I remember reading or hearing somewhere, a mention that the Dali Lama and other Buddhists were careful to take good care of the dogs which lived at the Potala in Tibet as some were believed to be reincarnated monks.

While I agree mostly with what LH has said about consciousness evolving and I liken it to going up the spiral of consciousness, on different spiritual planes, I rather like the idea that I have either already been a cat and/or may come back as one, again.:-)

kat