A Weekend with My Sister and Her Supernatural Pets

One breezy Saturday afternoon, I decided to visit my sister at her cosy house on Jakarta's outskirts. She had always been an animal lover, her home bustling with the meows of her four beloved cats. This time, however, something new caught my attention. As I stepped through the doorway, I noticed a fifth cat lounging comfortably on the couch. It was a delicate-looking creature, its milky, clouded eyes hinting at a story.

"That's Mayombe," my sister said, smiling warmly. "She's half-blind. I adopted her from the Jakarta Animal Aid Network last week. The vet told me she's been like this since she was a kitten, but she's developed some incredible senses to adapt."

My nieces, Seraphine and Cherubine, both animal enthusiasts like their mother, perked up at the conversation. Cherubine, the younger of the two, leaned in excitedly, her dark curls bouncing as she spoke. "Blind cats are fascinating, Tulang (Bataknese for uncle). They learn to use their whiskers to sense changes in air currents. That's how they know if something is nearby, even if they can't see it. Their paws are super sensitive too, so they can feel vibrations in the floor, like if someone is walking."

My sister's home bustling with the meows of her many cats. (created with DALL-E)

Seraphine, her older sister, picked up where Cherubine left off. "And don't forget their ears," she said, her tone a touch more serious. "Cats can hear frequencies that humans can't. A blind cat like Mayombe would rely on her hearing to understand where things are. And, of course, her sense of smell is remarkable---cats have a scent memory that helps them recognise objects and people."

Their detailed explanations seemed complete, but my sister interrupted, her voice tinged with her usual superstition. "That's why even blind cats can see ghosts," she said matter-of-factly, as if this were common knowledge. I raised an eyebrow at this, but before I could respond, Cherubine sighed dramatically, clearly prepared for this conversation.

"Mom," she began patiently, "cats don't see ghosts. It's just that their heightened senses make them aware of things we miss. They hear sounds we can't hear, like the faint creak of a house settling or the hum of a distant machine. Their sense of smell is so strong they might react to a scent left behind by something long gone. And they're incredibly attuned to changes in the environment, like a draft or a shift in temperature. That's why they sometimes seem to 'stare' at nothing or act strangely."

Her scientific tone gave way to a hint of amusement. "People just mistake those behaviours for something paranormal."

I couldn't resist asking, "What about earthquakes? Can cats sense those?"

A blind cat would rely on its hearing to understand where things are. (created with DALL-E)

This time, Seraphine chimed in, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Yes, Tulang! Scientists believe cats, and many other animals, can sense earthquakes before they happen. Cats have incredibly sensitive paws, and they might feel the tiny vibrations in the ground that humans can't detect. Some also think they can hear the low-frequency rumbles of tectonic plates shifting. While there's plenty of anecdotal evidence of animals acting strangely before earthquakes, the scientific studies are still ongoing. It's fascinating to think about, isn't it?"

Her excitement was contagious, but my thoughts wandered to another topic. "I've seen videos of dogs reacting to possible supernatural phenomena. What do you think about that?" I asked.

Cherubine didn't miss a beat. "Dogs are amazing at picking up unseen entities, things we can't perceive. They have incredible hearing and can detect frequencies we're unaware of. Their noses are even better---they can smell the faintest traces of something, like an animal that passed through days ago. Sometimes, they react to these subtle cues in ways that seem mysterious."

"But you said 'unseen entities.' What do you mean by that?" I pressed.

"Unseen entities could be anything not visible to us," she explained. "For example, a mouse hiding in the walls or a draft of air from an unseen crack. But there are stories of dogs reacting in ways that make people think they're sensing something supernatural. Like that viral video of a dog barking at an empty hallway or refusing to enter a specific room. People love to speculate about ghosts, but it's just as likely that the dog smelled something or heard a noise that we couldn't."

She grinned. "Of course, it's fun to think about the paranormal sometimes."

Dogs are remarkable at picking up anything not visible to us. (created with DALL-E)

As I sat back, digesting all this fascinating information, I looked at Mayombe, the half-blind cat, who was now gracefully navigating her way to her food bowl. "Despite all these amazing abilities," I said, "I don't think I'll be adopting a cat or a dog anytime soon. It's just not practical for my lifestyle right now."

My sister laughed. "Well, we've got plenty to share here, so you're always welcome to visit."

And with that, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, leaving behind the mysteries of cats, dogs, and the world they perceive so keenly.