Scientific Explanation?

[BigSoonerFan]

I read an article the other day about a cat that was adopted by a church in Pinehurst. The cat became good friends with one of the staff at the church. Upon the man's death, the cat could not be found after the funeral until he was discovered on the grave of his friend, where he stayed for two days.

Assuming the information in the story was correct, let's go ahead and make the assumption that the cat knew his friend was there. What can explain that he knew, assuming that the casket was sealed properly?

[imported_luckyme]

Assuming a true story, you or I could think up half a dozen possible explanations just while we are stirring our coffee. Is there a more specific point you are trying to reach?

[Borodog]

Most coffins are not hermetically sealed. It's quite a racket in the funeral business to sell grieving relatives "seals." These seals act to contain gases that normally escape the coffin during decomposition, and can lead to rather unpleasant results like liquification of the dearly departed and the underground explosion and collapse of the coffin.

[BigSoonerFan]

[ QUOTE ]
Assuming a true story, you or I could think up half a dozen possible explanations just while we are stirring our coffee.

[/ QUOTE ]

For example?

[BluffTHIS!]

He jumped in the ambulance that took the body to the morgue, and then hopped a ride to the embalmers. From there he again stowed away on the ride to the funeral home, where he sat faithfully unobserved under the casket. Once again he jumped in the hearse that took the casket to the cemetary, and discretely jumped out and hid behind a tree to avoid being noticed during the graveside service. Then when all the mourners had left and the grave diggers had filled in the grave and themselves left, he sauntered over to the grave and used the freshly filled in earth as a litter box, whereupon he was finally spotted.

[ QUOTE ]
He jumped in the ambulance that took the body to the morgue, and then hopped a ride to the embalmers. From there he again stowed away on the ride to the funeral home, where he sat faithfully unobserved under the casket. Once again he jumped in the hearse that took the casket to the cemetary, and discretely jumped out and hid behind a tree to avoid being noticed during the graveside service. Then when all the mourners had left and the grave diggers had filled in the grave and themselves left, he sauntered over to the grave and used the freshly filled in earth as a litter box, whereupon he was finally spotted.

[/ QUOTE ]

ah hah! my dear Watson, but by whom was he spotted?

[eastbay]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Assuming a true story, you or I could think up half a dozen possible explanations just while we are stirring our coffee.

[/ QUOTE ]

For example?

[/ QUOTE ]

For example the cat followed other church staff to the site of the burial? Is that really so perplexing?

eastbay

[benkahuna]

[ QUOTE ]
These seals act to contain gases that normally escape the coffin during decomposition, and can lead to rather unpleasant results like liquification of the dearly departed and the underground explosion and collapse of the coffin.

[/ QUOTE ]

OMG!

!!!!

[purnell]

Cats often sun themselves on piles of dirt. Maybe it can still smell a trace of its meal ticket at the gravesite. Are you suggesting that there is some non-scientific explanation?

[TomCollins]

The most logical explination - THIS IS A FREAKING URBAN LEGEND!

[BigSoonerFan]

[ QUOTE ]
For example the cat followed other church staff to the site of the burial? Is that really so perplexing?


[/ QUOTE ]

Well, they didn't see him go there. And when they saw him there, he was there for two days.

[BigSoonerFan]

[ QUOTE ]
Cats often sun themselves on piles of dirt. Maybe it can still smell a trace of its meal ticket at the gravesite. Are you suggesting that there is some non-scientific explanation?

[/ QUOTE ]

They do that for two days? I'm just exploring the possibilities.

[BigSoonerFan]

[ QUOTE ]
The most logical explination - THIS IS A FREAKING URBAN LEGEND!

[/ QUOTE ]

BZZZZZ. Wrong answer.

[DougShrapnel]

[ QUOTE ]
I read an article the other day about a cat that was adopted by a church in Pinehurst. The cat became good friends with one of the staff at the church. Upon the man's death, the cat could not be found after the funeral until he was discovered on the grave of his friend, where he stayed for two days.

Assuming the information in the story was correct, let's go ahead and make the assumption that the cat knew his friend was there. What can explain that he knew, assuming that the casket was sealed properly?

[/ QUOTE ]I can with cetianty say that the explianation may have nothing to do with that he was a a staffer at a church. If you are trying to imply that it must, your are being intellectualy dishonest.

[TomCollins]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The most logical explination - THIS IS A FREAKING URBAN LEGEND!

[/ QUOTE ]

BZZZZZ. Wrong answer.

[/ QUOTE ]

O RLY? That's the most obvious one. Show me some documentation otherwise then.

[DrPhysic]

One of my three dogs had to be put down about a month ago. We had him cremated and put in a sealed urn. My wife brought it home and placed it on a table in a far corner of the living area where a couple of others like it resided. We went out that afternoon. When we returned, one of the other dogs had taken the urn from it's spot, and moved it to the place where the deceaced dog had always laid in the evenings.

Improperly sealed?

One of the other dogs had been a priest in a previous life?

I don't know.

I do know that it was a very very strange experience.

Doc

[baumer]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I read an article the other day about a cat that was adopted by a church in Pinehurst. The cat became good friends with one of the staff at the church. Upon the man's death, the cat could not be found after the funeral until he was discovered on the grave of his friend, where he stayed for two days.

Assuming the information in the story was correct, let's go ahead and make the assumption that the cat knew his friend was there. What can explain that he knew, assuming that the casket was sealed properly?

[/ QUOTE ]I can with cetianty say that the explianation may have nothing to do with ...

[/ QUOTE ]

if that word is indeed "certainty", it is fairly easy to be certain something "may" be true.

[BigSoonerFan]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The most logical explination - THIS IS A FREAKING URBAN LEGEND!

[/ QUOTE ]

BZZZZZ. Wrong answer.

[/ QUOTE ]

O RLY? That's the most obvious one. Show me some documentation otherwise then.

[/ QUOTE ]

Urban legends don't have dates, names and locations stated.

[DougShrapnel]

[ QUOTE ]
One of my three dogs had to be put down about a month ago. We had him cremated and put in a sealed urn. My wife brought it home and placed it on a table in a far corner of the living area where a couple of others like it resided. We went out that afternoon. When we returned, one of the other dogs had taken the urn from it's spot, and moved it to the place where the deceaced dog had always laid in the evenings.

Improperly sealed?

One of the other dogs had been a priest in a previous life?

I don't know.

I do know that it was a very very strange experience.

Doc

[/ QUOTE ]I like this story but I don't think that smell would work here, since the dogs ashes probably don't smell like dog. And I don't see any reason to invoke god or priests, and reincarnation. The dog simply knew what the urn represented. You and your wife communicated it to the dog.

[Rduke55]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The most logical explination - THIS IS A FREAKING URBAN LEGEND!

[/ QUOTE ]

BZZZZZ. Wrong answer.

[/ QUOTE ]

O RLY? That's the most obvious one. Show me some documentation otherwise then.

[/ QUOTE ]

Urban legends don't have dates, names and locations stated.

[/ QUOTE ]

They often do. And the dates, names, etc. often change. I heard this one except it was a dog.

[bocablkr]

[ QUOTE ]
Urban legends don't have dates, names and locations stated.


[/ QUOTE ]

BZZZZZ. Wrong answer. Show us a link to the article you read this in.