ethically grounded? If we view man as merely an advanced machine or animal, will it necessarily follow that we must treat men as machines or animals? I think the answer can only be: no. The way we treat anything reflects on our respect for life and on our attitude to man himself. “They are only rats” becomes “They are only Jews.”
Hope has been at war with my reason for my entire life, and this may be a case where hope has won. Ezekiel 18:4 says that God regards that “all souls are mine”, and I’m more certain that Rex had a soul than some folks that have made the headlines. I’m reminded of the Prayer of Saint Basil of Caesarea: “O God, grant us a deeper sense of fellowship with all living things, our little brothers and sisters to whom in common with s you have given this earth as home. May we realize that all these creatures also live for themselves and for you—not for us alone. They too love the goodness of life, as we do, and serve you better in their way than we do in ours.” Lions and lambs are in Heaven, according to Revelation. Romans 8:21 says that all of creation will someday be delivered from corruption, which I take to mean all of nature. James 3:7 talks of man taming all creatures. I was recently saw a sparrow trying to move or comfort a dead or dying bird, an expression of empathy that both startled and impressed me. In two places, Jesus makes references to pets, dogs (Matthew 15:21-28) in one case and birds (Matthew 10:29) in another. My belief in animal souls is in part a retort to my Uncle Ray’s rhetorical verse:
It little matters sparrows
That the Father notes their fall
They die like all the other beats
Both big and great and small
And they might justly wonder
If they could cogitate
Why the Father would simply note their fall
When death is still fate?
Shortly after my cat Rex died, I had a dream in which he was sitting at the end of my bed in a puddle of light, but he looked as healthy as he did ten years earlier. He looked at me with his Cheshire gaze and rumbled a purr. And then the vision melted, but I was left with the feeling that he was letting me know that he was happy and waiting. “My Mom has had several Near Death Experiences over the past twenty-five years,” someone wrote me. “And she saw for herself that animals, too, are as important to God as we are. During Mom’s first NDE while she was reuniting with her own deceased mother, she felt something touching her hand. She looked down and saw a dog nuzzling it. She was simultaneously amazed and thrilled to learn that animals pass over to Heaven to same as us and are held in equally high regard in God’s eyes. Mom almost didn’t recognize the dog because the last time she saw him on Earth, he was quite old and crippled from arthritis. He was healthy and youthful looking in his heavenly body. And he remembered Mom! It felt as though they had never been separated even though so many Earth decades had gone by. Your sweet Rex is very much alive and well in Heaven and will be pushing his way through the welcoming committee to greet you when it is your time. He’s watching over you now!”
The soul has free will to choose right or wrong, the spirit is that spark of life. Humans have souls and spirits, and yes, cats have spirits and will be reunited with us. The last of our 3 long time buddies (a Maine Coon cat with us 19 years) had to be put to sleep in July because of uncontrollable seizures from a heart condition, the year before our 18 year old kitty had kidney failure and 2 years before that our 15 year old kitty who had copd. We loved them all and they each had their own personality. Our church had the blessing of the animals and I took all of them at different times. “Eye has not seen, ear has not hear, what God has ready ready for those who love Him.” I believe that our loving God will reunite with us all those we’ve ever loved, animal or human.
Cat
just a look in their eyes…..a listen to the tone of a meow….the notice of a gentle tap from a paw…the love they give….so many many things….they are not only not less then we are they are more…much much more….
I believe that nothing can be alive without a soul of some kind, as life comes from God & he bestows a little of himself into each living thing to give it life. It is sad that animals do that gift more justice than most humans do.
Coming from a psychic family, we have often seen the spirits of animals (wild & domestic)leave them when they have died in our arms, sometimes from age, sometimes from cruelty, sometimes from accidents. It is then I know for sure that the body has died, but the creature lives on in whatever plane of existence God has chosen for it. In His graciousness, he has allowed me to “see” & be comforted by the animal companions (mostly cats) that have passed beyond the earthly barriers. Yes, cats have souls, as all living creatures do.
Yes i believe cats, dogs and all living creatures capable of giving and receiving love have souls. I had 3 dogs who lived to a good age around 16 years who gave unconditionally love and I truely beleive they are all together now waiting in heaven till we can join them. After I lost them I was in deep despair..I lost two in one day…and when our lord felt I was strong enough to dream about them he showed me them together..all well again and full of life and happiness..all coming to see me and my family..estactic I was at first to see them as my mind could not cope before with dreaming about them as it was too upsetting..I suddenly realised our lord was letting them say goodbye..until the time came for us to be together again..which made me sad again for a while but when I think of how well they are now I realise my sadness for being without them is only selfishness on my part. Now we have 2 cats..and we love them as much as we loved our dogs..and yes they love us back..so yes..I do truely believe cats have souls.
I believe all my furry babies have souls and are more human than most humans I know. They mourn the loss of their companions, both human and furry and they truly love and care for their “families”. I can’t imagine an after life without ALL my family. Boy, will that be a reunion.
Those who believe animals are soulless have never TRULY loved their companions. And those who have never shared their heart with a furry companion have never truly lived. My life has been enriched and full because of the love of my human and furry family.
I don’t know if animals have souls. I only know that if my cats are not in heaven, I don’t want to go there either. They have all been angels here on earth to me and I pray only to meet them all again, somewhere, over the Rainbow Bridge or beyond.
A soul, or a spirit ? I could not tell you which. However any creature that has such a capacity to love and be so lovable, certainly has a place with us on the other side of this existence.
The critical element, is the love and devotion.
I most assurededly hope my passed on Gwyneth, Morwyn, Bannon, Gavonnon,Kiti,Merlin, Sage and those I had to give to the shelter due to disease states are contented and awaiting me beyond. Mfy current Aimee Lynne is a purry tortoiseshell lovey one, not feisty like the others. Except for dinner–is 8am okay mom? how about noon? 2pm? 3pm? are you going in there to cook? Can I have some, I’m starving you know. No Aimee dinner is at 5, it is cooking. Days we have fish for dinner are difficult at best. But when it is her turn I want her to meet me past the Rainbow Bridge where those who never mistrusted or truly disliked me await. Purrry love is the very best kind. Cuddly and warm, I live for it on many dark looking days.
I know my cats Gremlin and Lucie have souls and live on past their life on earth. Both of them have come back to visit me in dreams (and sometimes by jumping on my bed and walking around as they did in life) posthumously. It is very comforting to know they live on and still love and want to reassure me. The most amazing part of this story to me is that Gremlin crossed over several years ago, but his “visits” had become more frequent recently. Right before Christmas I lost Lucie. A week later the two of them came together to visit me. I firmly believe that it was Gremlin’s mission to be Lucie’s guide to the other side.
God is Love and compassion, no doubt in my mind that cats and all other animals have souls and a place in Heaven. They are our best friends, who give us things that our human friends, most of the time are not able to: unconditional love. total dedication and forgiveness, compassion and never betrail. They could follow you to your grave and just give up on living without you. Do you have any friend or relative who would do this?
One only has to look into a cat’s eyes.
My cat pased away of kidney disease yesterday morning. I am very distraught, but this morning I had a dream that she jumped up to nuzzle my face and then quickly jumped away and ran away. I remember seeing her unique little tail as she hopped/ran away. I still feel lonely but I feel better in that she is probably okay now. I also remember thinking at various times with my various cats that they were almost like angels to me because their presnce somehow helped me through some terrible times. I don’t know how they did it but my heart was certainly lighter with my cats in my life.
I really hope cats do have souls and that my lost babies are happy somewhere and waiting for me to join them.
Simply put, just as each creator puts a little of himself or herself into each creation, so, too, does the Divine Creator put a little of Himself into His creation. Of course cats have souls. God made them, didn’t He? His Spirit is infused in all things great and small. How can it be otherwise?
The Roman Catholic Pope John II believed animals have souls. So do other educated religious leaders. Who am I to dispute these learned men, when I am a commoner in intellect compared to their wisdom.
Do animals have souls? Animal is derived from another word anima which means soul, coincidence? I think not. Yes animals have souls. Not souls which need to be saved..for they have not done anyting wrong. They are as pure as God made them, unlike man. Yes, there is a place for all animals in the next emination.
OH YESSSSSS!!!!! I DO ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT CATS HAVE A SOUL AND SPIRIT WITH THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. WHEN MY CAT PASSED AWAY, SHE PAID ME A VISIT ONCE IN A WHILE AS I SAW HER AS A PHYSICAL BODY AND FELT HER PRESENCE, TOO.
It depends on how you define what is a soul. Is a soul exclusively the power to choose between good and evil? Or is a soul the capacity to be a thinking, feeling creature who gives and receives love? Or is a soul merely that same life spark shared by all Creation, plants, insects, reptiles, birds, fishes and mammals, to which people imagine that they are more generously endowed? Yes, I think cats have souls, by all of these definitions. And what they also have is intelligence. Many years ago, when I was only 13, some neighbors had a big grey cat named Cecilia. For years, ever since she was barely more than a kitten herself, Cecelia had brought forth one litter after another. And surely, she now knew what started her endless pregnancies. One day, I was sitting on my back porch and Cecilia came over. She purred and murred, rolled and treaded and meowed to me so beseechingly that I went inside and came out with a little dish of raw hamburger. To my surprise she turned up her nose at it but continued to cry and plead. Her heat season was upon her. She wanted to come inside! But I couldn’t take her in because she was the neighbor’s cat, not mine. Late that night I was awakened by the yowling and shriek of mating cats. The next day, Cecelia came over again. Disheveled, with a bloody nick in one ear, she wouldn’t let me pet her at all. Instead, she looked at me so reproachfully that in all my years, I have never forgotten it. She had begged me to take her indoors and protect from the instincts that held her captive. I had failed her, and she never came over again.
I have lost my cat Albertyn today.He only had 2 years. I had a special connection ith him that sometimes i think he got the bad things away from me. he died after a car hit him, in pain. i feela deep grief
After my cat, Binki, died, about 5 or 6 times within the following 3 months I’d be going to sleep and all of a sudden be showered with a love so strong that it was almost liquid. Each time it felt like Binki. It would last about 15 minutes.
Only once before have I felt love being poured out on me: in Church once, by God.
All my pets have given me great gifts. Binki’s gift was to show me that pets go to heaven.
yes, i beleive animals have soul,they have place in heaven.
I believe any feline creature as wonderful and loveing as my Fluffy, who sadly left me yesterday 02 Aug 08 from ear cancer, has had to be created with a soul and that we will reunited someday in a much better place. If something as imperfect as a human can have a soul, than a perfect creature as a cat must surely have one. He’s now waiting for me in a higher level of existance and our lives have been better for each other’s togetherness. The love of animals is a gift of God and I know he is an angel who has returned to be with all the other animal angels. I hope and praty we reunite.
I believe they absolutely do! Whether or not they are spirits or souls – I believe all the pets I’ve loved in life will be waiting for me “on the other side”.
Having just lost my cat Sonny-my best friend,I can’t imagine such a beautiful,loving animal not having a soul.If cats didn’t have a soul then they would all have the same personalities,they would be like walking robots.Yes,cats have souls!
I think they do but in the bible it says they dont with i dont get.
I had to have my beautiful cat Cleo put down on Wednesday night, and the pain in my heart just will not shift, where has she gone?, who is looking after her? I had her for 21 years and I’m totally distraught!!!!. The messages on this site have helped,
NO, I believe cats do NOT have souls. The western definition of the immortal sould is misleading since we humans do not necessarlily have a soul. The word soul is a religiously made-up word that, in reality, is mistaken for someone’s mojo. A persons mojo is their essence of life. I feel the same can, and is, applied to the feline world. My cat Barney-Buttons has Mojo. When he dies of a catnip binge gone too far (kidding:-)) I’ll meet his MOJO at the rainbow bridge.
I do believe cats have powers, but the Koran specifically sates “Only the rightieous Man, created in the prophet Mohammed’s image shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” To suggest otherwise would be herresy in my opinion.
Can we PLEASE leave out the radical Islam?
I must say that I believe that cats do NOT have souls. I love my seven cats more than life itself and they have helped me cope with tragic personal times from losing my parents at age six to a sinking river boat Booze Cruise gambling trip gone horribly wrong to having both feet amputated due to a freak bungee jumping accident. I’ve only included the issues that I am more comfortable talking about openly. Based on my horrible life experiences, I feel there is no god and therefore no soul – humans or animals. On the positive side, my cats have gotten me through it all!
Cats do not have souls.
I have to say yes, without getting off topic with religion.
I believe that all living, reasoning creatures have a soul of some kind, others are more in tune with their soul like humans.
I believe that kitties do have a soul, watch them at play.
I also believe that the soul continues.
The reason for this idea:
I had a lovely tortiseshell kittie named Abby.
When I rescued her from the Humane Society, she had been tortured by her previous owners (kicked her and cut her tail off to a nub).
She wasn’t quite 6 months old, but the terror in her eyes concerning people, told me that she reasoned, felt and feared.
Over the following 18 years & 6 months.
I saw that fear leave and trust come into her eyes.
The night she pasted away, she came into the bedroom, to the side of the bed, she gave a couple of meows and laid down and pasted away.
I believed she wanted to say good-bye to the one human that been kind to her
For a couple weeks after her passing, I thought I felt her jump on the bed, walked to the head of the bed and laid down in her favorite spot.
That was probably just my imagination or was it?
Yes, I do think kitties have souls…
If acts have souls, and I think they do, it’s logical to say that there is a cat heavan and a cat hell. Where do the cats that have lived a life of sin end up?
Ch’aim – as a devout Christian whose accpeted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I can tell you with absolute certainty that there is a heaven for ALL God’s creations. Conversely, there is a hell. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. WWJD? Tyler
What????
I just lost my best friend. Baxter, a gorgeous Maine Coon and I lost our battle with chronic renal failure yesterday. We fought the good fight, but his condition worsened, and I could not bear to see my furry child suffer. He died peacefully in my arms yesterday afternoon.
Not only do I strongly believe that cats and dogs have souls, I also believe they reside in Heaven. I am very passionate in this belief. As I have told God many times – if our cats and dogs are not welcome in Heaven, neither am I.
I believe they have souls,they are like little angels with wiskers.
I even asked in a Catholic forum if I would be able to see my kitty once again in Heaven,since God has a gigantic Garden for us all,and I remember someone said to me:
Animal is a word that comes from “Animas” which means “spirit”..They are souls,capable to love with no limits.”
I hope toreunite with my beloved Meni,with her I shared the nicest moments of my life,we had a unique bond,she was an amazing cat.
I had her for 15 years until she passed away due to a lung desease.
I loved her so much,I`m 23 years old now, but I had her since I was in 2nd grade…I even wrote a poem about her.
I got married a year before she died and then I had to move to another country,so I couldn`t be with her when she passed away.
I was so sad I promised myself to never have a cat again, but then I realised that my love for Meni could grow into another kitty..It`s strange, but me and my husband will soon get a kitty girl whose beautiful honey coloured eyes resemble a lot to Meni´s.
I do believe is a message from God telling me that Meni is up there playing around in His garden,waiting to meet me again,someday.
I believe they have souls,they are like little angels with wiskers.
I even asked in a Catholic forum if I would be able to see my kitty once again in Heaven,since God has a gigantic Garden for us all,and I remember someone said to me:
Animal is a word that comes from “Animas” which means “spirit”..They are souls,capable to love with no limits.”
I hope toreunite with my beloved Meni,with her I shared the nicest moments of my life,we had a unique bond,she was an amazing cat.
I had her for 15 years until she passed away due to a lung desease.
I loved her so much,I`m 23 years old now, but I had her since I was in 2nd grade…I even wrote a poem about her.
I got married a year before she died and then I had to move to another country,so I couldn`t be with her when she passed away.
I was so sad I promised myself to never have a cat again, but then I realised that my love for Meni could grow into another kitty..It`s strange, but me and my husband will soon get a kitty girl whose beautiful honey coloured eyes resemble a lot to Meni´s.
I do believe is a message from God telling me that Meni is up there playing around in His garden,waiting to meet me again,someday.
I would also like to add that I hope to reunite with my other pets:my three beautiful birds(including my budgie Bonita)my hammie Valentina and my two beautiful goldfish M and F:I had them for seven years,when M died, F didn`t move for three days…and some people want us to believe they don`t have a spirit!
How can an eternal God who created all that is, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:3, create anything that isn’t eternal?? The human mind doesn’t grasp eternal as God does. However, if God created all by His power & His power (it’s essence) is eternal, is there really anything to decide? All is eternal. Does it end up in heaven, a new earth, or where….no one can fully define. Our minds here are unlimited but we can’t put our limits on God.
Yes, I believe that animals have souls which survive death. I think that the more highly evolved cats can appear to us after their death. My experience with this phenomenon occurred the first time I arrived at the home of a friend, a highly evolved soul herself, for a weeks visit. We were standing in the family room when I noticed a dog, which I didn’t know they had, in the backyard. I knew that they had a snapping turtle in a tank in the same room, the only pet that I knew of.
I asked her, how many pets do you have? Somewhat puzzled, she said, “Two — how many did you think we had. I replied, I only knew of Turtle, but now I see Maggie (the dog), and a rather ill-looking black cat sitting on the fence.
Only a bit surprised, my friend told me that her black cat had been ill and died the past December. I believe that it appeared at that time to welcome me. I then realized as well that the fence was chain link and the only creature which could have perched on it in a physical body would have been a bird.
Yes I believe they have souls, When my loved ones pass, I always feel them around me for a while, then I believe they move on, Saturady my precious kitty died, and I feel him around me now. He’ll move on, perhaps to await with my friends and family that have passed as well, But for now, I will treasure the “sense” of sprout by my side. It helps me through the saddness.
hello,YES!!!I truelly beleve that ALL animals have a soul!!!And the reason why i beleve this is because animals(including our cats) are PURE.They don’t do the things that we do,animals don;t sin so they go to the rainbow bridge when they die,i know it’s a sad place without them,but we’ll see them again soon!!!!lori
YES I believe cats have souls! When my beloved Shooter died I saw a light of some sort leave his eyes. It was very plain and went from the right side of his right eye then passed through his left eye and then out and the vet then listened for the heart beat and he was gone. He used to ’see’ things I couldn’t…he’d try digging into the wall for no reason or watch things move that I could not see. I can’t imagine our loving God not allowing these “angels” to be with us when we leave this world!
I had 2 twin calico cats. One died. A couple weeks later I was cleaning the house and ran all the cats out in the yard and shut the door. Went to get my mop and bucket and headed for the bedroom. Opened the door and there was the calico cat lying on the pillow looking out the window. I thought to myself….Oh darn how did you get back in? I called her to me so I could put her back out. She got up off the pillow and ran to me and disappeared when she got about 2 feet away. I had no idea I was looking at my deceased cat until that happened. So call it what you will……soul or not……..she came back.
attending a christian organization at school we talked about a book called the sex god, Ok this doesnt look like it relates to the subject, but I think it does. Angels are pure and are souls or whatever and animals do not have souls and will mate with anything humans are in between, we have souls but we are expected to fight against sin (sex before marriage) and such, I dont think that a soul makes up who you are, that is a spirit, everything has one, but a soul gives you a will to go against your instinct..if that makes sense
So the question is: Do cats have souls? My response is, ‘of course they do.’When two hearts are beating affectionately as one and the response is a mutual, loving and caring feeling that is exchanged, well then as far as I am concerned, this is two souls connecting, whether feline, dog or human. All Souls are intelligent beings because first, they were created by Heavenly Father; and secondly, because they have the ability to acquire knowledge; and in addition, learn how to impart that knowledge for teaching purposes, or to share as a gesture of friendship to close acquantances. Because I have fond memories of my cat and miss her dearly since her passing 3 weeks ago, goes to show that our souls are still connected. I just hope that she is not missing me as much as I have been missing her. You know the saying; ‘If you fret, they will too.’The good news is, that I will see and be with her again in her ressurrected form, and I will carry on with her the same association that I had here with her, as though death had never occurred. She will look and feel the same but she will be perfect, never to taste of death again. I have faith in this, and I look forward to this triumh day.
No, but neither do humans. Life on earth is precious to me, but when you die, you die. It’s been like that for forever, and it’s just the way life IS. Not try to sound pessimistic, but that’s my personal beliefs.
I most definitely believe cats have souls. To me a soul is that very essence of life. It is that spark that gives us each a personality and controls our feelings. Cats have this spark and they have emotions just like humans. They get sad, happy, and even embarassed. I also believe that spark is a form of energy that will be transferred elsewhere after we are gone. I cannot wait to be reunited with my pets.
yea i believe that cats have souls they come from a distant pass and they remember.
Yes, Animals have souls without a doubt. I am a spiritual person who loves God, Jesus, humans and creation. I have had animals all my life and never picture me without them. I love to garden and know the connection we all share as HIS creation. Just look into their eyes and you see their souls. If you really look you know they understand you.
I lost my beloved cat, Sheba. We were very close to each other. I tried to comfort her and heal her after she was operated on for
breast cancer. The operation gave us more precious time together. But cancer reared its ugly head again as it did with my late dear father.
I slept with her on the floor when she was dying and, painfully, I held her
in my arms when the vet had to put her to sleep. I miss her very much and I will never
forget her.
I know that someday we will be reunited with dear family members, friends, and, of course, our beloved pets in heaven. The veil of tears
will lift up and there will be great joy shared once again. No more pain, suffering or imperfections just pure joy as the Creator wants for us.
Since her death a few weeks, she has visited me. She knows I am having trouble saying
“Goodbye”. The other cats know she has left
this earthy place and know when she comes back. They sit up at attention and gaze at the bedroom door where she would appear at night to join us on the bed. Her visits are
not as frequent now and the other cats have been sleeping very close to me at night to
comfort me.
I have written s short story and I am trying
to get it published. Perhaps, it can help others and give then comfort.
Animals are angels “without” wings and when they past on they “regain” their wings once more and return to earth to watch over us and comfort us once more.
Lory
I don’t believe cats (animals) have souls. I think they are more perfectly created by God and don’t need souls. It is only logical to me that if God created animals for Adam to name in Heaven; there must be a place and a purpose for them in the afterlife. I believe it is in their perfection that they automatically ascend to Heaven and wait for us there…..I refuse to believe anything else.
I lost my cat Caponie this past saturday, She was the light of my life for 20 years. She gave me so much joy, happiness and love she has to have a soul you could see it in her eyes. The cutest little black cat. My heart is broken. I love and miss her so very much. I know she is in Heaven and someday I will be with her again.
We don’t have ‘Souls’! We are the Soul & we possess a material body of some shape or form.
Whether it be a cat , dog , horse , pig or human body etc.
In order for ‘Matter’ (material energy) to display symptoms of life there has to be a ‘Spirit Soul’ present within that body of ‘Matter’ & then we will display various things like emotion , growth , ageing , decay & finally death of the body but not the soul.
This is not some airy fairy idea or theory it’s simply a fact!
Just like water is inherently wet or sand dry etc.
These just simple facts which you either accept or you simply continue with mental speculation or as i like to call it , mental masturbation!
I believe with all that I am that they do have souls, how can anyone say otherwise? You look into their eyes and you see love, you see contentment, you see their need and love for you. How can a creature that loves you so not have a soul? I have lost many cats and one that has hurt the most was Tele, my 16yrs old. He passed away only a few days ago (19th May 2009)and has left a huge hole in my heart which I know will never be filled until I see him again in the afterlife. Hearing that most believe gives me a good feeling that he is waiting for me to hold him and cuddle him again as he would know that I would never stop loving him.
All beings are souls, human and nonhuman, or, all beings, human and nonhuman are all meerly a chemical reaction, I don’t know which. I hope that we all are souls that way I have the chance of meeting with my friends once again. Certainly (if) humans are beings with a soul then so are animals of that I have no doubt.
Since caring for my first cat, Dusty, I have believed cats have souls. After his passing, I would sense “something” jump up on the bed at night, as a cat would have done, and seen his shadow. I lost my beloved Gizmo on Xmas Day 2008, aged 15. I always believed he was an “angel” cat and whenever I was sick he used to come and lie down beside me until I felt better, he was the gentlest and most intelligent cat I ever knew. I saw him in a lucid dream the other day and was delighted to see he had white angel wings on his back as though to confirm to me my belief that he was an angel soul and would always be around to protect me and my family.