Hi Sorcha I've found this thread very interesting and want to share a special experience with you.

I have a cat called Tigger, a ginger tom who is a very loving, nay amorous, cat. Many times I have returned from the pub and snuggled up to Tig on the couch only to fall into a deep deep sleep as a result of his deeply hypnotic purring.
It's like a form of meditation to me and it sends me into a deeply restful oblivion.

I have always thought that Tigger was a very special cat and have always welcomed him into our family.
Some time ago I had a severe depressive illness which meant some time in hospital ( I won't go into details ) but on my return home Tigger was ever so protective of me. He would wait for me in the hall when I went outside for a cigarette and he would now sleep by my head in bed at night purring away.

It was as though he could sense my emotions and my depression and was determined to be close to me, which he had'nt done before.

The same night I came home from the hospital I had visions,with eyes wide open in the darkness of my bedroom, of cats softly falling from the ceiling onto my bed. At the time Tigger was snuggled up by my head.
I could feel them landing upon my bed very very softly and prowling and moving about to get comfortable. They settled by my sides and between my legs and by my head and I could feel their heat. I could also feel them 'podding' their paws to make their resting place more comfortable.

If felt as though Tigger had summoned their spirits to help to heal me.
This continued for about two weeks, after which I really did feel much better.

I know this sounds bizzare but I now do believe in spiritual healing and the power and presence that pets have in our lives.

If you express your love to pets in this life they will reciprocate by expressing their love in this life or the next. It's a very special relationship that mankind has enjoyed and perhaps understood far more than we do today, for thousands of years.

Who knows !