Scaredy Cat: Phantom Felines and Cursed Cats

With so many types of ghosts out there, would it surprise you if I told you that some of them were animals? Not all places are haunted by spectral monks and sad ladies in white flowing gowns. Over the years there have been many reports of ghostly animals; I've covered the Black Shuck before and even touched on the Tower of Londons resident Bear, but other than that I haven't really covered any other creepy critters. So let's remedy that situation with some Phantom Felines.   

Photo by OliBac, CC BY 2.0

Killakee House, Dublin, Ireland.

Probably the most well-known ghost cat on this list. The Black Cat of Killakee House is incredibly angry and has every reason to be so, as it may have been a victim of the infamous Hellfire Club, who were active in the area during the 1700s and were responsible for the ritualistic death of a black cat. But the cat's story doesn't really start until 1968, when a young couple bought the house. It was a bit of a fixer-upper, but they had big plans for their new home and put the initial strange happening down to it being an old building in need of a lot of work. Then, in the 1970s, they bought in builders and things turned a little sinister. Eerie noises, doors opening on their own and temperature drops were only the start of it. The spooked builders found themselves stalked by a massive, terrifying black cat with red glowing eyes. They had had enough. They fled the house and refused to return. And although the family had originally believed the men were just being superstitious, they soon started to encounter the aggravated beast themselves and, in the end, had to call a priest to perform an exorcism on the property.

While this seemed to work at the time, it was only a temporary fix. A group visiting the house decided to hold a seance for fun and this started up the hauntings again. 

Short Street, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

Short Street is a narrow, cobbled street that runs along the back of a derelict pottery works and is home to a small collection of traditional workers cottages. These cottages are the haunt of one very shy little ghost. Often spotted sitting on the doorstep of one of the cottages, this friendly seeming puss is fond of disappearing into thin air when approached. Many people have been surprised by this and the ghost has been witnessed by multiple people at a time. Why it haunts the cottages is unknown, maybe it was just happy there in life and is unwilling to leave.

King John's Hunting Lodge, Axbridge, Somerset.

Built in the 1400s as a wool merchants house, King John's Hunting Lodge is now a museum and is home to more than one ghost. The one seen most often, by staff and visitors alike, is that of a friendly tabby cat. This benign little soul is often found hanging around in a wood-panelled room on the first floor and people have often fully interacted with it, talking and petting it, before having it pull a ghostly vanishing act on them. You're more likely to come across this spirit if you don't actively look for it, so enjoy the exhibits the museum has to offer and maybe you'll make a spooky new friend.

The Nutshell, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

The Nutshell is a beautiful little pub, dating back to the 1800s, known as Britain's Smallest Pub. And while it's decorated by many interesting objects, what I'll be writing about is hanging above the bar; the resident mummified cat.

Hiding a dead cat in the walls of your house for good luck was a gruesome tradition that was common back in the 15th to 18th centuries, when people believed that it would protect the home from bad luck and evil spirits. And it would appear that this cat is happy to do so, providing you don't touch it. Invading this cat's personal space gets you cursed with some incredibly bad luck. A landlady once attempted to clean the cat, accidentally snapping off part of its tail. Soon after she lost her job. Following this, the cat was kidnapped (catnapped?) by a group of mischievous servicemen from nearby RAF Honington. Their amusement soon turned to horror, as they found themselves experiencing an unusual steak of accidents and fires, and they quickly returned the cat. 

So buy yourself a pint and have fun, but stick to admiring this cat from a safe distance.

The Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire.

The Ancient Ram Inn is home to so many spirits, both good and bad, that it's worthy of a blog post of its very own. And with so many ghosts haunting one place, does it surprise you that a cat is lurking among them? It's said that, in the 16th century, a woman who was sentenced to be burnt at the stake managed to flee and took shelter in one of the rooms at the inn. She, like many innocent people during those times, had been accused of witchcraft. Despite her bid for freedom, the poor thing was recaptured and burnt at the stake with her familiar, a cat. This cat now haunts the inn, roaming the bedrooms and has a nasty habit of peeing on the beds. Charming.

As for the Ancient Ram Inn's other ghostly inhabitants? That's a blog post for another day.

So, those are our five paranormal felines. Have you ever visited any of these locations and experienced anything? Have you seen or heard about a phantom feline anywhere else? I'd love to hear your story. Let me know in the comments below or tag me in a post on Twitter.

Trouble in Paradise

Photo by Ronnie Robertson, CC BY-SA 2.0

Imagine an island paradise. Golden beaches, endless blue skies, a gentle breeze blowing through the wildflowers. Heaven. Or at least it looks like it. But at night this distant isle shows a different side; giant insects stalk the land, seeking to attack you, and the island itself has many secrets to discover. Even during the day, there's something eerie about this beautiful place. The music coming from your radio is a little creepy to say the least and you seem to be the only human here. Oh, and did I mention that within minutes of moving to the island you find yourself hopelessly in debt to a Tanuki in a Hawaiian shirt?
Yes, I'm talking about the latest Animal Crossing game, New Horizons. In these troubling times it has been the ultimate stress relief for a lot of people. A little bit of escapism that will, no doubt, lead to a whole new collection of creepy pastas written by it's fans. But as I toddled around my island, losing hours to the game and chasing down butterflies for the newly opened museum, a thought crossed my mind; what about real life haunted islands? There's so many of them! And that brings us to this blog post, where I'd like to introduce you to my top five haunted islands. So lets set sail on the good ship Strange Ways and take a cruise together, because these islands? These exist in real life.

Photo by Derek Simeone, CC BY 2.0

La Isla de las Muñecas, Mexico
Probably one of the most well known locations on this list and one of my top places to visit in person one day, this is the infamous Isle of the Dolls. And I'd be the first person to admit that I find old dolls a bit creepy. Tucked away in the Xochimico canals, outside of Mexico city, this island is jam packed with dolls of all shapes and sizes. Carefully placed on the ground, slowly decaying into the earth, watching you from the trees with hollow eye sockets and swaying in the breeze like grotesque wind chimes. It looks like an abandoned horror movie set, but it's history is both equal parts terrifying and tragic.
This island wasn't always as it it now, once it was home to a man by the name of Don Julian Santana Barrera and one must assume he was happy living there. But that all changed when he made the discovery of a little girls body floating just off the shore of his home. How she got there and what lead her to her heart breaking fate is unknown, but what is known is that Don Julian blamed himself for it, for not being there to save her. When a doll was washed ashore not long after, he decided that it must have belonged to the girl and he hung it from a nearby tree as an offering to her spirit. Soon after this he began to hear whispering voices, footsteps and shrill screams in the night. Convinced this was the ghost of the little girl, he began to collect more and more dolls, getting them from anywhere he could and adorning the small island with them. This was a ritual he would carry out for nearly fifty years. He hoped it would sooth the child's tortured, wandering spirit and save him from a similar fate, something he felt was beckoning him. Sadly, in 2001, Don Julian was found in the canal. Face down and lifeless in the same location that he found the little girl. Of course, some people were quick enough to blame the child's spirit, but I think it was more likely the guilt her felt for not having saved her that lead to his death. His legacy lives on in the tourists and ghost hunters who visit the island, many of them bringing dolls of their own to leave as offerings. Many report hearing the same haunting cries and footsteps that the islands late keeper heard.

Photo by Christine Olson, CC BY-ND 2.0

Nevis, the Caribbean
Sun, sea, sand and spirits; beautiful Nevis has it all! It's also home to a lot of ruined plantations and the Eden Brown Estate might just be the most notorious of them all. Back in the 1800's it was owned by the Huggins Family and the daughter of the family, Julia, was to be married to Walter Maynard, son of another rich and prosperous plantation owner. Everything was going smoothly, until the night of the wedding when a fight broke out between Walter and his best man, Julia's brother John Huggins. It's unknown what the argument was about, some say it was about a mistress one of the men had and others say it was about the Huggins constant mistreatment of their slaves, but no matter what people say the end result is the same. The fight escalates, a drink is thrown, a challenge made; a duel. Despite the protests of those around them, it was a matter of honor and both men stormed from the house to the courtyard outside. But the duel itself ended as quickly as it began. Firing their pistols, both men managed to hit their mark and killed each other instantly. Julia was heartbroken, she stopped leaving the house and eventually died a spinster. Some say she went mad in her self imposed isolation. These days Julia can still be found at the crumbling ruins of her previous home, her spirit has been sighted roaming the grounds and weeping. When not seen or heard it's said that her spirit can be felt instead, watching over those exploring her home.

Photo by Jorbasa Fotografie, CC BY-ND 2.0

Jersey, UK
A little closer to home for me and a place where I've had a paranormal experience of my own; Jersey is a gorgeous place, with a rich and sometimes dark history. Home to places with names like Witches' Rock, Gorey Castle, The Well of Death and Ghost Hill, it's hard for the paranormal seeking traveler to know where to start. I could fill a whole blog post with the islands tales and, one day, I will. But for now I'll stick to telling you about Crack Ankle Lane. With a horrific story behind it and a name like that, how could I resist telling you about it?
Found not too far from St Peters is a picturesque sunken lane with a thick, over hanging canopy of trees. Even on a cloudy day it's pretty, but on a sunny day it looks like something from a fairytale. And, like all good fairy tales, this fantasy like setting has a monster. It's known only as the Vioge. A demonic spirit of unknown origins, it's said to resemble an emaciated scarecrow. The lane got it's name by the Vioge's habit of grabbing it's victims by their ankles and dragging them away to it lair, where it would proceed to butcher and devour them. There is no indication where this ghost story comes from, but with the islands history of smuggling, one has to wonder if the two may be linked. Nether the less, be careful if you visit this shady road, nobody want to be done in by a flesh eating Worzel Gummidge.

Photo by Ernie Murphy, CC BY 2.0

Oahu, Hawaii

For many, Hawaii is an idea holiday location for it's beauty, but others might find it interesting for other reasons too. It's long history, fascinating folklore and multitudes of haunted locations make it an ideal holiday location for those who are interested in the paranormal. The perfect place to work on your tan, check out some museums and do a little ghost hunting before a relaxing evening walk on the beach. But even in paradise there's danger, and it turns out there are some nights you might want to skip the romantic midnight strolls and stay in your hotel instead. Such as the night of the full or new moon. These nights are the ones when you're most likely to run afoul of the islands infamous Nightmarchers. Also known as the Huaka'i po, these are the spirits of a group of ancient Hawaiian warrior spirits. They aren't outright malevolent, they're just doing their job. In life they guarded the islands chiefs, in death they are said to continue this task well as roaming the night to protect sacred sites around the island. The real problem is their nasty habit of killing anyone who gazes upon them, although it's said that if you are a descendant of one of their number then they will leave you unharmed. Luckily their arrival is well announced, they march to the loud beat of drums and conch horns. This, combined with the distant glow of the torches they carry, is the only warning you'll get to run. If you see or hear these things then hightail it out of there as quick as you can, stay low, stay hidden and, most importantly, don't make eye contact with them. If they spot you it's said that your only way to survive is to show them the respect they deserve; bow your head and avert your eyes, and, if you have the time, strip naked and lay face down on the ground. Sure, it's uncomfortable and embarrassing, but it's a lot better than being killed and added to their number.

Photo by Kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0

Deadman's Island, Canada
Unlike the other islands on this list, you couldn't really consider Deadman's Island a paradise. As it's name suggests, this place has a very dark history to it. Hundreds of years ago it was the site of a terrible battle between native tribes, one which resulted in the massacre of 200 warriors. The tribe responsible for the massacre quickly abandoned the island the following day, horrified to discover that eerie, fiery flowers had sprung up where the bodies of their enemies had fallen. After this it was considered scared, but cursed, land. A island of the dead that was only to be used for burial. The Squamish people used it as such, performing tree burials until the 1800's, when the settlers barged in and took it for themselves. The settlers, rather than respecting the land, used it to quarantine and bury victims of smallpox, essentially dumping their sick people on the island to die. Not a place for the faint of heart, all of this death and misery seems to have built up and visitors to the island today have reported a lot of paranormal activity. The constant feeling of been closely watched, scuttling footsteps in the undergrowth, the rattle of chains and the heartbreaking sound of a woman sobbing. It is now a HMCS Discovery Naval Reserve, which affords it some protection and means it's the only island on this list that's off limits to the public.



So, I do hope you've enjoyed our little cruise together and, as always, if you've experienced anything at any of these locations then I'd love to hear about it! Drop a comment below or tag me on Twitter! And don't forget to follow me on Instagram for updates about what's going on at Strange Ways HQ, mini ghost stories and much, much more

A Welcome and a Thank You: June Update.

Hello, dear readers! I'd like to say a massive thank you to my regular readers and to anyone new to my blog! Telling stories of the strange and unusual is  a joy to me and I love sharing them with you all, so don't be afraid to comment and interact. I don't bite and I love hearing from you guys!
I'm pleased to announce that The Strange Ways will now be updating twice monthly. You can still expect the same tales of ghosties, ghoulies, long legged beasties and things that go bump in the night, but with more frequency. I'll also be attempting to visit more locations personally, sort of like a spooky travel guide, for your amusement and my own.

Also, a quick reminder for all, you can keep track of blog updates on my Twitter account and my Instagram. And now you can also follow my blog with Bloglovin!