Page 2 | Recurrent nightmares about long-dead pets!

Moofart · 22/10/2021 22:15

I have these dreams about our dead guinea pig!

Beepbeeprichie · 22/10/2021 22:22

I have these dreams too. Sometimes about childhood pets that are still alive but I’ve forgotten about them. Sometimes it’s dozens of cats roaming around; kittens where some are ok and others are absolutely runt like and skinny and I’ve forgotten to feed them. I thought it was just mean and another part of my anxious self where I’m not sure whether I am normal or not!

Mellowfruitfulnessy · 22/10/2021 22:24

Oh god me too! Poor Hammy who would now be 40 but is still living in a filthy Rotastack cage. Or rabbits that have had ten babies in a filthy cage!!

OberthursGrizzledSkipper · 22/10/2021 22:34

I'm amazed to read this thread as this happens to me. Exactly as others have said, I remember that I haven't fed my rabbit for weeks and go out expecting to find it dead but it's hanging on. Said rabbit died over 30 years ago at a ripe old age, having never once been neglected.

I also went through a period of waking up not long after going to sleep having realised I forgot about my birds. I have got halfway down the stairs before remembering that we haven't had birds for 10 years.

Babyroobs · 22/10/2021 23:11

Yes I regularly have these. In these dreams it usually involves my rabbit and we have sort of forgotten it, we have forgotten to feed it and I am making my way down to the hutch knowing it is going to be dead in a hutch full of droppings. I wake up thinking did this really happen. I think it stems from the way my rabbit did actually die, we came back from holiday and the rabbit had flystrike, my best friend had been visiting every day looking after it, but it died.
My other recurring one involves a cat we had to leave behind in a foreign country. We arranged for our neighbours to take the cat on when we left as the cat often went to their house anyway and the neighbour loved the cat. But I often get into a complete anxiety attack regarding the cat wondering where we had suddenly gone and going back to our old house and the new tenants ( we had to rent the house out for a while as couldn't sell ) being horrible to him etc. Looking back we could have handled things better and maybe the guilt is justified. It haunts me.

Babyroobs · 22/10/2021 23:13

@OberthursGrizzledSkipper

I'm amazed to read this thread as this happens to me. Exactly as others have said, I remember that I haven't fed my rabbit for weeks and go out expecting to find it dead but it's hanging on. Said rabbit died over 30 years ago at a ripe old age, having never once been neglected.

I also went through a period of waking up not long after going to sleep having realised I forgot about my birds. I have got halfway down the stairs before remembering that we haven't had birds for 10 years.

Maybe it's just some kind of anxiety thing that as kids it was drilled into us to look after the pets well. My rabbit had a big run, was cuddled, came in the house, had multitudes of lovely vegetables etc.

bluetongue · 22/10/2021 23:14

I have the neglected pet dreams too!

My version is usually about a horse. I sold my last horse years ago but in my dream I still own said horse but have forgotten about him for ages. He’s in a dirty stable or tiny yard and is skin and bones and neglected. Very strange and upsetting.

Babyroobs · 22/10/2021 23:17

It is so reassuring to know others have similar dreams. I find them so distressing and disturbing.

Lahlahlah · 22/10/2021 23:20

I have these ! Always rabbits or guinea-pigs (I used to own them as a child but they are not the ones in my dreams).
Didn't realise so many people had these dreams !

thecatneuterer · 23/10/2021 00:54

Yes me too - it's always forgotten rabbits, or goldfish. I haven't had either for around 30 years.

thecatneuterer · 23/10/2021 00:56

And I also never imagined this would be a common theme!

Seeingadistance · 23/10/2021 01:28

I have these dreams too - nightmares really. Mine are about gerbils.

MaryTeenOfScots · 23/10/2021 02:52

As soon as I saw the thread title I thought it would be about this kind of dream! I have them about the pet rats I had over 10 years ago. I suddenly remember/come across the rats' cage and realise it's been years since they were fed or cleaned out. That moment of looking inside is always the worst, and they're usually somehow still alive but a bit zombie-like. It's so disturbing and sometimes I half-wake up and start looking for them in bed, thinking I'm going to squash them. I'm sorry other people have such horrible dreams but I am a bit relieved to not be the only one!

FrenchFancie · 23/10/2021 05:50

I have these dreams too, to the point that I woke up and ran halfway down our upstairs hallway at 2am trying to feed my guinea pigs who died when I was 9…
I had no idea anyone else had these dreams… I’ve always assumed it’s my brain getting overwhelmed with responsibilities and getting confused as to the ones I actually have to deal with!!

ThatsNotMyReindeer · 23/10/2021 05:59

Just adding my name to the list - childhood rabbits here!

Kdubs1981 · 23/10/2021 06:31

@ChoccyJules

Does anyone else get these?

Last night I dreamt we were far away on holiday and had forgotten to arrange for someone to feed the cat. Cat in question died several years ago.

I also have a recurring dream where I discover either a filthy cage of starving guinea pigs in our childhood garage or the hamster I had in my teens clinging to life in its cage having been ignored for weeks. Obviously in real life they‘d be dead but they are always just hanging on. The worst bit of the dream is having to go in and look. I assume it’s my brain worrying about coping with stuff?!

Oh my god. I could have written this exact post. Not had one for years though. Always at times of great stress.

That's so weird. I suppose we all think we're unique

GromblesofGrimbledon · 23/10/2021 06:35

I have a similar recurring dream.

I will discover that a cat I had years ago is still alive, always has been alive, and I had just forgotten all about them.

They're never starving, which is of course unrealistic, but in the dream I just suddenly see them wander into a room in my home and I have this sudden shocking realisation that they were always there and I somehow stopped seeing them. That I just forgot all about them. Then I feel dreadful.

I always put it down to a guilt about not cherishing them enough while they were here. Which is silly as I've utterly adored everyone one of my cats.

Bluesheep8 · 23/10/2021 08:21

My version is usually about a horse. I sold my last horse years ago but in my dream I still own said horse but have forgotten about him for ages. He’s in a dirty stable or tiny yard and is skin and bones and neglected. Very strange and upsetting.

Exactly the same here. Every single detail.

MacMahon · 23/10/2021 08:23

I just mentioned this to DP and he said he has them too. He's goldfish. Funny how he's never mentioned this when I've woken him up at 2am to tell him I've had a bad nightmare

Badgerstripe · 23/10/2021 18:33

My father, who used to keep cattle, has the same sort of dreams about them.

PlinkPlankPlunk · 23/10/2021 18:42

@FrenchFancie

I have these dreams too, to the point that I woke up and ran halfway down our upstairs hallway at 2am trying to feed my guinea pigs who died when I was 9… I had no idea anyone else had these dreams… I’ve always assumed it’s my brain getting overwhelmed with responsibilities and getting confused as to the ones I actually have to deal with!!

I have these dreams A LOT and am weirdly relieved it’s not just me. The number of times I’ve run down the stairs in my scanties and been half way out the door (to feed the sheep that I don’t own, and have never owned!)

I agree with PPs that it’s an anxiety/too much responsibility thing; it’s so awful for those few minutes, before you realise everything is ok…

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 23/10/2021 18:46

@SoftSheen

I have this too! I dream that I haven't fed my rabbits for weeks. In reality, my rabbits died 25 years ago, having lived long, well-cared for lives.

Yup, i used to have that dream for years. I dont now but it was bizarre and disturbing.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 23/10/2021 18:52

Here you go, this is what it all means"……..

Dreams of neglecting one's dearly loved pet are disturbing, but also quite common. These dreams may take the form of forgetting to feed the pet, forgetting that one has a pet, or other forms of neglect. The feeling accompanying the dream is usually one of panic, embarrassment, or sheer horror. Another feeling is that one has made an unconscionable, irreparable mistake that has resulted in the injury of something one dearly loves.

Dreams of this sort usually indicate feelings of not living up to one's responsibilities, or feeling that one is failing in an area of life one considers very important. These type of dreams may also symbolize feelings of neglecting some aspect of one's self. This may mean that there is some aspect of creativity that one is ignoring that may be worthy of developing. Many times, creativity is sacrificed because it isn't "practical". These dreams are indications that the creative impulse is demanding attention, even at the cost of sacrificing practicality

Hohofortherobbers · 23/10/2021 18:53

Glad it's not just me, the gerbils died over 30 years ago but I find them in a waterlogged cage, it's very distressing

LindaLooky · 23/10/2021 18:57

Me too! Always small caged pets in a shed at the end of the garden. Never had such a thing.

I think it's your brain telling you that you are neglecting a part of your life.