I had a dream in which a lion ate my small kitten. I felt very helpless and couldn’t do anything. Suddenly my housemate (I don’t know this person) had taken the lion in as her own pet. She had no concern that it had eaten my kitten. The lion then continued to eat her grown up cat, and made a big hole in her flesh, but she didn’t seem bothered. I had to hide myself and my little nephew, afraid of what the lion would do to us.

Last night I had a similar dream where my very small puppy was eaten by a bigger dog and nobody around me seemed bothered.

I recently moved to Switzerland (from South Africa) for work purposes. I met a very nice man 3 months ago and the relationship works well at this stage, but it has become quite serious. (He completely avoids the topic of marriage, but he does talk about having children).

I would really like to have children, but I am not sure if our relationship will endure because of the big cultural difference. Although he really is a caring and wonderful man, and I do have feelings for him, I sometimes regret that I have gotten into the relationship because I fear that I am wasting my time.

—Claire, Age 28, Switzerland

Hi Claire —

Dreams of small animals being eaten or killed by larger, more aggressive ones typically reflect fears for the survival of our own children. Cats in dreams hold strong associations to babies, because we cradle them in our arms (like newborns) and because we often identify them as “our children.” We are responsible for their care, for feeding them, and for nurturing their development.

Because of the cultural differences that exist between you and your new partner, you have begun to question the long term viability of the relationship. Specifically, you wonder if your continuing involvement with him is occurring at the expense of a more likely partner? Your dream reflects fears that you may be wasting your time, and threatening the likelihood of your future children.

The inclusion of a housemate in your dream, when you do not possess one in real life, is significant. Because houses in dreams represent the self, this “roommate” suggests an aspect of yourself that may be trying to avoid or downplay the significance of your feelings and fears. In the dream your housemate does not appear to care that your kittens, or dog, have been attacked.

At a time when childbearing clearly is on your mind, your dreams are clear signs to recognize the validity of your desire for children (represented by the injured kittens and puppy), and take action accordingly. Your future, and your children’s, awaits you!

Dear Dream Doctor—

Your interpretation makes sense in the context of my relationship. I think the fact that I had news about my sister’s pregnancy a few days before the dream had me thinking about children in our relationship.