Hey all :)

When I went to link the social obesity study out of the most recent issue of JAMA, I noticed there were a few articles on hospice care at the bottom of the table of contents. I am kindly-disposed towards hospice care and my grandmother was able to pass with comfort and dignity in one such hospice, so I started to read; but what quickly caught my attention was the picture of the cat on one of the articles:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/4/328

The link is worth clicking, and the story an easy read, but to summarize, Oscar, a two year old longhair who was adopted as a kitten by a nursing home in Rhode Island, has an uncanny ability to predict when residents are about to die and will show up in their rooms, hop on their bed, and curl up with them until they pass. He makes his 'rounds' in the nursing home every day, ignoring non-moribund patients, and his presence is such an accurate predictor of the imminent demise of patients that the medical staff will immediately start alerting the family. He has 'presided' over more than 25 deaths now and has received a plaque from a local hospice agency for his 'service'.

We employ dogs and cats as service animals, seizure detection animals, and they live in domestic relationships with us that are more complex than most of us are willing to admit (or are excessively anthropomorphized), but one has to wonder what 'Oscar' sees in his duty. Perhaps the relative of one of the patients in the story had the most succinct answer:

Within a half hour the family starts to arrive. Chairs are brought into the room, where the relatives begin their vigil. The priest is called to deliver last rites. And still, Oscar has not budged, instead purring and gently nuzzling Mrs. K. A young grandson asks his mother, "What is the cat doing here?" The mother, fighting back tears, tells him, "He is here to help Grandma get to heaven." Thirty minutes later, Mrs. K. takes her last earthly breath. With this, Oscar sits up, looks around, then departs the room so quietly that the grieving family barely notices.

I'm sentimental enough, despite being irreligious, to hope that on some level, there's some truth to that.

Regards,
Nydia

We were able to utilize home-hospice care for my dad, when he had moved into that stage last year, and it made things much more comfortable for both him and the family. My mother's Yorkie, which always barks at strangers and is a bit of a pest, would follow them to the room, without barking, and then sit just outside the door the whole time the hospice folks were at the house, without being any bother. Each day when they left, the dog would always follow them to the door, and then go back to check on dad. It was very eerie for my mother.

I firmly believe in there being some kind of a connection with our animal companions that is beyond us to fully understand.

I've always felt pets could exhibit a greater understanding than we ever let on. My mom had a dog through college who was witness to her getting raped. Since that day any male (including my mother's future husband - my dad) would get barked at or attacked by Missy, our pet. Yet when I was born and brought home from the hospital Missy began a vigil under my crib and would let me pull her ears and torment her in any way I so desired without ever attempting to harm me back. The night before she passed away at 14 years old she forced her way into my room and woke me up and then fell asleep at the foot of my bed.

Perhaps its like how when someone becomes blind their other senses are heightened. When all they need to worry about is food and sleep, perhaps they are greater intune with emotions of others that the rest of us overlook with our busy and hectic schedules.

Having just been in the hospital in both ICU and CCU this is one cat I am happy to have not received a visit from.

animals in my opinion always have that sense. Growing up on a small farm animals wander off when there end is near to find that quiet place.

It doesnt let me stretch far that an animal will know when someones timing is near.

Having just been in the hospital in both ICU and CCU this is one cat I am happy to have not received a visit from.
Me too lol.

That cat is pretty wild and nice article Nydia. I've read before that some dogs can actually sniff out cancer on people.

Having just been in the hospital in both ICU and CCU this is one cat I am happy to have not received a visit from.

Glad to see you back, Rover/Chenoa, and I regret not posting when you first mentioned it - I hope you have a complete recovery and that is some scary stuff :/.

Regards,
Nydia

I heard about this on the radio this AM and was touched. Thanks for posting his pic.

I'm an animal person and in most cases find them more appealing than many humans. I've even done a tour or two with therapy dogs. Animals have an ability to touch people in ways that others cannot. Were it not for my crazy schedule I would probably be making the rounds at nursing homes and hospitals with my Border Collie but alas.

I have heard the same thing Ibudin; I think I saw something on Arthur C. Clarke's old show on Discovery where a lady had a dog that kept nipping at some spot on her. She couldn't understand why and later it was determined she had cancer there. The dog had never nipped or bitten anyone before. I think it's plausible given that dogs' sense of smell is very strong.

I've seen this cat feted over the past few days for its bittersweet role as companion til the end.

I think a more accurate portrayal was on MSNBC last night, under the heading of "Dr. Catvorkian." This sweet cat/angel of death has been murdering geriatrics for months now, and they give it a plaque! Oscar gets an Oscar! News crews fawn over this feline -- meanwhile Oscar's batting around victims' souls like so many broken mice.

This would make a great episode of Buffy.

Hah! I've seen the article bounced around a lot lately - you're the first person I've seen suggest that Thormir. Can't trust cats. Lie on your stomache, and you know they're just sucking out your soul. I'm pretty sure my two boys are just waiting for the chance to catch me unaware.

When I read that article the first time a few days ago, I thought much the same thing Thormir posted (well, I imagined the cat singing the Doom Song from Invader Zim in its head, but still).

Cats might be the only animal that "domesticated" themselves. Can't trust em. (http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2007/july/brief-cats.php)

I've seen this cat feted over the past few days for its bittersweet role as companion til the end.

I think a more accurate portrayal was on MSNBC last night, under the heading of "Dr. Catvorkian." This sweet cat/angel of death has been murdering geriatrics for months now, and they give it a plaque! Oscar gets an Oscar! News crews fawn over this feline -- meanwhile Oscar's batting around victims' souls like so many broken mice.

This would make a great episode of Buffy.


Bah, tried to give ya a +hit for the Buffy reference (agree, could be a great episode), but have to spread around some. Way to stretch the focus. :D

Read this story in Stars and Stripes the other day. The title of the article: "Cute, Cuddly, Harbinger of Death"