Jane mourned the recent death of her beloved pet cat Sweetie, but was happy when she occasionally heard Sweetie’s meow around the house. I was glad to hear that, too, because Jane loved and spoiled that cat and, in her own diva-like way, Sweetie loved Jane for treating her like a queen. But after several weeks, Jane became concerned – did Sweetie’s continued presence mean she had not crossed over to the other side?
Sweetie was a Russian Blue tuxedo cat with the softest, most velvety fur a cat could have. (I have to take my husband’s word for it, because I’m allergic to cats and never petted her). As a youngster, she loved running around outside and bringing home chipmunks, field mice and little birds. When she got older, she went outside less often, and in her last few months, she mainly stayed on the first floor of the house, napping on the floor behind the couch or perched in a cushiony little bed placed by a window overlooking the back yard.
Near the end, Sweetie had trouble digesting food and her weight dropped to less than three kilograms – at her peak, she’d weighed over six. Sweetie whimpered and was listless and during her last visit to the veterinarian, the doctor called the 15-year-old a “geriatric cat,” and said she probably had just a few more days to live. Her death was inevitable, and Jane decided to ease Sweetie’s pain and give her a peaceful and loving passing.
I could hear Jane’s tears as she described her last moments with Sweetie: “I gently rubbed her, and told her how much she meant to me and how much I loved her. And I told her, ‘You’re going to see a rainbow, and you’re going to over that rainbow. And when you get to the other side, you’ll be in heaven. And I hope you’ll wait there for me when it’s my time to go over the rainbow, because I’d love to be with you again.”
The doctor then came with the injection, and in a few moments Sweetie was at peace.
We visited Jane to support her after Sweetie’s passing, and continue to talk or chat by email. A few days ago, she emailed, “I still occasionally hear Sweetie meowing or crying when I awaken. Do you think she didn’t pass over and is hungry or still in pain?”
I told her No, Sweetie was not in pain – physical pain belongs to the physical body, not the soul. As her physical body no longer exists, Sweetie can no longer feel this pain. Her soul, just as with everyone’s soul, is made of energy, and energy does not feel sensations – it is just energy.
“Sweetie’s soul is now in heaven,” I said, using Jane’s terminology. “And I think she just misses you and ‘Meows’ from time to time to check in and let you know she’s okay now, and she still thinks about you and loves you.”
Jane had another thought: If some people do not cross over into the light for various reasons, then is it possible that some pets may not cross over?
I thought a moment before answering. “I believe when it comes to humans, a person makes a conscious choice not to cross over for many reasons – perhaps because of guilt, feelings they’re not ‘good enough’ to get into heaven, atheistic ideas they may have, or anger at God or they love their earthly surroundings and want to stay. I don’t think animals – though they are smart –reason at that higher level to make a philosophical decision. Animals live more in the moment than people do, and I don’t think animals think and worry about their impending demise, like we do. They accept their death when it happens, then move on. For example, I don’t think a dog would think it was too evil to go to heaven because it bit the mailman – the dog was just a dog and got excited for some reason at the moment.”
Jane’s voice was lighter, and I could tell she was relieved. “Ok, thanks for the reassurance,” she said, and we chatted a bit on more mundane things before saying our goodbyes.
Over the years, I’ve done dozen of readings where I’ve brought through people’s animals, from horses to snakes – who would’ve thought a snake had a personality? If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s our pets never forget us, and I hope Jane continues to hear a meow from heaven again and again.
If you have any questions or comments on this subject or on any other spiritual matter, feel free to write me at mail @ carolynmolnar.com. And please visit me again!