Pets can sometimes be an indicator that “something” is up.  Are our pets more sensitive to audio, visual, emotional and changes in the environment because their senses are more acute?

 Our veterinarian once mentioned during an office visit that our pets most probably know our routines and emotions better than we know ourselves.  With a laugh, she said, “What else do they have to do other than observe your every move?”

People have reported repetitive alerts or warnings to their humans, a dog that barks just before a certain person calls on the telephone, pets assigned to those subject to seizures, a cat taking perch on a window sill just minutes before the owner arrives home, one of April’s dogs, Sandy does not jump in the pool unless to warn them of an impending storm.

 Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist has suggested that pets communicate with their humans telepathically or what he calls “morphic fields”.  www.sheldrake.org/

Quoting our good friend Matt of North Florida Paranormal Research, “It’s not too far fetched to say they may also be able to sense energy in an area that we may not.”

We may want to consider picking up a camera or video cam when our pets seem to be chasing or playing something unseen, but take care to rule out small insects, dust and other minute items before getting too excited.

One evening Max and Maggie (our cats) took note of something and proceeded to chase what I could not see.  The camera just happened to be handy so I snapped pictures as they gave chase.  The cats were excited, I was excited, I remember thinking of Annie Potts in the movie Ghostbusters as she shouted, “we got one” – I too thought I had “one”.  The adrenalin quickly subsided as a small housefly landed on my camera with the cats following right behind…

Not long ago on a Sunday morning, Max and Maggie joined me in the den to catch up on the news.  The three of us settled in the recliner.  Max suddenly became alert, he was focused intently on something Maggie and I were not seeing.  Max proceeded to give chase, jumping and climbing on anything in his path aggressively in pursuit of something he felt worthy of his time.  So finally I decided to check it out, expecting that darn housefly or even dust blowing from the heating vent in the area.  The vent was ruled out, the heat was not on and no insect could be detected.  Max refused to be distracted by my husband or myself.  This is when I decided to grab the camera.

Normally if I leave a room, both cats tag along in hopes of a treat.  Not this time, Max kept after his prey.  Max normally a quiet fella, was being very vocal, at times he would duck as if something was buzzing around his head, several times he would crouch low as if ready to pounce.  At one point Max slid from a chair, almost as if he was being moved.  Once on the floor he stared into the air just above his head.   This behavior continued for approximately a half hour, then as quickly as it began, it ceased. 

Multiple attempts by “his” humans nor his sister, Maggie, deterred his mission.  Just as the aggressive, vocal behavior began, it stopped.  Max sat on the floor, looked up, and cocked his head to one side as if to say, “where’d it go?”

Either Maggie was not privy to what Max was seeing or she chose not to be reprimanded for jumping and climbing in places not allowed – her focus, like mine remained on Max so I assume she did not “see”.

The following photos were taken during this event.  The photos were difficult due to his constant movement.  In one photo taken from Max’s line of vision to an area he was watching intently has a bright orb.

Date: February 2, 2003

Time: approximately 8:00am to 8:30am

Temp: indoor 64 degrees

Camera: HP315

Stats: not verified

Moon: waxing crescent