Do animals’ spirits live on after they die?

Yes, you believe that the spirits of we humans can live on after our bodies die. But what about animals? Do animals’ spirits live on after they die?

I don’t know if animals have a soul or not; I tend to believe they do not. But a spirit? Certainly. Does the animal’s spirit live on after their body dies?

I never thought much about this, if anything, in my younger years.

When my girls were little tykes, we adopted a kitten. We named him Sam, after Dr. Wagner. Sammy was soon my cat. He allowed the kids to share the couch with him but when the house lights faded, he tip-toed into my bedroom and leaped upon my bed.

My usual custom was to read before sleep. Sammy’s usual custom was to step onto the pages of my book, over and over again, until I gave in, put the book down and shut out my bedside lamp.

After I snuggled under the covers, Sammy walked up onto my pillow and curled his body around the top of my head. Yup, Sammy was my boy.

As we ate dinner one evening, our neighbor, John, knocked at our door.

Sammy, who never ventured out of our yard, was behind John’s garage. He had died.

We buried him under a tree, near the wood line. We thanked him for the time he had spent with us and told him how much we loved him and how much we were going to miss him.

I never considered the possibility that a dead cat might hear us, that his life might continue, out of the body. No, I did not imagine that the spirit of my cat, might live after his death.

A few years later, I became very ill with pneumonia. Close to death, I believe. The doctor in the ER insisted that I be admitted to the hospital. I, however, insisted I must go home with the girls. Whereupon, the doctor agreed to keep me for 4 hours and give me some IVs. He had me sign paperwork that I had refused admission and would not hold the hospital responsible…

I returned home. During the night, my fever raged. Lord knows I was dreadfully ill. Weak and propped up on pillows, I was barely able to move in the bed.

Amazed, I felt Sammy leap up onto the bottom of my bed. Was I crazy? My cat had died! Do animals’ spirits live beyond their death? Can animals come back and visit us?

Sammy, my cat, walked beside my body and up onto my pillows. He curled his prone body around my head. I tried to reach up and pat him, but I was just too weak.

Sometime later, I woke to realize my fever had broke. No more sweating and chills. I realized I was going to live.

Then I felt Sammy rise and walk beside my body. I reached out and patted down his sleek back as he continued his walk down to the bottom of my bed.

I heard his weight hit the hardwood floor and he was gone.

I realized Sammy had somehow known how ill I was and had come to stand guard over me. Perhaps for no other reason than for the comfort he knew I would find in his love for me.

Do animals’ spirits live beyond their death? Can their spirits visit us? I would have to say yes.

That I did not ask for his visit, or even think of Sammy, it says a lot for his awareness of what was going on with us, his living family members. Further, it speaks volumes for his devotion to me.

I love you too, Sammy! And I sure hope there really is a Rainbow Bridge.

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