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Original poster

To ask for an explanation for wtf just happened? **MNHQ UPDATE: Mystery solved!**

357 replies

WeirdlyKind · 13/02/2022 19:59

I'm seriously creeped out and can't figure out a rational explanation so I'm hoping someone can!

Sitting in the kitchen, eating dinner when a black shape ran past my legs, close enough that I felt it pass. Figured it was my cat at first but when I stood up, she was sitting on the windowsill!

The dark shape ran into the living room where my partner is (he saw it too, because he shouted me!)

It apparently jumped on the sideboard and vanished in front of his eyes. There's nowhere it could go - the sideboard is solid oak on a solid stone wall.

The dog is now going mental at the sideboard like there's something there (if there is, we can't find it!)

I'm genuinely creeped out - anyone have a rational explanation? What the hell did we see?

OP posts:
billy1966 · 13/02/2022 23:38

Some rats can be huge.

A friend of mine living in the in an urban setting but right beside a park, keeps chickens.

She had a rat problem as they were coming for the chicken feed.

She filmed them as she had laid traps, as she wanted toncatch rather than kill.

A couple were huge.
I mean cat size.
Not a huge fat cat, but certainly a regular cat.

I would be nervous of them, being wild and large, and brazen too!

billy1966 · 13/02/2022 23:40

Oh a rabbit. Much better than a rat.

Adharvan · 13/02/2022 23:46

@Fl0w3ry

My rational mind says a rat or squirrel. However, I had a similar creepy experience once. I was stood in my living room and felt a cool breeze behind me and heard what sounded like a voice. I turned around and watched as a waist height black shape ran away from me making a weird noise. Was by far the creepiest thing that has ever happened to me.
@Fl0w3ry what kind of noise?! That gave me the major creeps as it reminds me of a strange experience I had in a previous house many moons ago that I'd all but forgotten about.

I was coming down the stairs and something exactly as you describe (minus any noise) darted from the wall at the bottom of the stars into the kitchen.

I put it down to tiredness at the time even though I wasn't sleep deprived as it was long before children Grin

KimikosNightmare · 14/02/2022 00:04

@WeirdlyKind

We're all wrong!

It was next door's bloody rabbit! Sitting watching Call the Midwife and the damn thing hopped out from behind the TV unit. Nearly gave me a bloody heart attack!

Oh he/ she is very pretty.
Strawberry33 · 14/02/2022 00:07

An alien that has got stuck in your house or a ghost cat is the obvious one

EmmaH2022 · 14/02/2022 00:11

@nightwakingmoon

That’s fantastic! How cute is that bunny. One of the best thread updates I’ve ever seen, OP.
Yes!

Imagine if she had hopped out as quietly as she came in...you would have always wondered and ended up with a ghost story!

Mamanyt · 14/02/2022 00:24

I'm rather disappointed! I was hoping for a ghost cat. I have two of them, Shadow and Spooky. My living cat plays with them frequently.

Yumsnet · 14/02/2022 00:25

A lovely rabbit!!

My money was on ghost rat.

ImprobablePuffin · 14/02/2022 00:28

[quote Staffy1]@ImprobablePuffin, they can definitely jump that high. Had a pet rat that jumped from bed to dressing table for a carrot and a stray rat in the kitchen that used to get grapes, bananas, kitchen towels etc. off the kitchen counter and drag them behind the fridge.[/quote]
Well bloody hell this thread has been enlightening. I knew rats were big buggers but I never knew they could jump like that!!

Having weighed up all the evidence I'm still sticking with ghost cat though Grin

ImprobablePuffin · 14/02/2022 00:36

Ah I just saw the update - not a ghost, who'd have thunk. Unless it's a ghost rabbit...

VeganIsTheFuture · 14/02/2022 00:44

Best thread on here on a while. Pippin is beautiful. Do her owners know she’s generated 10 pages on mumsnet? 😂

VeganIsTheFuture · 14/02/2022 00:44

*in a while

Crankley · 14/02/2022 00:46

Brilliant result.

Now that's solved perhaps someone can explain how I went from my living room to the kitchen. Five minutes later I went back into the living room and found four 50 pence pieces on the carpet in the middle of the floor?

I'm an atheist so hopefully no suggestions of ghosts.

duckduckgo · 14/02/2022 01:01

Rat. Happened to me once. It was around 6 to 7 inches long..with a frog in it's mouth. But I wouldn't rule out woo either as I have had experience of them too.

duckduckgo · 14/02/2022 01:03

aww just saw the update. Much better than a rat...and well adorable too!

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 14/02/2022 01:05

@Jellykat

Altogether now.. Theres a rat in my kitchen, what am i gonna do?
Been there, had that - dead rat found in my pasta drawer! Shock That was after the environmental health had been in and put the poison down for them though - I knew they were there by the teethmarks on the cocoa tin...

@WeirdlyKind Lucky rabbit that the terrier didn't track it down then!!

Glad a rational explanation was forthcoming after all. :)

Wingedharpy · 14/02/2022 01:11

That's one very brave, bold rabbit that dares venture into a terrier's patch.
S/He deserves extra lettuce and 🥕

SwissCheeseRentedChildren · 14/02/2022 01:34

There’s a hole in your pocket, dear Crankley .

dipdye · 14/02/2022 02:17

I'm sorry but whaaaaaatttt

A rabbit? Here on MN?

dipdye · 14/02/2022 02:17

Is it actually called Pippin???!

HippoRaine · 14/02/2022 02:44

Amazing thread, I proper laughed at the update pic

I take it the bunny hadn't jumped up onto the sideboard and vanished then? I mean I know they can hop (famously) but that high?!

Poppins2016 · 14/02/2022 02:46

@WeirdlyKind

We're all wrong!

It was next door's bloody rabbit! Sitting watching Call the Midwife and the damn thing hopped out from behind the TV unit. Nearly gave me a bloody heart attack!

How sweet and what a relief you've got to the bottom of it!
Imnoteatingthat · 14/02/2022 02:53

Amazing update!

Pedalpushers · 14/02/2022 02:55

Amazing. I was irritated reading yet another stupid, fake woo thread and then BOOM surprise cute bunny. Love it.

TacCat49 · 14/02/2022 04:31

It will be a rat/mouse/bird that the cat has bought in. The cat was playing/torturing it but it has got away. Look under the sideboard as it will have a space where the creature is hiding. The exact same thing happened at mine once. We found the poor bird hiding under the cabinet and we were able to rescue it.