I was asleep in bed and dreamt about Shelley, my Maine Coon cat who died a few weeks prior from a terminal virus mutation. On the night I picked up her ashes which were sitting on my bedside table, I had my first and only dream of Shelley. In my dream I was chasing Shelley and another cat (who I didn't know) down a street. I was shocked as she wouldn't come to me. Shelley and the other cat ran up a tree and I stood at the base calling out to her and asking her to come to me. Then I noticed I was holding 2 cat cages. I put one down and started climbing the tree with the other in my hand. I was desperate to catch her. Just as I got close enough to grab her, she changed from being and black and silver stripped cat to bright red. When she turned completely bright red, she leapt into the cat carrier. I then found myself standing again at the bottom of the tree holding a red cat in a carrier. I said out loud "but this isn't my Shelley." The other cat was somehow already sitting in the other carrier. I became really distressed as I wanted my Shelley back and wasn't keen on the second cat either as I didn't know them, but Shelley refused to turn back into her original coloring. I must have gotten so distressed as I woke myself up crying but just prior to waking I heard a voice say "Coon Haven."

This dream was so vivid that I couldn't get it out of my mind. At first I thought I misheard the words and maybe what I heard was "Coon heaven" and that Shelley had just gone to heaven. However, a week later I googled the words "Coon Haven" and found much to my surprise that it was the name of a Maine Coon breeder in my state. More out of curiosity, I called and asked about the availability of a red Maine coon kitten. The lady advised one of her cats may be pregnant and that there is a possibility of a red kitten. Some months later the litter was born and the first kitten out was a red boy (which we had reserved). Shortly after the birth, my other cat, whom I also owned when Shelley was alive developed the same disease, which is very rare and pretty much unheard of in scientific circles. We had to euthanize him as we didn't want him to suffer. We then phoned Coon Haven again and reserved the last available kitten to be a friend to our little red boy.  I believe from this dream that Shelley was telling me she was coming back to me but as a red Maine Coon and that she would be bringing a friend.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  No

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:    A very loud male voice say the words "Coon Haven."

            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?  It was definitely external. As I was between sleep and being awake, it sounded like the voice was actually in my bedroom.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?           No. It was a human voice, not my cats.

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

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?   None.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            No

Did you see the deceased?         Yes

She presented exactly as she was in real life, but before my eyes changed from a black and silver Maine coon to a red one.

            How clearly did the deceased appear?            Solid realistic form, shape and size.

            How much of the deceased did you see?       All of her from various angles.

            Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?       Exact age.

            How healthy did the deceased appear to be?            Actually now you ask this question, its occurred to me that Shelley was actually healthy. At the time of her death she was skeletal and jaundiced. Incredibly ill looking.

            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?        Unsure, it was a dream. Maybe 5-10 minutes. Seemed like ages though.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         The end of the dream was more sudden as I was all of a sudden awake and hysterically crying, plus having the words "Coon haven" booming in my ears was pretty dramatic.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           No

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

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:           Its hard to explain, but you have dreams that are a bit surreal and illogical in their format, even though at the time you don't question them. Other dreams like the one I described as so unbelievably vivid and you wake up really feeling as though you have lived it. Its a completely different experience and very profound. It stays with you - like all these years later I can still vividly recall the dream and I can still hear the words.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Yes

Obviously it was a dream, but see the above response.    

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:           I was shocked and a little angry as I wanted my old Shelley back. I think I was also confused when standing with 2 cats whom in my mind at the time I didn't know. I remember being quite forceful in saying "this isn't my Shelley" even though I watched her transform.

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

Its taken me a long time to get over losing Shelley, but sometimes when I look at my red Maine coon, who is 3 years old now himself, I see a bit of Shelley in his eyes and in his manner.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The sadness at having lost such an amazing pet, who was more like a child. The level of adoration I am certain I wont experience again.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes                 Describe:      I'm much more comforted knowing that life continues after death.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   N0 comment            I was hopeful although skeptical, that Shelley was coming back to us.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?            Yes     There is something else after death and bigger plans for us, even though at the time we may not be able to be aware of the plans. I have some sense of looking forward to death as I think now we get the opportunity to be reunited with lost loved ones, pets included. I also think God only gives us what he knows we can handle, even if we think we cant.

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?        Yes

I made a compact with my Grandmother, but that's another story I will submit.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          N0 response Just "Coon Haven" I thought I had misheard it and that is was actually Coon Heaven and that Shelley had gone to heaven. However, I was shocked that it is actually the name of a breeder of Maine coons about an hours drive from my house.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I was hysterically crying and couldn't get the dream out of my head.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           No

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

One minute I was up a tree, the next standing at the base of the tree.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    No

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         No

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?            Yes

Yes another cat.

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?        

Yes     People got goose bumps and some got teary.

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?       No

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?           No 

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