Shadow Says Goodbye in a Dream

Earlier this week, Ann and I said goodbye to Shadow, our 17+ year old kitty.  I've written before about Shadow's uncanny ability to enter my dream state.  If interested, you can read (or watch) more here: the-cat-mama-and-my-telepathic-reality-straddling-cat.html

After consulting with his vet about a rapid decline in his health, we made the tough decision to schedule a euthanasia appointment.  He had stopped eating and his mobility has declined to the point where he was essentially spending nearly all of his time sleeping in a corner of our master bedroom closet.  The appointment was set for Monday morning, December 10.  We appreciated the opportunity to spend a few final days with him over the weekend.

I dreamed of Shadow on that Monday morning, just hours before his expected departure from the physical world.  This was a non-lucid dream -- meaning that I did not realize I was dreaming until I woke up from it.  In the dream, I was lying in bed on my back.  In this respect, the posture of my dream body in the dream was identical to the posture of my physical body in waking life.  Then I was amazed to see Shadow jump up on the bed and approach me.  I was surprised because he had been lacking such mobility and agility in waking life.  He curled up on the left side of my body and I started to pet him.  It was a tender moment.  Then I woke up and realized that this was a dream.  I knew immediately that this was Shadow's way of saying goodbye to me.

We love you, Shadow.  Peace be with you, sweet kitty.