Help with reoccuring night mare. Cat hiding man with knife.

[MCC]

I had a nightmare last night that I feel sure I've had at least once before. It's bothering me both because I wake up feeling scared and because its happened more than once. I'm wondering what it could mean and would appreciate help.
Basically, the dream starts out where I'm in my parent's house. I haven't lived there for 8 years or so in real life, but I'm either living there or visiting in this dream.
Anyway, I walk out into the living/dining area at night with none of the lights on (it's all open and connected space) and in the space between the living room and the dining room area is my cat, the cat I have now living with me.
Behind the cat is a man crouched down like he's hiding behind my cat. I don't get the impression that he's small or anything, but a full-sized man that's able to semi-hide behind my cat. It's almost like the perspective is off to where my cat is closer and so appears larger and the man is able to position himself further away and so hide behind him. In the real-world, this space is not nearly big enough to create that illusion of course.
The man has a large knife or blade, it almost looks like a big dagger, and he's talking to himself about killing the next person who walks past him, which would be toward the kitchen.
I can hear him clearly whispering about killing this person, and since I was on my way to the kitchen, I immediately start acting like I needed to go back toward the back of the house where the bedrooms are for whatever reason so the guy won't kill me.
He doesn't appear to see me or at least, he acts like I'm not yet there but I have the definate feeling that the second I'd pass him, he'd kill me.
The second time I had the dream, the first part was pretty much the same and then I had the added part after I go back to the back of the house. I go to my parents bedroom and my mom and step-dad are there. I immediately tell them about the man and ask that they call the police. They act like it's no big deal and they aren't going to worry about it. They refuse to call the police and tell me to stop worrying about it, go back to bed. I can't remember anymore.
Sorry for the long drawn out details, but the dream is very vivid.
Any questions or ideas about what this could mean?

[holydiver]

Its very possible that someone is in your life because of a past choice you have made. If there isnt anyone then it may be a son or doughter, or maybe a friend.

Normally under the calm cool of a cat, there is a threat of a secret pounce. This could represent your step parent, and also represent a direction you have chosen because of certain outcomes from the past. You may have had reasoning to reject some of their ways, and decided against doing them leading up to your curent events.

Anything you say to yourself is a disagreement when its about someone else, and any disagreement will cause a trauma if its not worked out. The reason its not worked out is because we normally dont see how alike we really are. You know, a cats is a cat, they act like cats, and do the things cats do. No matter what cat you are around, you can always expect certain charecteristics from a cat. A dog is a dog, they act like dogs, and do the things dogs do. No matter what dog you are around, you can always expect certain charecteristics from a dog. People are no different.

You might want to spend some time thinking about the past, and what you might have avoided, and what you might be avoiding now.

[misskristin5]

First of all, just reading about your dream scared the crap out of me. Good job describing it!
Kitchen usually equals food, which equals nourishment. Perhaps you need some kind of fulfillment in your life but you feel that someone or something is getting in the way of this? Do you live alone? The fact that you dream about your parents' house and they don't seem supportive in your dream tells me that maybe you feel alone. I've heard that cats represent sex. Maybe this means you need some kind of sexual fulfillment? Sorry to be so blunt. Then again, it is your own cat, which reinforces to me that you may live alone. It's like the cat is the only thing protecting you.

[MCC]

I think you both have a few points.

Holydiver-I'm in a relationship right now that was on-again, off-again for awhile, so I'm thinking that might be the choice you are referring to about having someone in my life. It's definately my choice at the moment and one I am both happy with and still doubtful about at the same time because of past issues. Hmmm
As for the cat, I do like cats, obviously and I love my cat and in the dream he was in no way threatening. He was just sitting there passively. He wasn't helping to block the guy, it was almost as if the guy wasn't there. It was more like the guy was using the cat to hide behind but my cat wasn't involved. The cat was just looking at me passively (which is actually unusual for this cat, he doesn't do that stand offish cat look much at all).
I don't really have major issues with my step-dad or anything, that's just who would be there in reality if I went to them in the bedroom. My mom does have negative feeling towards the bf for various reasons, although she doesn't totally dislike him, I think she just thinks he's not right for me or maybe not a wise choice.
misskristin5:
As for being lonely, I officially live alone although my bf is around most of the time. The feeling alone thing could be right on in some ways...I don't really feel lonely, even when I am actually alone, it's more like I'm a little torn about my relationship right now, whether it's definately what I want for the long-term or if past hurts and worries can't really be gotten over. It's kind of a problem that I'm alone with...I've heard kitchens can represent mothers, and although I don't particularly associate my mom with the kitchen (she's not a major cook), that could be part of it. I can't reach approval from her and when I actually go to her in the dream, she won't support me there either???
Something to think about.
Oh, and I don't mind you being blunt at all. I don't think sexual fulfillment is involved here though.
I do think there's more to this dream, so thanks for helping me out, both of you! More opinions are welcome.