Cat Cats
Catching mouse – Cattery – Claws – Cat’s Tail
Fear of –
Kitten –
Because a cat is often an easy source of physical contact and affection it can depict the need to be cared for and warm affection, even sexual love accompanied with intense warm feelings.
But cats live by their own wits and do not need an owner to walk or care for them, just food and comfort. So a cat can represent a form of street wisdom learned through stress.
You may have felt a lot of affection from a cat, and so associate it with sensual, or even sexual pleasure. It can also represent your need to care for someone or be cared for, to have close physical contact.
Example: ‘I went to the fridge to get out some mincemeat to feed the cat. It came in. As it fed I had a strong urge to touch it, such strong feelings of love were pouring out of me. The animal looked up at my face as I wanted to kiss it. The lips had pink lipstick on. I kissed it, it’s paw came up around my arm, I could see the black claws. We were rolling around on the floor, it felt very sexual.’ Monica.
A male cat can represent male sex drive.
For some women cats are a substitute baby, it is therefore used in many dreams to represent a woman’s urge or need to care for someone, or directly her need to reproduce, or be involved in sex. Therefore it is often used to signify a woman’s creativity, which is a very real part of a woman’s makeup. It is obviously linked with sexuality as that is a woman’s creative process, but it doesn’t have to be sexual as it can flow in any direction she chooses. So it can flow into creating a real or dream baby, or become a creative project or business idea.
The cat can therefore also link with refined female sexuality or ruttiness unless the cat is markedly a tom. See A Woman’s Creative Power
The term ‘catty’ refers to a spiteful woman, showing one’s ‘claws’, jealousy, anger or vindictiveness in a relationship. In this aspect it might refer to ones mother; independence; stealth; fertility. So if the cat in your dream is angry it might depict yourself if female, or feelings about a female friend.
Because cats are independent and often alone, they may represent the secret part of yourself, or independence. See: Kitten; Animal;
In a man’s dream it may refer to a woman or to the female, intuitive side of his nature. The cat can be your intuition and feelings, perhaps warning you, through its sensitivity to moods, or unseen dangers. In some dreams it indicates cattiness – showing one’s ‘claws’, jealousy, anger or vindictiveness in a relationship. It might refer to your mother, independence, stealth, or fertility.
In some dreams the cat definitely represents the fear of bad news or general fears, especially if it is a black cat.
If you have bred cats it may well represent your own, perhaps unconscious, desires to have a baby.
Jungians see the cat as representing a deep psychological secret, a hidden side of ones nature, the shadowy less obvious or outwardly displayed side of your nature. This is most likely because cats go about their business without any attempt to explain themselves or to accommodate us poor humans. Also they are creatures of the night very often, and live a dark life. Prior to the custom of neutering a cat and, in the US, removing its claws, this dark life was often very noisy and obviously sexual and aggressive. Left to itself the cat is a master predator
The cat is thought to have first been domesticated in Egypt about 2000 BC, and all modern cats are said to be descendents of them. They are desert creatures and so do not pant in the heat as dogs do, and are also easy with freezing desert nights. They do not like rain though. The Egyptian name for cat was ‘miu’ or he or she who mews. Although the cat never became a fully acknowledged god figure as the jackal and hippo did, it was perhaps the most popular. She was known as Bastet or Bast, and a household goddess, the protector of women, children and domestic cats. She was also known as the goddess of sunrise, music, dance, pleasure, as well as family, fertility and birth.
But there was a negative side known as Sekhmet the goddess of war and pestilence, though later tamed by Ra to become the protector of humans.
EXAMPLE: My husband died over a year ago, and I live alone, no pets. Yet I dreamt I opened my front door and there was a cat waiting to be let in. It was my cat, and I knew I hadn’t fed it for ages or looked after it. I felt awful that I had neglected it for so long. The strange thing was that the next day as I walked around the supermarket, I kept wanting to go to the cat-food section to buy food. – Winnie P. – Exeter
In losing her husband Winnie has lost her source of given and receiving affection.
EXAMPLE: I was with a young boy and went to his house. I believe his mother was there and a cat. The vivid part was that the cat spoke to me. It spoke in a rather female voice, very clearly. As it spoke I felt great amazement. I had lots of thoughts about how it had learned language – that it could speak because of human language – what did language do to its psyche – and so on. I didn’t reach any conclusions. I noticed as it spoke that it had tiny lips, but they were perfectly formed like a woman’s. They had lipstick on – or at least were red and attractive. Ben.
Ben’s dream has a mixture of sexual attraction, femininity and the ability to express in it.
EXAMPLE: I am sitting in the hotel staff room eating lunch at a large dining table. One by one I am joined by perhaps a dozen women. The atmosphere is pleasant, easy and light hearted. I enjoy the feeling of being the only male among a dozen attractive women. Then I notice a strange thing. One by one all the girls around me turn into cats, but carry on laughing and talking as if nothing is happening. I find this interesting and not alarming. I am aware each girl turns into the sort of cat that is right for her – a vivacious redhead becomes a purring orange tabby; an aloof, slightly superior lady becomes a Siamese; the only ex-girlfriend of mine present becomes a black witches familiar.
I remember turning to my left and asking: “Tell me Rebecca, how did you do this?” The Rebecca cat giggles with a human voice and says: “He doesn’t have a clue, does he?” As I look at the Rebecca cat I realise she still has her human eyes. This I realise is true of all the cats, they have human eyes in feline faces. As I realise this one says: “I think he’s beginning to understand now” and laughs. Paul C. Teletext.
This graphic dream so well illustrates how our human personality exists within our animal drives and urges.
Example: I was with a young boy and went to his house. I believe his mother was there and a cat. The vivid part was that the cat spoke to me. It spoke in a rather female voice, very clearly. As it spoke I felt great amazement. I had lots of thoughts about how it had learned language – that it could speak because of human language – what did language do to it – and so on. I didn’t reach any conclusions. I noticed as it spoke that it had tiny lips, but they were perfectly formed like a woman’s. They had lipstick on – or at least were red and attractive. Ben.
Ben’s dream has a mixture of sexual attraction, femininity and the ability to express in it.
The next example illustrates how we might not be caring for the natural and instinctive side of us.
Example: ‘I am given an animal to look after, usually somebody’s pet while they are away on holiday. I then completely forget the animal, go away and when I return the animal is either dead or very dried up or has been got at by another animal and is in the throws of dying. When I wake from the dream I feel most dreadful and it is only when I am fully awake and realise it is not true do I feel better.’ Lynda E
Example: Recently a neighbor brought a newborn kitten to my home hoping we would care for it. My daughter, Sydney, cleaned the blood off and put her In a box. Meanwhile, I left work at five armed with doll bottles and powdered milk. One evening after feeding her, I was wondering if she would live beyond her current three days old. Before I was fully asleep that night, I saw a picture of her at about seven weeks old, running and playing. She stopped, looked at me and said, “Of course I’m going to live!” Her name is Betsy and she has developed into a big, beautiful kitty that we all adore. Martha Folin
Alley cat:: Sexuality; promiscuity; down on luck.
Black cat: Depends what dreamer associates with it – so may be good luck or bad luck and evil – i.e. events working for or against one; anxiety. The belief of a black cat being evil is a throwback to times when people persecuted women accused of being witches. Their cats were also seen to be evil. Of course if you believe that cats are bad luck, then it may symbolise that for you.
Black cats are invisible in darkness and can apparently appear mysteriously. So they often represent something that arises from the unknown or unconscious. It can therefore indicate a woman’s creativity, which is a very real part of a woman’s makeup. It is obviously linked with sexuality as that is a woman’s creative process – and the black cat therefore suggest her creative potential is emerging from an area she did not known about previously. See Woman’s Creative Power
Bobcats: Bobcats, like other wild animals that are adaptable and can live on the outskirts of human territory, are very ‘street wise’ or capable of surviving despite heavy human hunting.
So in your dream it can depict your survival instinct, and your ability to fight back with real cat zeal. It represents intelligence and patience. Like most cats it is not a pack animal and so is solitary in its habits – and also brings up it ‘kittens’ alone. See cats.
Cat’s claws: Spitefulness; desire to hurt; hidden aggression; clinging, or ‘getting ones claws in someone’.
Cat having kittens: Desire for or feelings about babies or ones own babyhood; fertility.
Cat Cattery: If it is a cattery for breeding it could refer to your feelings about having a baby – or if you breed cats then look at Easy Dream Interpretation. In general it suggest you are having a rest from, or not taking responsibility for your female qualities.
Cat catching mouse: A problem solving activity in you; cat and mouse situation in work or relationship.
Cat’s tail: The tail is a very expressive part of a cat; a very visible and active part, so represent the expression of your instinctive feelings.
Fear of cat: Fear of the female in oneself; fear of females; difficulty in meeting feelings and intuition; sense of danger. See: Animal phobias at the end of the animal section.
Group of cats: Group of women; relating to the different moods or feelings.
If allergic to cats: If you are allergic and dream of a cat it would signify a negative and threatening reaction to a situation or relationship.
Kitten: Feelings about vulnerability or babyhood; feelings about caring for someone or something vulnerable; parental urges, perhaps protectiveness.
Neighbouring cat and kitten: It could be that you have developed a link with a child that is not your own. If the cat and kitten were not from the same family as yourself, it may show you are making a relationsnhip with a new partner and their child.
Speaking cat: Ability to express feminine feelings, intuition or sexuality; a realisation of feelings of physical hunger or emotional or sexual attraction. See last example below.
White cat: Can represent your feminine intuition and a link with the natural beauty in you.
Wild cat: Stealth, ferocity, intelligence, cunning, ability to survive. Like most cats it is not a pack animal, so suggests living and bringing up children alone.
See: First example under the general information at the end of the separate animal definitions.
Idioms: Copy cat; bell the cat; cat and mouse; cat’s whiskers; cat out of the bag; cat and dog life; cat on hot bricks; something the cat brought in; a cat’s paw; cat among the pigeons; while the cat’s away.
Useful questions are:
What is happening or what am I realising in my relationship with the dream cat(s), and how does that relate to my life?
If I take out the word ‘cat’ from my dream description, and replace it with what I feel about this cat, what would I write?
If there are elements of caring or love in this dream, am I looking after that side of my life?
If this is about a kitten, what are my feelings or desires about my childhood, or about a baby?
See Easy Dream Interpretation; Talking As; Processing Dreams
Comments
in my dream I was with an adult cat ( color, breed unknown), then there were kittens, (color, breed unknown), then 2 siamese kittens appeared, I was cuddling them,and it seemed as if I had been seeking the Siameses in particular- then I was in my car, my view through the windshield was obscured, as if by rain-there was a cat/kitten on the hood or dashboard, I could not tell which, I was straining to see it but it disappeared
Sabrina – I feel the cat in your dream cannot be given any one definition; it has babies so it has to do with reproduction; it has the signs of your preference for something unusual in the Siamese kittens – and so I think it has to do with your creativity, which as a woman links with your sexual nature, but creativity is much more than that.
Unfortunately when it come to getting somewhere with it you cannot see your way clearly and it seems like giving up. But creativity is always a walking into a dark space and light and form only comes as creativity flows out of you. So do not give up.
Tony
i dreamt i heard a cat yowling and i walked out to find this greyish mangy cat, in a mating like pose, with its ‘private’ area all open and wide. I was disgusted and threw rocks at it.
Judi – Your dream is showing the difficult feelings you have about the sexual urges you feel.
We do not have to scratch the surface of our humanness very deeply to discover how much of an animal we are – and I doo not mean that in a nasty way. For instance we fight and kill each other over territory, out of differences in our groups; we are very much sexual animals, but often do not deal with it as well as animals do, tending to rape and even murder because the instinct in us has been twisted by pain or trauma.
Your feeling of disgust and throwing rocks at the very sexual animal side of you only hurts you in the end. It can, as often happened to me, lead to you wanting to avoid sex all together. The only way I find that can lead to a different relationship with your sexual desire is to learn to see the cat side of you as a lovely animal whose very nature is to want to reproduce through being very sexual. If you can love that creature then you can begin to deal with your own sexual needs differently.
Tony
Tony, I had this dream that I was sitting along a calm mountain river in summer. I looked across the river and there was a white cat. I thought what is a white cat doing out here? There was a cable strung across the river, the cat crossed the cable pretty easily, and came to sit by me. I looked at the cat and was about to pet it, and it licked my hand. I thought what a cool cat.
Stephanie – White has an enormous number of different associations. Most commonly it depicts being aware with a clearness of mind. Because a cat is often an easy source of physical contact and affection it can depict the need to be cared for and warm affection, even sexual love accompanied with intense warm feelings. So your white cat can be your intuition and feelings. But because of the setting of your dream it shows you linking with your feelings of being in tune with the nature inside you, and the cat shows how this side of you has the ability to be both loving and able to make great changes with the calm balance of a cat.
Tony
hey so i had a dream last night where im walking into work and i see what appears to be 2 cat one in front of the other im suspecious but not scared but also kind of nervous then the cats stand up to move away from the door and to my surprise its a 2headed/faced cat this dream has been stuck in my head for 2 days can anyone help me figure out what it means btw i dont normall remember my dreams
Isaac – Walking to work suggests that you are on your way to make change, to earn some money, to produce something.
Then you are suspicious because you felt that something was coming that you were not sure what it was or what to expect. Then the big one arrives – a two headed cat. That was so surprising it almost made you hair stand on end. It was so unusual you couldn’t understand it and you knew it was something very special that you had never come across before.
And it all means that you are gong to or already have met an unusual situation or experience in your life. And when it comes it will change the way you think and what you do.
Tony
I had a dream about a cat nursing three kittens, and someone petting a growling puppy. I know they all are about me but I am not sure the message they are saying in reference to me.
“I had a dream about a cat nursing three kittens, and someone petting a growling puppy. I know they all are about me but I am not sure the message they are saying in reference to me.
Sunshine – I see this dream as showing you as a caring person. The cat with the kittens is a sign of a mother who cares and nurses her children – nursing could be something you do. And as for the growling puppy, I guess this is a sign of not always having an easy time of petting a youngster. You have to remember that they are small and vulnerable, and sometimes growl because they are inwardly scared.
Tony
My dream involved a grey kitten, with large ears, no hind legs (body tapered to a worm-like form) and on it’s back was an open surgical wound that made it appear as if the kitten had survived an attempt to kill it. Twice it crawled out of a bag after being thrown away by others, the second time, it crawled to me. I was the only one in the dream that could get near the kitten.
So vivid and haunting, I’ve been searching for some form of explanation. Any thoughts?
Amy – It sounds as if you are the one that had a rough time of it when you were a kitten/baby. And you are the only one who understands it and so it can get near.
I understand this story so well because man years ago I had a dream in which a lovely creature came up to me and got into my arms. It had a massive scar along its whole body. It came to me because I had felt its pain and through understanding helped it heal, and I am sure that is true of you too. And such awful situations can be healed – though not forgotten.
So if you can and will, I would love to hear your story.
Tony
I had a dream/nightmare that my black and white cat was in a room off my kitchen. The kitchen was full of kittens. They just kept multiplying unstoppably and I could hear her in pain. I couldnt close the door into the kitchen from where she was giving birth because the kittens kept blocking it. When I tried to put plats of milk down, an abundance of them would charge at it and scrape my hands and each other. When the mulitplying newborns stopped i went into the room where my cat was and in her place was a plain black cat….just the fur lying limply and dead with 3 o 4 kittens lying at her rear???I was horrified and confused.
Elaine – Cats can be used to represent massive reproductive rate like rabbits. That is why people have their cats splayed and males castrated now. But this is your dream and I wonder whether you have a fear of having a child. If that is so it might explain this dream, because perhaps you feel the urge to have a baby strongly, but deny it. The fear is that like the dead black cat, it would not end well – the black cat represents something you are denying or unaware of.
If I am wrong use the following to find out – http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/acting-in-your-dream/
Tony
I dreamt that I was in a car at night with my brother and sister (brother was driving) down a residential road when we heard a thump and felt a bump. My brother stopped the car, and we looked behind us to see a grey cat lying down, looking dead. There was another grey cat approaching it, and I ran over to the body shouting ‘NO!’, completely devastated. When I reached it, the live grey cat was trying to lick the body so I moved it away, and lifted up the dead cats head, when it moved and struggled upright. I shouted ‘It’s alive!’ and I heard it’s owner coming out of her house at that point, saying something like, ‘Is it? Oh, thank God!’ Then I told the woman (who was very nice about it) how to care for the cat over the next few days until it got better. I also recall telling her, light-heartedly, ‘It’s OK, it’s only used up one of its nine lives!’ The dream ended with me walking back to the car and telling the woman, ‘Thanks again’ whilst she cradled the cat back to her house.
Melanie – I am not at all certain I have this right, but I feel that you were in a good feeling space but in new territory – as it were, ‘in the dark’. Then you suddenly realised that you had hurt someone’s feelings, quite without meaning to. And the care you showed made it okay. As you say, ‘the woman … was very nice about it’.
The cat licking the injured cat shows basic human caring, and seems important.
Tony
I have had a dream about a young ginger cat being stuck in the bathroom and I was trying to get it out to save it.
Chrissie – Saved from what? Going down the toilet – being starved to death?
So I have to guess that you felt you had lost something important to you. In the bathroom you can feel alone and uninterrupted. So I winder whether you were trying to deal with a part of you that felt alone and needing to be held or loved.
So imagine holding the cat and see how it feels; usually it feels sort of close.
Tony
I had a dream last night about several cats that emerged from the basement of my parent’s house. My parents had failed to neuter their male cat and females had congregated to it. There were two litters of kittens of different ages; one litter was tiny, the others were juveniles. There were also adult cats. I was gathering up the cats from the yard and putting them into a long cat carrier covered by a tarp in the back seat of a car. They liked being held, but tried to escape once they understood the cage. I was taking the cats to the pound to get spayed and neutered. There were white cats with various spots and striped cats. All the cats were white and gray.
Hello.
Last night I had a dream that my (black) cat was on the couch, and had a few baby chicks which he was covering with his paw, as if though keeping them warm. I petted the cat and the chicks, and he started purring. I was wondering what the dream means. I love cats, and do not believe that black cats are bad luck. Any help with be greatly appreciated. Thank you! =)
Julia – I have to assume a lot about you. So to start with, do you see your cat as a caring creature? Has it shown any tendencies toward caring for kittens – or do you think it would if given the opportunity?
Because what your dream cat is doing is showing a great spiritual quality – that of caring for living beings not of its species. So I assume you love the cat and believe it loves you, and that may be why your dream uses it to demonstrate love to you.
Tony
Had a dream about being outside a house and a cat comes near me. I feel theatened and declaw it, but it keeps coming back. My good friend says she will take care of it and I wake up.
May – The cat coming near you can either be your own spitefulness or someone else who is ready to scratch you in a spiteful way.
But it the ‘good friend’ who is the one to make more of. Each person, object or even place in a dream should not be thought of as a symbol, such as a road sign that needs interpretation. A person or object is a living part of you, just as you hand is not a symbol it is a living part of you. As such a person is alive and responsive, with enormous depths. And a good friend is a wonderful aid in your life, and aid that can see you through the difficult times, and show you a new side of yourself. To understand the friend you need to be that friend. I mean imagine yourself in their body and see how it feels, and describe yourself as them, even ask them questions. In doing so do not forget that this is a part of yourself you are making more real. Don’t get the silly idea this is someone else, even though they have the face and body of someone else. In this way you will discover an enormous amount about your own strength and ‘goodness’. But if you cannot do that, then at least imagine talking to them asking them questions and listening for their replies. Or if you cannot even do that, then remember that you have a good friend and treasure it. See People.
Tony
i had a dream where i was looking for a cat in my old neighbored where i grew up. but i was with some of my new friends and a gray cat approached me im allergic to cats so i said to the cat “go away cat!” and the cat ran away then i started waking up and i shouted “THAT WAS THE F@#KING CAT!” very loudly no longer in the dream
Vedel – Obviously this touched a sore point. That cat was the source of your troubles. No wonder you swore at it. Also you were ‘waking up’ to it in a new way.
Tony
Recurring: I go to my late mother’s apartment and realize that I haven’t taken care of her cat(s). I don’t know the last time it (they) were fed and I feel really horrible, guilty and panicked. They cat(s) are young, but I realize that since my mother passed away almost two years ago, it (they) must be full grown and just stunted from my horrible neglect. I try to figure out if I should take it (they) to the vet and I am sure it (they) can’t possibly live after this (although they seem okay). I give it (them) lots of food because I don’t trust myself to remember to come back. I also don’t remember when I last paid the rent. It was two cats in the last dream and one in this dream, and they are of unremarkable colouring and markings. It’s a very disturbing dream.
Reality: my mother had a dog who is healthy and living with my sister, and the apartment is gone. I have three black cats , so yes, I love cats and feel very maternal towards them.
Kathleen – This is a common theme. The theme is caring, and neglect. If it were just your cats that were neglected it would be easy, but it is your mother’s cats. And there is some guilt too.
So let’s start with the idea they are your cats and move on. Any neglect would show you are not in touch with your basic needs, your instinctive needs. These would be your emotional, sexual, and health needs. Not feeding suggests a hunger for warmth, love, and attention.
So if we connect this with your mother – and these are only suggestions – it could mean that you feel you haven’t taken care of your connection with your mother, you haven’t paid the rent, and don’t know when you will get back to her.
Perhaps in some way you haven’t kept the connection alive.
Tony
I had a dream where i was in a car, driving in an unfamiliar lane. A cat(very clear feature) out of nowhere swings from a tree to another above me, after a turn i alighted from the car to see a huge cave right in front of me. The cave had lots of steps and a big population of cats(cant see the features, cats are in shades) are living inside it.
Hi May – Driving the car shows you with the ability to go where you decide, following a whim perhaps.
It seems your dream purposely put the cat swinging right in your way to attract your attention. And it drew your attention to a huge cave full of cats. Now a cave is a very feminine thing, as are cats in some dreams. But I wish I knew what you felt when you saw the cave and cats, so I have to guess.
The cave leads you directly into the things you have not known about yourself before – things about the deepest secrets about you being a woman. You see, a cat can depict female sexuality. The steps are an invitation to explore. So why not go back into that gave in your imagination and see what images and feeling arise as you walk down the steps. You will be walking into the unknown of yourself. But yet there is nothing unknown about you – just hidden under veils.
Tony
(male dream) I had a dream where I was with my two pet cats and a third cat was roaming around the house. This cat was malnourished, hairless, had sunken eyes, and had sores and growths on it’s belly. It did not attack my other animals but I felt the need to keep it away from them. I locked it in my grandmother’s bedroom. I was disgusted by it and then I woke up.
This cat has been appearing a lot in my dreams lately.
Jake – As I said in my introduction to dreaming – In dreams, whatever moves away from you in our dreams is going out of your life; and whatever moves toward us is emerging into consciousness. Whatever it is that is coming toward us is giving us something whether it is energy, insight, or a frightening dream that is trying to shock us to wake up and clear out the inner mess we are in.
So your malnourished cat is coming to you constantly but you are turning it away. It is obviously trying to tell you something you connect with your grandmother that is disgusting you. Is it old age that disgusts you? This is only a guess, but it is worth looking at whatever the feeling is.
Tony