For almost five years, Oscar the cat has lived among patients with advanced dementia at the Steere House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. But Oscar made international headlines when Dr. David Dosa published an article in the New England Journal of Medicine that revealed the cat’s unusual talent: Oscar can predict when patients are going to die, now highlighted in the book: “MAKING ROUNDS WITH OSCAR: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat”.
A few hours before a resident passes away, Oscar climbs onto his or her bed. He purrs and refuses to leave until the patient dies. His predictions are always right–he never lingers unless the person is within a few hours of death. His unusual talent provides an early warning system, giving caregivers precious time to alert family members that their loved one is near the end of life. Steere House residents and their families are grateful to Oscar for the comfort and companionship he provides during this difficult time. When he first heard about Oscar’s uncanny ability, Steere House doctor David Dosa was skeptical. But Oscar’s perfect record of eleventh-hour bedside vigils, coupled with Dosa’s conversations with staffers and families of patients, convinced the doctor that there is something very special about the third floor’s smallest resident.
Source: My Seattle Pets