Dying Animals

[jojorae]

So, I would greatly enjoy another perspective on this one as well, which is actually a very frequent reoccurring dream that I have. I will preface by saying that I am a volunteer at a local animal shelter, and that animals are the passion of my life.

The dream consists of me being surrounded by animals, they’re everywhere. And I know that in some way or another they’re all mine to be caring for. The setting is always different. Anyway, there are always cats, mice and hamsters. The cats are around and not caged, however don’t appear very healthy. I can always search out the three cats in the masses that I myself actually own and then am shocked by the realization that I’ve neglected them. Then there are cages and cages of mice and hamsters, and they’re always in normal sized cages but there are about 50 per cage and all in various stages of dying or dead already. And I am the reason, and I know they all need help and that I should clean the cages and help the live ones and bury the dead ones but I don’t know where to start. Sometimes there is a rabbit that hasn’t been fed in ages and the cages are always so disgustingly dirty. And I am just so overcome with grief and guilt that I have caused all these animals to die. However, it’s only the hamsters and mice that are dead.

I don’t know if this is just what it seems, that I desire to help, or if it’s something completely different.

[dantheman]

The dream may just be a frustration you feel caring for animals, and that it may not be making a big difference. But I don't think that is it.

For you, the difficulty is finding out what each of the species means to you. Standard dream dictionary probably won't apply to you.

Cats, mice and hamsters enjoy a predator/prey relationship in the natural world. Rabbits, except for the young and immature cannot be sucessfully hunted by cats. The animals are all caged and neglected, malnourished, dead and dying, expecially those lower on the food chain.

You could look at your life and see if any of these images stike a chord. Caged or restrained emotions causing neglect and numbness of feeling... Or perhaps a releasing (uncaging) of primal, natural something or other to restore nature's balance is necessary.

Hope that helps.

[Angel-Sunshine]

Hi Dantheman

I dreamt of a black crow, initially in a cage, and then it escaped but the (flight) ascent was slow; I called its name and it settled back down on the ground; I then re-caged it and realised that the cage was too small for it. I felt sorrow, pity and heartpain for the bird. Shortly after, the bird started dying; I released it from the cage and kept crying and calling its name, willing it not to die, which it still did, eventually. I felt devastated.
What did this dream mean?

[Varzandeh]

Hi,
You can also see this dream in another aspect.
Mice mean girls , human girls, cats are women kind women but perhaps poor and malnurished.
Cages are tight places that girls and women live.
Perhaps you will meet such a people and such places later in a month or two.
Good luck.

[unclesirbobbyrobson]

well dreams show us examining the situations that we are in and they give us little reminders about what is important. Your dreams are probably straight forward. Pets and caged animals are almost completely dependant on human beings. You realise this and you realise that if YOU neglect these animals then they will suffer. They cannot speak and cannot communicate in any clear intelligent ways. So if you forget to do something then they go without. So your dream reinforces just how important you realise what you are dong. That you recognise its a big responsibility
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The dreams we have are very much related to the brain and how it devotes time to the pressing needs in our lives. The dream mind can decide to try to look at the bigger picture. In other words we may suddenly stand back and take a good long look at our lives. We may ask what is the point of carrying on with a job that we hate or a relationship that is falling apart. So in that way the intuitive mind may decide to take an objective look at the reality of our lives.

At other times the dream mind will be content to get caught up in the little issues in our lives. It may wonder if we should get ourselves a new hair cut or if we should decide to get a new digital TV. So the dreams we have will sometimes reflect the bigger and important long view but also expect them to get caught up in the seemingly mundane issues of everyday life.

Try to see what type of a mood you are in. If you suddenly feel as if you are thinking more in the long term then look at your dreams in that way. They are likely to link to general issues and about the bigger picture and how you live your life. They may reflect your own personality and some changes that you are trying to bring about.

Dream symbolism and dream dictionary interpretation - How to interpret dreams Interpreting dreams
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Dream dictionary - A modern and well researched dream dictionary Dream dictionary

[Kit]

I too have this dream. I've had a week of them this week, usually guineapigs, rabbits and mice in damp dirty cages. I suddenly realise I haven't fed them for weeks and rush to them, fearing the worse. The food and water bowls are empty, there's no hay or straw left and yet usually the animals are still alive, only just but enough for me to be able to put in a handful of grass or some dry food and they start eating. The anxiety before this is immense, and sometimes I run into a unrecognisable garden to find the cage and I can't find it fast enough. Often other people are around slowing me down by talking to me but they aren't in the least bit interested in the animals. When I find the cages it's with a mixture of relief, guilt, grief. I used to have this dream many years ago. I have also worked for sancutaries and animal charities.

Hope you see this posting as we're both obviously feeling the same thing and it could help if we look at our current situations.