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. Oscar has also provided companionship to those who would otherwise have died alone. For his work, he is highly regarded by the physicians and staff at Steere House and by the families of the residents whom he serves.

No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat notices telltale scents or reads something into the behavior of the nurses who raised him.
Nicholas Dodman, who directs an animal behavioral clinic at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and has read Dosa's article, said the only way to know is to carefully document how Oscar divides his time between the living and dying.
If Oscar really is a furry grim reaper, it's also possible his behavior could be driven by self-centered pleasures like a heated blanket placed on a dying person, Dodman said.

wow. i cant believe some of the comment, some of them are sick, and others are well written with thought. thank you.. Oscar was never in a documentory. I work at the nursing home that oscar lives in. first of all. he is not a spooky cat. he is a sweet quiet cat. no one thought this story would take off like it did.. I have seen oscar do this several times. It is unbelievable, but true. If you dont want to believe it, its ok. My personal thoughts on this is that animals still have instincts that us humans so long ago lost. they can sense things we cant. they can smell things we cant. Look at the dog who could tell when his owner was about to have a seizure. How can you explain that? Zoo and maegan, the elderly love to have animals around. we have a total of six cats in the building. Adrian parker, i love what you wrote!!!!

tez

Tez sez: "I work at the nursing home that Oscar lives in"... hmmm... anything else you'd like to tell us, Tez, like where you were on the night of the 32nd when Mrs. Beasley wandered out in traffic and Mr. Oliphant drank the urine samples? Huh? Speak up. Take that cat mask off and speak up, dammit.

Well, if nothing else, Oscar the Death-Predicting Cat is clearly Big News.

Why else would the CBS Evening News have spent 490 words on him the other night when they only spent 109 words on the FBI Director calling the Attorney General a liar?

Clearly, Oscar is the Biggest News Story of 2007. I mean, it's not as if there's a war on, or an administration that's out of control, or anything.

Adrian Parker says:
"to pay pennance for that, God has relegated him to serve humans for 1 lifetime"

How would that serve anyone? I think that instead of a cat by their side, a dying person would much rather have God cure their illness.

Have an open mind, you say? Open your mind to the fact that most people are poor observers and analyzers of statistical data. That's why science has very strict protocols. I'm sure if this cat's actions were studied scientifically there would be a much different conclusion.

Al. Al. i feel bad for you actually, never seen so any haters on one site.. and if there was actually a God,, why would he make someone sick in the first place.. Dont reply.. i dont care what you think..
all i stated was what i have seen.. did i say anywhere what i thought of what oscar does.. i just stated i have seen him do what the article says. TAlk about closd minds...

get me out of here ... ..

Tez sez: "We have a total of six cats in the building"... hmmm... and the kitty-litter boxes are... where? Six cats in a nursing home. Good idea. Don't get me wrong- I appreciate the whole companion-animal thing, but aren't these animals usually brought to the home on visits, rather than trucking their poop-and-kitty litter-tainted little footsies all over Grandma Spittle's nightie? Methinks Tez is the real DeathCat, and she's blaming poor, dander-and-flea machine Oscar. No, seriously, I like cats (with mustard), but animals should not be running around loose in a "sterile" environment. And, don't gimme no kitty-crap on this, catlovers; I used to be the Head of Security in a Retirement/Assisted-Living/Nursing community, with 500 residents, and a 60-bed nursing facility, and I never would have allowed some cat to be cruising for mices in the home, nor would the Nursing Supervisor, in my estimation. I probably would have chased out Tez, too, but I was a hard-case. Meow

Tez said:

"Al. Al. i feel bad for you actually, never seen so any haters on one site.."

Please provide example of the "hate" you claim to see.

"and if there was actually a God,, why would he make someone sick in the first place.. Dont reply.. i dont care what you think.."

Well, why God would make people sick in the first place is precisely the question Al was asking. Did you not understand that?

Why are you afraid of rational responses to your postings? If you "don't care" what people think about what you say, why do you tell it to them?

Tez, the article states:

"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."

For your information, my comments were directed at Adrian Parker. That said, I noticed you didn't have anything bad to say about the writers of the article who wrote what the staff "believes", so why would you be upset about my comments?

You then said:
"did i say anywhere what i thought of what oscar does"

Yes you did:

"I have seen oscar do this several times. It is unbelievable, but true."

I think we can be excused for thinking you believe it too.

I did comment on people's poor judgement in these matters, but the truth is, everybody, myself included, have personal biases when observing things. Properly conducted science eliminates these biases. That's why the New England Journal of Medicine shouldn't be publishing articles based on personal opinions. In fact, the NEJM is being harshly criticized in science blogs for starting this whole thing.

Cranky, thanks for trying to explain things. You echoed my thoughts exactly. I don't know why Tez had a so much trouble with it.

bull shit.

I dont think this is a "luck" i think this cat is influencing their deaths. Have they checked the cat for diseases? makes just as much sense that the cats "prolonged time" next to a person could make them die.

Isn't it also likely that the cat prefers being with people who don't move a lot and the dying fit that description (so he stays with them longer.)

Wouldn't it unnecessarily freak out the elderly when the cat comes by to nap in their rooms ?

Why not just go for the obviouse? Why all the convoluted reasoning? The cat probobly picks up a scent that indicates the patient is in trouble, and the cat tries to "be there" for the patient, just as humans do. Oh..that would indicate the cat has emotions, a no-no to a behaviorist, even though 100% of the evidence points to this, as aknowledged in Charles Darwins book "the expression of emotion in man and animals" The cat is most likley simply trying to comfort the dieing.

Bill Wesley said:

"Why not just go for the obviouse? Why all the convoluted reasoning? The cat probobly picks up a scent that indicates the patient is in trouble, and the cat tries to "be there" for the patient, just as humans do."

THAT'S what you think is "obviouse" [sic]?

You're making at least one assumption in that statement.

Can you please tell us which "behaviorists" say that animals don't have emotions? I'm not aware of ANYONE who would say that. Animals, at least animals like cats and dogs, clearly have emotions and I don't think I've ever heard anyone deny that. Please note that "having emotions" does NOT mean that they necessarily can detect impending death and try to comfort the dying person. I'm talking about emotions like hunger, anger, jealousy, happiness.

I love to stroke cats as I read. I'm also severely allergic to cats (gasping for breath, choking etc).

Which is why, if I'm going to stroke a cat - I TAKE MY ANTI-HISTAMINES!!!!

Bring allergic to them doesn't mean you have to stay miles away from them. Just take your meds!

i THINK THAT oSCAR IS THE DEVIL AS CAT AND HAVE COME TO TAKE THESES PEOPLE AWAY FROM LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS!!!

I have always had a cat. They have long been known to see things and sense things that humans can't. There is book after book, research after research already performed on the subject. It is not at all unusual to me that Oscar can sense death. As a nurse, I would think it is a wonderful thing to give family time to get there and be with their loved one. As far as having animals in this nursing home, that has been going on for years. Many nursing homes that I have visited have pets for their residents. It picks up their spirits. A nursing home IS NOT a STERILE environment, an operating room is. Being around cat's my entire life this story is not at all surprising to me and has merit. Cats are very interesting beings.

Really, I think that after he saw so many people dieing he just knows how to run and hide when death comes to take him in

just saw it on HOUSE. they kept the whole storyline (adopted in a nursing center bu the hospital stuff etc)
cool

NICE COMMENTS BUTT I DONT THINK OSCAR IS POSSESEDBY A HUMAN HE IS NOT EVIL BUT ADORABLE AND CUTE I LOVE U OSCAR HE IS SO COOL BABY IF HUNTER BOLINGER LOOKS AT THIS I LOVE U BABY YR LIL BABY GIRL SAMANTHA KNIGHT EMAIL ME PEOPLE I LOVE YA HUNTER BOLINGER

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