I need a good, Christian answer on this. What happens to an animal's soul when it dies?

Question

My cat is going to be put to sleep because she has cancer, but I have to know what is going to happen to her. Somebody with a good Christian mind, please answer this!

Answer 1

Animals do not have souls, sorry about your cat though, I know how that feels.

Answer 2

St. Francis of Assisi (around 1200s? I believe, but may be wrong) taught that animals had souls and he even preached to them.

Millennialist interpreters talk about Jesus riding a white horse at the battle of armeggedon when Jesus comes back to set up his melennial reign (however long that will be). So, by that interpretation, there will be animals in heaven. Whether God created them there from the start or whether they were born on earth etc. is a question I cannot answer.

However, I do maintain that animals do have souls, however, they are not moral souls in God's image, as are humans, so I don't think they have the same eternal destiny that a human would have. Therefore, I would tell you that your cat will probably just cease to exist, but I don't know that for absolute certain.

Answer 3

Good question. No one knows for certain what happens to animals when they die. We know that there are animals in heaven though. The Bible mentions them from time to time. However, back when the Bible was being written people didn't own pets as we own them today. Animals were mainly used to help out around the house. Hence, oxen, horses, cows for milk, sheep for wool, etc. They didn't have pet cats and dogs like we do today, although some did but very little.

In Ecclesiastes Solomon mentions that he doesn't know whether an animals soul goes to heaven or to the place of the dead in chapter 3 verse 21. This suggests that perhaps animals do have an afterlife. Many say that since God is all merciful and all loving then He'll allow us to reunite with our pets in heaven. But this isn't technically in the Bible.

In heaven though I personally believe that we'll be so caught up with being in the Holy Presents of Almighty God that we won't even think twice about our pets or anyone else besides Him. If your married you won't be in heaven. If you have children they won't be your children in heaven. It's a very different place. But all the better....far better then earth will ever be!

Answer 4

Animals do have soul. The symptoms of life is that the soul is present. The soul is the same as human soul, the difference is the covering, there are 8,400,000 species of life and the soul obtain any form according to his desire. Nature provide the body in which the living soul can satisfy his material desires. The soul is eternal, never dies, just change bodies until get the human form, then from the human form we can elevate ourself to the kingdom of God or degraded ourself down to hell. But nothing is eternal hell is not eternal and the punishment is not eternal either.

Answer 5

I am not a christian but I'm sorry about you cat. If people have souls than so must animals. So if you believe in an eternal life after death for yourself, you can also believe in something nice for your cat. I wish you all the strength you need. Losing a beloved animal is very hard.

Answer 6

You see what you get when you ask for Christians on this one? Believe me, they live by a 2000 year old book that doesn't take into consideration modern science or spiritualitys. Time for an update!

Animals do have souls, and they're no different than yours or mine...except for a few parts with personality.

I personally wouldn't want to follow a religion that says that animals are lower than humans. They may be less intelligent technologically wise, but their life is just as precious as yours or mine!

This leaves two options for a possible afterlife, assuming that the soul exists after all, would be heaven and hell, or reincarnation. Either way, you can guess what is to come.

Answer 7

Man, some of the answers people give are pretty cruel...
Be assured that if you believe that the way to an eternal life is through Christ, then also be assured that an animal knows no good or evil and has a pass to the eternal life. Be a peace and know your animal will also be.

Answer 8

Depending upon your interpretation of Scripture, mankind is unique among God's creation in that respect (having a soul) -- cf. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (eternity placed in man's heart), Genesis 1:26 (being made in God's image), and Genesis 2:7 (what it means to have God's breath).

Answer 9

Dear, I do not believe that animals have souls. People are the only animals that have souls. This is what seperates us from animals. God gave people the responsibility to care for his animals. You have done a special thing taking care of Gods creatures. This pet has impacted your soul and will be a part of your spirit because of the love and nurturing. Please know and believe that this cats life was better because you were there to love it. God will bless you for this.

Answer 10

Well, I can tell you that the Book of Ezekiel, from Chapter 40 to the end, is all about what you and I will be doing in the eternity.
Animals are present there; God loves His animals. In Genesis He even had Adam name all the domestic and farm animals that He created. Your kitty will be there; I have no doubt. I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

Answer 11

I’m so sorry for your loss,
I think its the hardest thing to go though putting a pet down or to loose a pet by an accident, I feel for you.

I would like to add that, I don’t feel our pets really leave us, they are still around even if we cant feel them right away, they make themselves known here and there. In little ways.

BB.ALD
PS, I might not be Christian but i feel i still have a valied point.