Background information I had an abortion about a week before this dream.

In my dream I was sitting on a truck with my old boyfriend who had cheated on me before. I saw something like a raccoon and had him move it. It came at me again, and I crushed it with a big boot I was wearing.

Then it started to come at me again, but it was crying and it was a cat and I kept kicking it. In the end it was all mangled, and just wanted me to come and hold it, but I killed it.

—Suzanne, Age 16, Single, USA

Hi Suzanne—

I am very sorry to learn of your recent difficulties. Choosing to end a pregnancy always is painful.

Will it surprise you to learn that cats in dreams often symbolize babies? Cats are about the same size as newborns, and we cradle them in our arms, and hold them against our shoulders, just like we do babies. We also are responsible for our cats, and take care of them and feed them -- like we do our children.

The reason why your dream shows a cat attacking you is because you still are wrestling with the emotional feelings that the termination of your pregnancy caused. You most likely are frustrated that you became pregnant, and wish the whole memory of it would go away, and be in your past.

Often when we try to avoid painful feelings, though, the memory of them can seem to push its way back into our minds -- and we can feel "attacked" and "persecuted" by its presence. Your dream shows that your memory of your abortion (the mangled cat) is weighing heavily upon you.

It's time to visit a family planning counselor, Suzanne, who can help you to understand and manage your difficult emotions positively. You have suffered a great loss, not only of a potential child, but also of your confidence to control your future, and of your trust in intimate relationships.

You are forced to deal with a difficult experience at a young age, Suzanne, but if you overcome this difficult hurdle by resolving to take charge of your life, you will create values that will guide you for a lifetime.