Can your pet ward off evil spirits?

Has your dog ever barked at something that wasn't there? Has your cat ever hissed while staring at an empty space? There's some bad news if the answer is yes: your home could be haunted by evil spirits. But do not fear! The good news is your pet is busy warding them off.

The new survey reveals that many pet owners believe their furry friends protect them from evil spirits.

According to a new survey of more than 2,000 pet owners in the UK, conducted by animal charity Blue Cross, more than 30% of people believe their pets protect them from ghosts and spirits.

Many pet owners reported that their dogs or cats alert them to a supernatural presence by barking, growling or staring at nothing, or by backing away from something that cannot be seen. Some respondents said their pet also displays flared neck fur when a spirit is nearby.

Among dog owners, around 25% said they have seen their four-legged friend bark or stare at nothing at least three times during the past month.

Around 25% of cat owners said they saw their feline hissing or growling at an empty space twice over the past 4 weeks, while other respondents said they have seen their cat follow an invisible presence around a room with their eyes.

Some respondents also reported seeing their pets behave oddly around areas where someone has died.

But our pets' abilities may stretch further than fending off heinous spirits - they may also have psychic capabilities.

Your pet may be psychic, too

According to the survey results, many pet owners believe their animals can sense when a family member is heading home or when they are about to leave the house. Others said their pets know when it is time for dinner, while some said their animals can sense when a storm is on the horizon.

Pets can soon learn subtle changes in our behavior and their environment that alert them to something we're about to do or changes to the atmosphere like a storm brewing. They are quick to learn a routine so they know when their owners are due home, when it's dinnertime and when you are about to go out without them.

What is more, around 75% of pet owners believe their animals can predict illness, with one dog owner reporting that their canine friend alerts him to a kidney infection by placing a paw on his stomach.

Such a belief, however, is not so far-fetched, with numerous studies hailing the medical detection abilities of dogs. Last year, for example, we learned from a study revealing how two highly trained dogs were able to detect prostate cancer in urine samples with 98% accuracy, which has been attributed to their acute sense of smell.

"Pets and their owners build a strong bond, so it's plausible they may be able to sense when their owner is under the weather or has something more serious looming."

Dogs and cats were the pets among which most psychic and ghostly experiences were reported in the survey, followed by rabbits, guinea pigs and horses.

Overall, it seems our pets are more than just cute and cuddly; they may also have supernatural abilities that protect us and our family - something to keep in mind the next time your furry companion hisses or barks at an empty space.

References:

SWNS Digital news release, accessed 28 October 2015.