Oscar the cat comes calling for death
You may have already seen this article, but, in case not, I present the story of Oscar the Cat, who, apparently, has the ability to predict a resident’s death in the nursing home where he lives.
From the New England Journal of Medicine:
Since he was adopted by staff members as a kitten, Oscar the Cat has had an uncanny ability to predict when residents are about to die. Thus far, he has presided over the deaths of more than 25 residents on the third floor of Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. His mere presence at the bedside is viewed by physicians and nursing home staff as an almost absolute indicator of impending death, allowing staff members to adequately notify families.
I don’t know what you think, but, I think there’s certainly something to it.
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3 opinions for Oscar the cat comes calling for death
Rhea
Aug 13, 2007 at 10:04 am
I think the Oscar story is really interesting. I am sure animals can sense things that we humans can’t.
Michael
Aug 14, 2007 at 11:04 am
Hmm, I believe humans *are* animals. Why would all the rest of them have senses that we don’t?
Do you imagine that apes have extra senses?
Kristen Kuhns
Aug 14, 2007 at 4:58 pm
I think that it’s interesting that Oscar is not an overly friendly cat to begin with, and this sense he has where he goes and purrs to people who are dying have to be of comfort. A lot of the elderly who pass with Oscar are suffering from advanced dementia and often don’t know where they are. I can’t imagine a scarier place to be and feel alone during dying, so that he’s there somehow comforts me in thought.
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