Is My Apartment Haunted?

From: 
Story type: Ghost
Location: at my home
Source: Form Submission

Strange things have been happening to me lately. At first, I thought it was probably just me, being forgetful or absent minded, but after a few encounters, I realized it could not be me, or else these things would happen at work or out with friends, etc... not just at home.

The apartment I live in now belonged to my grandparents for many years. I've been living here for about five years. Neither of them died in the house, but I can smell Papa's pipe, and Grammy's powder - still - after the apartment has been repainted, wallpapered and all of the rugs removed and floors reconditioned. I smell Grammy's powder at the door to the cellar mostly, which is not where I would expect to smell it - she never spent much time in that part of the house.

About once each year, I hear a knock on the cellar door, usually when I'm alone in the house. No one is ever there, and my rational mind tries to attribute it to my overactive imagination, but I truly know better.

Papa's pipe is mostly by the front door, and when he was alive he used to stand there and look out the window. I haven't seen either of them, which I find a bit odd. I would think if they were being so obvious about being there, they'd show up once, at least.

Lately, strange things started happening. I would bring a plate of food into the living room to watch TV and eat, and when I put everything down (plate, salt/pepper, napkin, etc) and go to the kitchen for a drink, I come back and the salt shaker is missing. The first few times this happened I told myself I just forgot it. But it kept happening, over and over again. The salt shaker usually shows up on the kitchen counter, or in the cabinet where the plates are. Not the usual place I keep my salt and pepper shakers.

My other habit is to shut off the kitchen light when I leave. On my way out to look for the salt, the light would be on. Again, at first, I thought I'd left it on, but it happened too many times. I started to take notice when I left the kitchen, and I'd leave it on and come back and it would be off.

There are other little things too. I have two cats and for no reason at all they will come running from a room and REFUSE to go back. Or they will crouch and pounce on nothing at all. I've noticed their ears perk up at odd times during the night as well.

Do you think my apartment is haunted? I do! I'll keep you updated!