The first experience was the night of his death over 2 months ago. When he was alive, my cat would show his affection by sticking out his tongue as if to give me a kiss, or he would give my hand a quick lick. The night of his death, I was inconsolable worrying that that he had suffered (the experience of putting him to sleep was somewhat traumatic), and that night he appeared as a vision (but very tangible) when I was asleep, and stuck out his tongue as if he was sending me a kiss, and then disappeared.  The 2nd appearance also occurred during a dream several days later. I was holding the cat (as I was when he was put to sleep), and while initially he was immobile as he was when he was put to sleep, all of a sudden he started purring loudly and moving, and as I kissed him, he rose from my arms and almost seemed to sail away. I kept yelling happily, he's alive" over and over, and then I woke up. At this point, while I felt these experiences were almost sacred and incredibly calming, I still didn't know what to make of them. Then, last night, almost 2 1/2 months after his death but when I was having a bit of a set-back with respect to my grief, I was fervently hoping for a sign that he was still around me. That night, while I was sleeping, I felt fur brush my hand and as I started to pet the cat, and again he purred loudly. Shortly thereafter, I picked him up (and actually felt nervous as if I sensed that something surreal was happening), and he continued to purr loudly and snuggle up against me. The last thing I recall is putting him on the bottom of the bed, which is what I used to so when he was sick. I then woke up and was almost scared by the experience but also felt that it was incredibly spiritual and sacred.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  Yes

So unusual and yet so tactile/real, that I didn't think anyone would understand.

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?          Yes

            Describe what you heard, how clearly you heard it and what was communicated:    Very loud purring.

            Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated?  Originated from the cat.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?           The sound was a louder, more intense version of his purring.

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           No.

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?   No.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            Yes

Felt his body/fur, held him against me.

            Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?   Familiar.

            Was anything communicated by the touch?  Pure love and happiness.

            Is there any possibility what you felt was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?  No. He was my only pet.

Did you see the deceased?         Yes

Similar to when he was alive.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            Solid.

            How much of the deceased did you see?       All.

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       Healthier then when he was ailing. Normal weight, not blind as he was a month before his death.

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            healthy - no apparent infirmities.

            Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?           No

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?      No

How long did the experience last?        Seconds - maybe 10 seconds.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         sudden.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           Yes

Extremely loving, extremely happy.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?  No information but it was if he was trying to help me through my profound grief.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?           Experience was probably real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:           I have no other explanation for the incredibly clear, tangible experiences that were a little frightening and yet incredibly affirming, peaceful and emotional at the same time.  Really a surreal experience for a skeptic like me.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Uncertain

Occurred while I was sleeping.

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           See above.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?           Yes

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best - the ability to sense that my cat was in a joyous place, that he was showing me how much he loved me, that I have been given a gift, that I may myself have a special sensory gift, that I have an "angel" guiding me, and that there may in fact be "life" after death.  

The worst - a bit frightening and hard for me to believe as I have never given any real credence to the paranormal or metaphysical.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes                 Describe:            See above. Also, I have re-prioritized with respect to relationships. work, etc.          

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     A spiritual awakening and new found gratitude and calm.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?            Yes     See above. While I am not 100% certain that this was "real", I can not stop thinking about the experiences, have spent significant time researching the phenomenon as I had no idea how to characterize scientifically or in any other way what was happening (internet research tonight led me for the first time to the terms "visitation dreams" and "after death communication"). Basically, I consider the experiences life affirming/life-altering.

Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?        No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Happy, sad, incredibly loving towards the cat, appreciative that he would provide me this gift, a little frightened, a little confused.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           No

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Uncertain

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Yes

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Other than it appeared that he had "risen from the dead" in the one experience.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         Uncertain

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Uncertain

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?            No

Did you see a light?           No

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?         No       Not yet.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?   No

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?       I would like to more fully understand it.

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           Uncertain 

I've always felt that I had a special ability to perceive/intuit , although not in a way that I ever considered metaphysical or spiritual, as I didn't believe in that.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes