Pets

[Diana]

This makes me wonder if when we encounter certain animals perhaps the animals that wander into our lives, if they are here in our presence for a shift in their consciousness that they are ready for and we have been like Nau7ik said honored to be with them to help the animal, be with the animal and show them how to be individuated but still loving  the whole unit (family).

I think this is true. Two of my cats fit that idea:

Powder was a stray cat I found living in my backyard shed. He was a Turkish Van, mostly white, and though stray he was perfectly clean and groomed. He lived to be about 21 (hard to tell as he was just full grown it seemed when he showed up). He was one of the "loves of my life."

Fluffy was a kitten who was owned by a couple across from me in an apartment complex. She kept showing up outside my door meowing. The couple didn't mistreat her that I know of, and when they moved, they asked me if I wanted to keep her since she was always at my place. I did. She was way beyond other cats I've known as far as awareness. She would take walks with us  (my boyfriend and me) like a dog will, play games with us such as hide in a tree then show up after we started getting frantic because a big dog was in the vicinity—as though it was a practical joke, and many other things that let us know she was really advanced.

There were other strays as well. Some stayed a short time. I think we were "meant to be" in some way.