[growlycat]

Here's a creepy yet creative dream image I've never had before. Would love to hear thoughts on what it means!!

I flew to another city and stayed at a friend's cluttered house. She was caring for my cat but I was concerned that my cat was not doing well and was stressed out.

In this dream, my cat developed two small spots on his fur that resembled owl's eyes (like the false eyes on a moth's wings). In the dream, I took this to mean that my cat was starting to get stressed and that cats develop these false eye spots in their fur to warn off predators when stressed. If it got really bad, a cat could potentially break out in these eye spots all over its fur.

So in the dream I decided to take the cat back home with me by plane.

After waking up, I was still convinced that this "eye spots on fur" thing was an actual thing that happens that I googled it, to see where I got this idea. After the grogginess passed, I realized how crazy a thought that is. I only found articles on false eyespots on moths, fish etc.

The whole image still creeps me out a day later---thoughts on what this means?

[SnakeCharmer]

Supposedly, each person or creature or image in a dream is supposed to represent us in some way. I don't buy into this 100% of the time because it seems perfectly reasonable that the cat in your dream could really represent your cat, if you're worried about your cat in waking life.

I watch a lot of nature shows and many creatures use eye spots to fake out and fend off predators. Not just moths, but birds and lizards and even some mammals. The common denominator is that the eyes spots can scare off predators, keeping the critter safe from attack.

Is there anything going on in your life that causes you to feel attacked or unsafe, emotionally or physically or in your job, family or school? Or are you worried about the safety of your cat or home or even a physical illness.

It's interesting that in your dream, you hopped a plane and took your cat home, where it would be less stressful. Is there something "out there" that's making you feel vulnerable to attack? The purpose of those spots is to fool predators into thinking the prey animal is bigger and tougher and scarier than it is in reality. Are you having to put up a tough front somewhere in order to keep people off your back?

If you can't think of anything in your own life, is it possible that your cat is showing some small signs of illness that you're picking up casually? If this dream is not about you feeling vulnerable, it could mean that your subconscious mind is telling you to take a close look at your cat's health.

It's a really interesting dream.

[growlycat]

Thanks, Snakecharmer!!

I love your possibilities in meaning. All of those could be true.

Another thought I had was this: Cats are often a negative symbol of femininity. I have been thinking a lot lately about my avoidance of romantic relationships out of anxiety. Eyespots could represent the way I automatically and reflexively repel men without knowing it? heh, just a thought.

My cat in real life is still young and healthy, so I tend to think this was symbolism.

It really was such a strong dream image that I woke up convinced that this actually happened to a cat somewhere ---it took me a while to realize it was just a dream! I can't remember the last time that happened!

[growlycat]

oooh, just for fun, I found this --which will probably give me even more bad dreams---a caterpillar that has the ability to make an eyespot mimic "blinking"
take a look at the video here:

An eyespot that blinks? | Caterpillar Eyespots

creepy!!!!!!!!!!!

[SnakeCharmer]

It is really a very cool dream and if your cat is young and healthy, the chances are it's all about your own eyespots protecting you somehow. Happy dreams!