Opinions & advice: can pet souls be 'lost'?

Hi all, I apologize for what may be an odd question. I understand everyone's answers and feelings will be different based on your faith and experiences. Recently I had to put my sweet 5 year old kitty Toffee down. He was a perfectly healthy cat that we had adopted only three months ago, and he was diagnosed with very late stage cardiomyopathy and heart failure. He deteriorated very rapidly, even on every possible medication and no longer responded to his diuretics. So when he wasn't able to comfortably breathe anymore, we had him put down. We loved this cat very much, even after such a short time with him, and it was extremely traumatic for us.

What made it worse was that he had a less than usual euthanasia. Likely due to his heart complications, it took him a long time and several sedatives to actually fall asleep (before the actual injection). I've seen this happen occasionally since I'm a vet assistant and some animals just have these odd reactions to sedatives. But he was somewhat agitated and anxious before finally drifting off. Once the injection was given, he went peacefully, but it was somewhat upsetting beforehand. It's been less than a week since we put him down, and it feels surreal.

Here's where it relates to my question. I ended up having an awful dream last night. Toffee was crying for me, and I couldn't find it. I ended up in this very very dark cave, like a cavern. I felt so sad in the cave. And I could hear him crying from down in the cavern for help, but I could never reach him. I ended up there several times following the sound but couldn't ever reach him, I was just helpless listening to him call out.

I know that this is most likely just my emotions about the whole thing playing out in my dreams, but I feel awful. I'm terrified that somehow it's a sign that his soul is lost somewhere in between life and death, maybe because his euthanasia didn't go routine. I personally don't know how I feel about afterlife, and I've always been fine with that. But I feel tortured right now wondering if that's what the meaning of this dream is.

Any words of advice, opinions, etc. Are greatly appreciated. I hope this post does not offend. I'm just trying to find some sense of understanding in all this. Thanks

im not saying this is true but... i heard that for a while souls of the dead can linger before passing on. and that animals will join as part of a larger consciousness for that animal. its hard to let him go but im sure he knows you love him. the euthanasia was just a small tiny blip of his whole life. i see people get sedated for surgeries, and sometimes its rough and you'd think they wouod remember sincr they were alert etc.... but they rarely do. you did your best for your baby. he won't stay lost. if youre really concerned it might make you feel better to just light a candle for him and tell him to move on and that you love him?

Thanks for the advice, StudentKitty. I think I will do that to both try and help him pass on, and ease my grief.

I can understand how you feel about this, I would probably feel the same way, almost "incomplete" with it. I hope that with time it fades, like Student Kitty said light a candle, and just sit quietly, clear your mind, think of him, and let him communicate with you, you will be amazed at what can happen. I have had MANY experiences like this where I get tuned in and cats who have passed in a very emotional way have "spoken" to me almost like a mental "conversation", and I talked to a friend who is a psychologist about it and he said "it's like the monks say, we are like radar, it's out there we just have to receive it" and he is right. I know people must think I'm wacky, but I have done this many times, sometime with my grandmother who passed in 2009 and she also could receive these "impressions" , I just get "images" not actual "pictures" all the time of people or pets, but I know who they are and I just let the conversation flow, I could list so many things on here that have happened but it would take weeks to explain, but it happens. After Sebastian died, and I was thinking about getting Sylvester, I had one of these "impressions" where my Grandmother and Sebastian came to me, Sebastian's image to the left, Nana on the right, and his image was just like a black cloud, black like he was, and it moved in closer to me and twice I got the message "do it.....do it!", and I said "I get the message buddy, I WILL get him" and thank God I did as he was in a bad situation but now is great. 

I know this might be a lot to comprehend and may sound crazy, but it is true, and we all have the ability to "tune in", just relax, open your mind, clear your head and let it flow. I also have worked with Cindy Wenger who is a pet communicator, you can Google her and see what she is all about; she has told me and others things that there is NO WAY that she would know unless she is legit!

Good luck to you, I pray you and he find Peace and you will.....

The dream you had was because of your not understanding why all this had to happen the way it did, but is a part of the grief process and something you have to work through.  You 'lost' Toffee, and in your dream you were trying to contact him again. But death is final and that is why you could not find him in that dark cavern that you know as the unknown and death. It brings up questions about your own mortality and is very frightening and makes you feel helpless and very afraid.

The bond you formed with that sweet boy is very strong, embrace any contact at all from him, he may be trying to give you comfort, knowing you are so broken hearted, but it is not of this physical world and is now on a spiritual level. Like love, this bond cannot be felt or held, you just have to accept it and know he is still with you and will be until the day you die. The 'essence' that was Toffee is free now, it is not bound by physical restraints, nor 'caught' between worlds of life and death, he is soaring wherever he wants to go because that physical body no longer binds him to this earth at all.

 He knew he was loved and wanted, that is all he ever wanted or needed, and he would never want you to be sad when remembering him. Celebrate knowing him at all,  it would have been a tragedy to have never have had him in your life at all. Know he will be nearby when you need him, you will forever hold him in your loving heart, My heart cries for the pain you are going through, please know there are many who will share your pain and make it more bearable. Take care.......RIP beautiful Toffee, you will never be forgotten, and you know you were loved so very much. Please send comfort to the one who misses you so very much!

growlithe66 said:

Hi all, I apologize for what may be an odd question. I understand everyone's answers and feelings will be different based on your faith and experiences. Recently I had to put my sweet 5 year old kitty Toffee down. He was a perfectly healthy cat that we had adopted only three months ago, and he was diagnosed with very late stage cardiomyopathy and heart failure. He deteriorated very rapidly, even on every possible medication and no longer responded to his diuretics. So when he wasn't able to comfortably breathe anymore, we had him put down. We loved this cat very much, even after such a short time with him, and it was extremely traumatic for us.

What made it worse was that he had a less than usual euthanasia. Likely due to his heart complications, it took him a long time and several sedatives to actually fall asleep (before the actual injection). I've seen this happen occasionally since I'm a vet assistant and some animals just have these odd reactions to sedatives. But he was somewhat agitated and anxious before finally drifting off. Once the injection was given, he went peacefully, but it was somewhat upsetting beforehand. It's been less than a week since we put him down, and it feels surreal.

Here's where it relates to my question. I ended up having an awful dream last night. Toffee was crying for me, and I couldn't find it. I ended up in this very very dark cave, like a cavern. I felt so sad in the cave. And I could hear him crying from down in the cavern for help, but I could never reach him. I ended up there several times following the sound but couldn't ever reach him, I was just helpless listening to him call out.

I know that this is most likely just my emotions about the whole thing playing out in my dreams, but I feel awful. I'm terrified that somehow it's a sign that his soul is lost somewhere in between life and death, maybe because his euthanasia didn't go routine. I personally don't know how I feel about afterlife, and I've always been fine with that. But I feel tortured right now wondering if that's what the meaning of this dream is.

Any words of advice, opinions, etc. Are greatly appreciated. I hope this post does not offend. I'm just trying to find some sense of understanding in all this. Thanks <3

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I'm so sorry for your loss. 

You are grieving. This dream is a manifestation of your grief. Of the guilt you feel over Toffee's passing and the fact that it took longer than usual and the fact that despite your best efforts, he still passed. 

He is not lost. Animals are much higher up on the chain than we are spiritually and emotionally. They are sent here to teach us things that we'd never figure out on our own. They are furry little Angels that are sent to us on loan- not for keeps.  I have no doubt whatsoever that he made it across the bridge in a heartbeat and he was met by animals and people who will help him adjust and will care for him until the day comes when you and he are reunited and you can take over- and you WILL see him again one day when the time is right. When that day comes, he will tell you that he does not blame you for his passing, he will thank you for all the love and friendship you gave him and he will tell you that the decision you made to help him cross over was the right one. You were the best friend he could have had at a time when he really needed a friend the most.

I do understand completely how you feel as I had a similar dream about my late DH not long after he passed and I know that he made it to the other side. it was just my feelings of guilt and my grieving that caused it to happen. He was not in "limbo" and neither is Toffee. 

The bond that you formed with Toffee is unbreakable- death is like hitting a pause button. Everything is still there but it just stops temporarily and then resumes when it is supposed to. Toffee loves you very much and he always will. Right now you need to hold onto every memory you have of the time you had. Every snuggle, every silly thing he did to make you laugh and of course, all the mischief he caused because as we all know, they are all so good at that. 

Please try to stop blaming yourself foe his passing. What you did for him was the ultimate act of compassion. He is free now. He is playing over at the bridge with new and old friends. He will watch over you with much love for the rest of your life. He is no longer sick and he will never feel pain again. Now you need to take care of YOU. Be kind to yourself. He would not want anything else. 

RIP Toffee. You will never be forgotten. 

I'm very sorry to hear about Toffee.  He isn't lost.  I believe the dream came because he is understandably so much on your mind.  You miss him.

I have a high pressure job; I have to get it right.  Sometimes, I have nightmares that I've made a terrible mistake.  If you think back, I bet you've had dreams like that, too.  What is on your mind throughout the day can certainly come back to you at night. 

You were a blessing to Toffee.  He is at peace now.  My prayers are with you. 

Thank you all for your kind responses. Sorry for the huge delay- I have been so busy, and have pretty much no free time lately between work and school.

I am feeling a little better about Toffee, but some days are still very tough. I know we did the right thing, but we miss him so much and all the sweet little things he used to do.

Thank you for your interpretations. They mean a lot, and they help me make sense of it all.

growlithe66 said:

Thank you all for your kind responses. Sorry for the huge delay- I have been so busy, and have pretty much no free time lately between work and school.

I am feeling a little better about Toffee, but some days are still very tough. I know we did the right thing, but we miss him so much and all the sweet little things he used to do.

Thank you for your interpretations. They mean a lot, and they help me make sense of it all. <3

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Of course you miss him. He misses you too. Just try to hold onto those memories because I assure you that he will hold onto every wonderful memory he has of you forever. Talk about him all you like. We understand.