Monsters Among Us – S19 Ep43: Ghostly Pets, Devil Dogs, and Monster Big Cats

Host: Derek Hayes
Date: September 9, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Derek Hayes curates and explores first-hand tales of supernatural encounters involving beloved cats and dogs. Listeners share stories of lost pets returning from the afterlife, encounters with ghostly canines, uncanny mimicry, possible cryptid cats, and truly chilling events. The show blends heartwarming nostalgia with unsettling accounts, highlighting the ways our furry companions—and sometimes monstrous animals—can traverse the veil between this world and the next.

Key Discussion Points & Caller Stories

1. Pets From Beyond: Ghostly Goodbyes and Comfort

[03:47] Ben, Wisconsin – Rocky the Cat’s Farewell

• Ben recounts the aftermath of losing his 18-year-old cat, Rocky. While getting ready for brunch the morning after Rocky’s passing, Ben distinctly felt a cat brush up against her leg.
  • Quote:
    "There was a cat rubbing against my leg, which is odd because it's my husband's cat... I think she was sending a message to us, especially me, because I'm thin with the veil." – Ben, [05:55]
• Both she and her husband were sure the other cats were not nearby.

[07:43] Tyler, Florida – Puppy’s Echoes

• Tyler hears the noises of his deceased puppy for days after its passing, as do his girlfriend and sister-in-law:
  • Quote:
    "I thought I was going crazy. I know I can't be hearing this puppy that I just buried... But then I went and asked my girlfriend, I asked my sister-in-law, and they all told me that they would hear the same noise..." – Tyler, [08:09]
• The story supports the idea that pets may return to offer comfort.

[11:13] Elizabeth, Texas – The Light and the Purr

• After Elizabeth’s cat Buttons passes away, her surviving male cat begins loudly purring at a shaft of sunlight, leading Elizabeth to feel a profound sense of peace.
• Elizabeth believes Buttons was saying goodbye to both her and her feline companion.

2. Disturbing Animal Spirits and Hauntings

[14:35] Kathy, Minnesota – The Phantom Guard Dog

• Kathy describes hearing a menacing dog scratching and snarling at a door during a visit to a friend’s house—after the actual pet had recently died. The neighbors also report hearing the dog’s ghost:
  • Quote:
    "We could hear the dog scratching and growling at the door when we came up and knocked at noon... The person looks at us and said, ‘Yeah. The neighbors have said they've heard the dog too, but I haven't heard it at all.’" – Kathy, [16:26]
• The encounter leaves her, her friends, and listeners unsettled.

[18:14] Anonymous – Cat Interferes With a Message from Beyond

• The caller recounts seeing his deceased mother in a vision, only for the encounter to be interrupted by the family cat, who appears to react directly to the apparition.
  • Quote:
    "The cat lands and meows looking at my mom, and my mom dissipates into nothing." – Anonymous, [20:07]
• Derek hypothesizes the cat may have protected the caller from a malevolent mimicking spirit.

3. Dogs as Protectors and Harbingers

[24:07] Ash, Four Corners Area – Bark vs. the Beast

• Ash describes a chilling late-night incident in a remote area with rumored Bigfoot activity. When a loud, bone-chilling roar echoes from the mountains, all the local dogs abruptly go silent:
  • Quote:
    "Dogs and the neighbors were barking like crazy. And then when he did start to roar, the dogs just went completely quiet." – Ash, [25:18]
• Derek discusses possible cryptid explanations and notes the protective instincts of dogs.

[28:10] Emma, Tennessee – Dog Reacts to Family Loss

• Emma’s dog, typically quiet, fixates on an empty corner of the room—right after the death of a close relative—barking and growling as if seeing someone invisible.

4. Time Slips and Unseen Realities

[34:23] Devin, North Carolina – The Mandela Dog

• Devin recalls a once-prominent aggressive border collie in his neighborhood, but none of his neighbors or even his wife remember it. He wonders if he's slipped into an alternate reality:
  • Quote:
    "They all three looked at me and said, what are you talking about? What border collie?... I don't know if this is like a Mandela effect or—maybe I slipped into some kind of time warp." – Devin, [35:00]
• Derek suggests checking Google Maps Street View as a reality check.

5. Cryptid and Monster Cats

[40:42] Kelly, Florida – The Klickitat Ape Cat

• Kelly recommends another podcast episode about the Klickitat Ape Cat, describing a cryptid big cat with ape-like habits in Washington state.

[42:42] Rick, Virginia – Investigating Black Panthers

• Rick, a paranormal and cryptid researcher, discusses a 2019 case involving mysterious animal attacks in North Carolina. Photos showed large feline prints; some locals suspect a black panther that’s long been rumored in the area.
  • Quote:
    "Residents in the area have been reporting a black panther type creature roaming the wooded areas." – Rick, [44:00]

6. Devil Dogs and Uncanny Mimicry

[46:45] Mac, Illinois – Devil Dog in the Car

• Mac shares a secondhand story of insurance photos depicting a terrifying "devil dog" that appeared in a wrecked car’s interior, captured in five photos before vanishing.
  • Quote:
    "Inside the car in five of these pictures was what they described as basically a devil dog of some kind. The first picture it was in the driver's seat of the car is looking out..." – Mac, [47:00]
• Mac never saw the photos himself, leading to speculation among co-workers.

[50:43] James, Alabama – Mimicked Dog Call

• James describes a disembodied voice that sounded exactly like his wife, calling their dog by name at dawn, while both wife and child slept inside:
  • Quote:
    "I'm not too sure who or what called my dog's name, but it had my wife's voice, and it sounded pretty close." – James, [54:25]
• Derek notes the phenomenon of spirits or entities mimicking loved ones, possibly attempting to lure the pet.

7. Supernatural Cats and Dark Folklore

[56:57] Dee Dee, Massachusetts – The Meowing Lure

• Dee Dee recalls, as a child in Boston, hearing her name called from the balcony, then a "cat" meowing to coax her outside. She sensed this was unnatural and hid under the covers in fear.
  • Quote:
    "The voice that called my name twice suddenly started to make a meowing sound... as though it were luring me to go out there." – Dee Dee, [59:20]
• Her grandmother later admitted to experiencing footsteps and odd phenomena in the same room, furthering the sense of a long-standing haunting.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I'd believe in almost anything if it brought Annie back to us." – Derek Hayes, host, [06:53]
• "Could have just been Uncle Kenny, you know, saying hi. Maybe granddaddy was, like, checking up on us. Maybe they were together... Kind of comforting in a way, but still a little creepy." – Emma, [30:14]
• "Now, you asked for my opinion here, Devin, and this is the best advice that I can give on such short notice. Go to Google Maps Street View and see if that dog is in any of the images." – Derek Hayes, [38:00]

Cryptid & Cultural Tidbits (from Derek Hayes)

• In Hinduism, dogs are honored during the festival Tihar, associated with the god of death, Yamahara.
• Germanic and Celtic folklore depict spectral wolves and fairy cats like the Cat Sith, believed to steal souls or act as omens.
• Japanese and Russian cultures associate cats (especially black cats) with luck, love, and supernatural powers.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:47] Ben’s ghost cat experience
• [07:43] Tyler's phantom puppy
• [11:13] Elizabeth’s comforting cat visitation
• [14:35] Kathy's phantom guard dog
• [18:14] Anonymous caller’s visitation from a deceased mother interrupted by a cat
• [24:07] Ash’s dog's encounter with an alleged cryptid
• [28:10] Emma’s dog reacts to a family member’s death
• [34:23] Devin’s Mandela dog mystery
• [40:42] Kelly on the Klickitat Ape Cat
• [42:42] Rick’s investigation of big cats in NC
• [46:45] Mac’s devil dog photographs
• [50:43] James and the mimicked call
• [56:57] Dee Dee’s meowing spectral lure

Conclusion

Derek Hayes weaves together a tapestry of stories that highlight the unique connection between humans and animals in supernatural contexts. From dearly departed pets returning to mischievous entities mimicking loved ones, and from cryptid cats prowling the wilderness to unnerving devil dog tales, this episode offers heartfelt, eerie, and sometimes mind-bending encounters for believers and skeptics alike.

Host’s sign-off:
"As an uncle myself, if I died and came back as a ghost and the only one in the household that could see me was the dog, well, I would do all that I could, too, to get that dog's attention... Keep it spooky and have a good night." – Derek Hayes, [31:06][64:16]

For those who treasure both the warmth and mystery of life with animals, this episode is a must-listen—equal parts comfort and chills.