Cat Stares at Oven, Cop Can’t Believe What’s Inside

For nearly 20 years, Andrew and Olivia Baxter have been bound by the joyous ties of marriage. Their delightful family includes their 14-year-old little girl, Maisie, and their pet cat, affectionately named Benji. Their residence for the majority of their marriage, a span of 15 years, has been England. However, it has been decided that now is the time for Andrew to journey back to the place of his birth, Charlotte, North Carolina.

When his granny Evangeline passed away, she left him a large house in the Charlotte suburbs. It was the place where his family roots were and he was thrilled to go back. But what no one in the family knew was that this move would turn their peaceful life into a terrifying nightmare.

They landed in their new residence in Charlotte during the cool but sunny January. Having come all the way from their previous home across the sea in England, they now welcomed the task of unwrapping and settling in with all the items they transported from the English home turf.

Andrew’s grandma’s house was truly magnificent, with sharp eaves and pristine white pillars. It had been vacant ever since she had moved to a nursing home during her last years, and now, the Baxters were eager to infuse new vigor into this old architectural beauty. But they had no slightest hint that this historic house already had some inhabitants.

While getting to know their new dwelling, the Baxters were taken aback to see that much of Evangeline’s belongings were left untouched, even the old, wood-burning range was still there. Andrew recalled the lavish, scrumptious meals she used to prepare in that enormous oven, and it almost felt as if the delightful aroma of her previous cooking was still lingering in the air.

The old stove had been sitting untouched for many years. Andrew and Olivia had the thought to put in a new, modern-style oven right away, and maybe think about bringing the old stove back to its former glory after they had settled into their new home. If they had taken a peek into the old stove, they might have reconsidered what they planned for the future.

In the initial days after moving into her new home, Maisie found drifting off to sleep in her new upstairs room nearly impossible. The house was hardly quiet, with the sounds of creaking, rustling, and thumping echoing through the halls. More chillingly, on occasion, she thought she even heard the eerie sound of low growling resonating from somewhere within the house.

Despite pulling her cozy blanket all the way up and burying her head beneath her pillow, Maisie couldn’t ignore the strange sounds around her. Her pet cat, Benji, cuddled up next to her, offering her some comfort. Yet, even Benji seemed bothered by the unusual noises. This led Maisie to question if there were hidden secrets within her house, secrets that perhaps only Benji was aware of.

Andrew and Olivia couldn’t help but observe that Maisie was sporting deep shadows beneath her eyes. With a gentle and caring demeanor, Andrew slid his arm around her, offering her a comforting squeeze. “House keeping you up, sweetie? I know it’s been making a fair old racket these past few nights,” he tenderly voiced his concern.

Tiredly, Maisie gave an agreeable nod. “That’s just the wooden floors settling down. They’re built differently, these old houses, and it’ll take a little while for this one to get used to its new tenants,” he continued to explain. His words provided some comfort to Maisie, yet she couldn’t shake off her apprehension completely when the unusual noises echoed throughout the house later that night.

The Baxter family began working hard to return their new home to a habitable state. From the top of the attic to the bottom of the basement, every nook and cranny of the house cried out for a deep clean and a fresh coat of paint. The furniture was in desperate need of repair and care, while Evangeline’s personal items were a mix of memories demanding to be organized.

From dawn till dusk, Andrew and Olivia labored tirelessly while Maisie was at her school, and it wasn’t long before they’d managed to get the old house to gleam with cleanliness and emit a fresh aroma. This made Maisie feel less unnerved while in the house, but Benji’s peculiar behavior was still a matter of concern.

The little kitty was finding it hard to get used to the environment of his new home. He would often exhibit nervous behavior, jumping at unfamiliar sounds. At times he’d fixate on the walls, as if fascinated or puzzled. On several occasions, he’d vanish unexpectedly, not to be seen for a couple of days, leaving everyone worried.

Maisie’s mom was confident that Benji, their cat, would soon adjust to their new dwelling and return to his usual self. Yet, Maisie possessed a deep understanding of Benji, and she wasn’t entirely convinced. She suspected there was a more significant cause for Benji’s strange actions, she was just unsure about what exactly it was.

Even though her mom and dad tried their best to calm her down, there was still something about the house that made Maisie feel a little uncomfortable. She worked hard to shoo away her fears, that weird feeling wouldn’t leave her. It was as if, especially in the kitchen, she always sensed a set of eyes on her, as though she wasn’t alone.

We all saw that Benji, the cat, was acting unusually. Maisie had heard that sometimes pets can sense bad things in a house before people can. She couldn’t shake the feeling that it was connected to whatever – or possibly whoever – had been disturbing her sleep night after night.

One night, Andrew was in the kitchen, frying up some chicken and cooking up greens, biscuits and gravy. He had found Evangeline’s old recipe collection and was busily cooking his way through the delightful tastes of North Carolina’s traditional dishes.

Maisie was located at the dining table engrossed in her school work, a radio quietly humming tunes in the background creating a soothing atmosphere. Suddenly, her pet cat, Benji, strutted into the room displaying an uncanny behaviour. His tail was rigid and upright, signalling agitation. Instead of opting for the warmth coming from the currently functioning oven, he chose to park himself in front of the old, wood-burning oven, eyes trained on it with intense focus. What struck Maisie as peculiar was about to evolve into an altogether more mysterious situation.

For a spell of around 20 minutes, Benji remained completely unmoving, almost like a sculpture. He was so still, that even when Andrew nearly stepped on him, he didn’t budge an inch. His gaze was attentive and steadily focused on the oven door. The only other time Maisie recalled seeing him this undisturbed and statue-like was back in England when he had been stealthily trailing a mouse.

Amid the clamor of the radio, Maisie was fairly certain she could pick up the sound of those strange, unnerving noises once again. Clearly, Benji, her finicky feline companion, seemed to fixate on the same peculiar sounds as well. Andrew caught on to Benji’s unusual behavior and began to feel a bit anxious. He made an attempt to send the cat out of the cooking area, but Benji was having none of it, determined to stand his ground.

The sight of her dad’s disturbance was the final blow for young Maisie. She couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Dad, there is something strange about this house. Benji knows it, that’s why he’s acting so weird. Please, you have to do something. There’s something that doesn’t want us here,” she blurted out passionately. She desperately needed him to understand that their new home held more than meets the eye.

“Maisie-Daisie, this is foolishness,” he started, but was quickly silenced by a stern glance from Maisie. “Alright, I agree that Benji is behaving unusually. However, I’m certain there’s a logical reason behind it,” he expressed, with a note of skepticism in his voice. Andrew attempted to gently steer Benji away from the oven using his foot, but the cat was quick to hiss in response. This strange confrontation caused Maisie to let out a fearful whimper.

“Alright, alright, Maisie” he responded. With a sense of urgency, Andrew made the decision to dial the non-emergency police line. The friendly law enforcement officer on the other side of the call inquired, “What seems to be the problem?” Andrew began his explanation about the peculiar noises he’d been hearing and Benji, his cat’s unusual actions. He said, “My cat won’t leave the kitchen until I open the oven.”

The officer was clearly puzzled. “Sir, I don’t understand. Why do you feel this is a police matter?” he inquired. Andrew patiently clarified that his only motive was to comfort his daughter’s worries. Unbeknownst to him, the threat that was looming over the entire family was merely meters away.

The officer was experiencing an uneventful night, so there was no reason for him to scold Andrew for wasting the valuable time police often need. “Have you checked inside the oven?” questioned the officer. Andrew responded, a quizzical expression on his face, “No, why?”. “Sir, please open the oven now. That way your daughter can see there’s nothing to worry about and we can both get on with our evenings,” the officer suggested in a soothing tone, trying to ease the tension.

Andrew was astounded to notice his own hands shaking as he moved to unveil the oven door. He expected it to be coated with dirt and corrosion, yet the catch was not resistant. The sight that greeted them within was enough to chill Maisie to the bone.

In the stove, Andrew discovered a small hoard of food wrappers and other scraps of rubbish. Letting out a sigh of contentment, he revealed his find to the cop. They both concluded it’s probably just remnants from when Evangeline resided in the home.

In her final time at the house, she was somewhat mixed up. She might have forgotten that they had stopped lighting the fire in the oven, yet she put her waste there anyway. It could be that Benji was attracted to the smell of the garbage, hence his fascination with the old stove. What they failed to realize was that their troubles were yet to come to an end.

After the officer got off the phone, assuring them it was common for cats to behave weirdly while adjusting to a new setting, Andrew felt comforted. However, Maisie’s anxiety persisted. She couldn’t help but notice some of the items wrapped up were from the English candies she had brought over when they moved to the U.S.

Could it possibly be her grandmother who had been nibbling on those before being sent to the elderly care home? There must have been a person or maybe a creature, silently finishing their food and cleverly stowing away all traces in the oven.

For days, Maisie strained to keep her mind away from the troubling thoughts about the oven, although it was a rather tough task. One quiet night, to prevent the unseen thing from moving freely in and out, she cautiously shoved a large, heavy wooden chair against the oven door.

When morning came, the chair had landed on the floor. Andrew and Olivia figured that Benji was the culprit, likely in an attempt to scale the kitchen countertops. However, throughout that entire day, there was no sign of Benji anywhere.

Carrying a torch and a sturdy stick, Maisie spared no inch of the house in her search. She explored every corner, from the musty, damp cellar to the creepy, spider-filled loft, but there was absolutely no trace of where Benji might have gone.

Andrew and Olivia didn’t seem overly anxious—Benji was a savvy street cat and they were confident he was just out exploring the neighborhood and would come home soon. But that same evening, young Maisie heard her mom and dad having a muted, serious discussion. It felt like they were a bit more concerned about Benji’s disappearance than they initially let out.

Without Benji nearby, Maisie felt her fear climbing higher. The night-time sounds hadn’t disappeared; actually, they had intensified. They varied from the horror-movie-like screech of nails scratching against wood to an odd chirping noise that left Maisie puzzled about its source.

Every time her mom and dad showed up to check, the strange sounds would mysteriously hush. Maisie tried to use her smartphone to record the eerie sounds, but they didn’t get picked up as they should. The poor girl felt as if she was losing her sanity. And there was still no sign of Benji. She was totally unaware that things were about to spiral downhill even more.

Feeling worn out and terrified, Maisie opened up about her worries to her mom and dad. She’d never put stock in the supernatural before, but she was at a loss to find another reason. “Mom, I know it sounds crazy but there is something in this house. It knocked over that chair, it makes noises every night, and now it’s got Benji. I’m scared it’s going to get me next,” she shared, her voice filled with fear.

Clinging tightly to her daughter, Olivia just couldn’t ignore that something peculiar was in the air. Never having shared her suspicion with Andrew, the curious feeling of unseen eyes watching her in the kitchen couldn’t be shaken off. The concept of phantoms was far from her mind, yet her daughter’s words managed to make her spine tingle with an eerie feeling.

The following night, the Baxter family gathered for dinner in their kitchen. Maisie was noticeably on edge, her eyes constantly moving, scanning the room. Andrew and Olivia did their best to maintain a sense of normality, but their expressions told a different story, filled with concern. They tried to eat their dinner, to have some sense of normal, but anxiety was a guest at their table too.

Suddenly, like a switch had been hit, the room was engulfed in the eerie blanket of the dark. Attempting to get their bearings, they blindly felt their way in the pitch black, aiming to reach for the door. In the midst of the terror, the lights started to stutter on and off, creating sparks of light in the darkness, while a chilling, monstrous hum of electric current played in the background. With anxious speed, they departed from the kitchen, making a loud noise as the door was abruptly shut behind them. Andrew gave his word that he was going to have it fixed the upcoming day. It was a creepy experience they wished would not repeat.

That night, Maisie didn’t want to be by herself so she decided to sleep on a mattress on the floor of her parents’ bedroom. It wasn’t a restful night for anyone in the family as they were all extra sensitive to the sounds originating from the kitchen. Come morning, Olivia was the first one to get up. She carefully went downstairs and hesitantly opened the door to the kitchen.

Roused by a chilling scream, Andrew and Maisie found themselves wide awake. The kitchen was a complete mess, littered with refuse from the trash bin. A bag with flour had torn open, creating a thick carpet of the white grainy substance across the kitchen floor. And there, right in the midst of the floury spread, were clear impressions of small human handprints, the kind that could only belong to a child.

Olivia hastily gathered the family’s jackets as they all bolted to the car, leaving the front door to bang shut behind them. Her hands were still trembling, and little Maisie had begun to sob. Whatever creature had left those handprints was pursuing them relentlessly. It wouldn’t quit until they had been chased away. A heavy regret settled in Olivia’s heart. The decision to leave England seemed like a terrible mistake now.

Andrew transported his crew to the closest hotel and they settled into a room. It was unthinkable to consider staying in their home ever again, not after the event that transpired. Andrew was fully aware that he would have to go back there and confront the predicament, but he was determined to not do it alone.

Andrew reached out to the same officer he had spoken to earlier, filling him in on the new aspects of their situation. Maisie didn’t think the same as Andrew did. Andrew was starting to think the handprints were the result of a lost child who called the space under the house home, and came out in the secrecy of night to find food. This was a creepy idea to consider.

The police officer agreed to come check out the house, and for extra security, he brought a few more officers along. Given the peculiarity of the situation, they had to be ready for all possibilities. Andrew was waiting for them outside the house, and together, they stepped into the house to start their investigation.

The officers immediately headed for the kitchen. Here, they were face to face with the aftermath of the raucous from just the night before. Andrew gestured towards the antiquated oven, the epicenter of the whole incident. Together, they managed to haul the weighty appliance a few inches distant from the kitchen wall.

They directed their flashlights towards the gap, revealing a large cavity in the wall and a smaller hole that led straight into the oven. A nauseating odor wafted from the wall’s insides. The most slender officer managed to squeeze behind the stove and directed his luminous beam of his flashlight right into the opening. What greeted his eyes was about to unveil the mystery they were grappling with.

Amid the mix of insulation, gnawed pieces of cloth, and other bits of rubbish, there was a surprising discovery. It was not spirits or rebellious kids that found their home within the confines of the walls; instead, it was a clan of raccoons. Blinking in the sudden beam of the torchlight, there was a hefty mother raccoon, her eyes sparkling behind her signature burglar’s mask. Snuggled safe and sound around her, were her four precious little kits.

The officer broke into laughter. “Looks like you’ve got five tenants who haven’t been paying rent, buddy, no wonder you’ve been having a hard time,” he informed Andrew amusingly. Relief washed over Andrew. Being away from Charlotte for such a long time had caused him to overlook the clear signs of a raccoon invasion in his property.

Gratefully acknowledging the help of the officers, Andrew immediately dashed off to the hotel. He wanted to assure Olivia and Maisie that things were back to normal. To his amusement, he even spotted Benji, who looked slightly annoyed, prowling about in the garden.

“All this weird stuff happening, with the odd noises, power troubles, Benji’s acting out and even the strange footprints—it was the work of the raccoons!” Andrew joyously laid out the facts. “They’ve made their home inside our wall, right behind the stove and have been causing all this havoc. Now that we’ve found out their hidey-hole, we can easily get rid of them and not worry about any more of these issues,” he further concluded.

For a few nights, the Baxter family made a hotel their temporary home as they worked on getting everything back in order. A kind-hearted team specializing in wildlife removal was called upon to safely move the raccoon family to a new location. Meanwhile, the services of an electrician and a construction worker were enlisted to fix the damage that the curious critters had inflicted.

At long last, the moment to return to the residence had arrived. As they entered, Benji scampered towards the door, welcoming them with a purr that sounded like a chugging train. That evening, the only thing Maisie could hear was the sweet sound of silence as her mind eased into a deep and peaceful slumber.

The Baxter family was overjoyed that the terrible events that had plagued them during their initial weeks in their new house had finally ceased. Maisie had never encountered a raccoon prior to their move, but now, every time she saw that delightful, furry face with its characteristic bandit mask, she was filled with pure joy.

They pressed on with refitting the house, their enthusiasm rekindled. With spring on the approach, Charlotte was awash with flowers in bloom. It was as if they had passed the first significant challenge of their North Carolina life, and now no hurdle seemed too daunting.

When the Baxter family made the move to a historic family residence in Charlotte, they were filled with anticipation for this fresh period of their lives. But this new phase quickly morphed into a spine-chilling encounter when they found out they were not alone in their own home.

In a pleasant turn of events, it was found out that the seeming threat was just a group of raccoons. It’s our sincere wish that Andrew, Olivia, Maisie, and Benji are settling in their new home in Charlotte comfortably. Additionally, we hope they will not have more unexpected encounters with the creatures of the local wild!