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Oscar the Cat Predicts Patients' Deaths

hosted.ap.org — PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Oscar the cat seems to have an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means they have less than four hours to live.

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  • SeaMowse, on 10/10/2007, -7/+158Funnily enough, I had a friend's daughter recently pass away - she died of cancer at their home. Her Teacup Chihuahua jumped up on her bed, and curled up right next to her side. She died within the hour. Her dog had never jumped up on her bed all by herself before that. She was always placed on her bed by someone. I truly believe that her little dog knew she was about to die, and wanted to be with her.
    • ravan46, on 10/10/2007, -55/+79And how is that funny?
      • mrfreeziexp, on 10/10/2007, -6/+124by that he means it's a coincidence. welcome to the english language.
        • unloud, on 10/10/2007, -5/+1Oy. The english language fails.
          • Jonjonr6, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Every language fails. Especially to those who haven't mastered it.
      • weezerjoker2, on 10/10/2007, -23/+2he meants its funnily
      • SeaMowse, on 10/10/2007, -5/+31@mrfreeziexp - yup, that's what I meant. Same as saying 'oddly' or 'strangly', in place of 'funnily'. *rolls eyes*
        • jcm267, on 10/10/2007, -4/+40it's pathetic that this needed to be explained
          • m0tbaillie, on 10/10/2007, -2/+23Welcome to the Internet.
          • ZakMcRofl, on 10/10/2007, -19/+3Pathetic? Did you even consider that many (if not most) people here aren't native speakers?
          • AllenL, on 10/10/2007, -3/+1damn you just found waldo
        • OwdenBowden, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2It is apparent that animals have the ability to know things that we humans do not. Further, they also have the ability, gift to help soothe humans in times of stress and pain. So to have the dog jump on the bed, to have the cat curl up next to the patients seems only logical.

          Finally, to SeaMowse - I am sorry for your loss.
    • xerus, on 10/10/2007, -18/+8"Funnily enough," probably shouldn't be followed by "I had a friend's daughter recently pass away"
    • GeekSwag, on 10/10/2007, -15/+9You're a riot, do you do Bar Mitzvahs?
      • halfwit, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Now that's funny! One digg for you...
    • veggiemoore, on 10/10/2007, -14/+4Eww, chihuahuas are rats.
    • Muyoso, on 10/10/2007, -15/+7@xerus

      You have to wait for the punchline

      "she died of cancer at their home."
    • humanerror, on 04/03/2008, -4/+44I have an alternate theory:

      the dog did it
      • Jonjonr6, on 10/10/2007, -2/+0I always said pets and children suck the life out of you.
    • captmorgan555, on 10/10/2007, -3/+5Digg should require you have at least a GED to comment. Sry for your loss Seamowse
    • zappo1776, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Maybe this is how the whole 'Don't let a black cat cross your path' thing got started.
    • Frnnkdlxx, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1That was very sad, i feel your loss seemowse
  • DrDragun, on 10/10/2007, -17/+262Or is it a case of mistaken cause and effect? i.e. maybe this cat produces cyanide-laden dander and his companionship kills the patients who would otherwise have lived?
    • rrobster, on 10/10/2007, -19/+11Or not.
    • texpundit, on 10/10/2007, -9/+51None of this is surprising. Some dogs can detect cancer in patients. Animals can sense earthquakes long before we can. Etc. Etc. Etc.

      Our ancestors used to rely on animals to stay safe, know when weather was turning, know when danger was coming. And they're vastly more reliable than our technology is.

      Yeah...we're advanced. *roll*
      • synaesthesia, on 10/10/2007, -21/+6Im sure when you feel an aching in your chest, you'll be quick to turn to your dog to diagnose a potential cancer before heading for the nearest state-of-the-art medical facility.
        • texpundit, on 10/10/2007, -3/+20Way to miss the point, Einstein.
        • homerj14, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7haha.

          made me choke on a grape.
          • vuke69, on 10/10/2007, -1/+14Did you live?
          • dodus, on 10/10/2007, -1/+21Better check with Oscar.
          • 2oonhed, on 10/10/2007, -1/+11I gave a grape to a wild house mouse that I caught. He was so pissed off at being caught, he looked directly at me and humped the ***** out of that grape, giving me a mad dog stare the whole time.
          • ThndrShk2k, on 10/10/2007, -1/+32oonhed, you are a strange man. Finding fruit molesting mice? Nice.
      • DEADB33F, on 10/10/2007, -1/+50Maybe nursing home charges for the "Hi, your grandpa is gonna kick the bucket in a few hours, a cat scan has confirmed this" phone call.
        If they got a labrador retriever in on the act they could up there prices even more as they'd have a lab report to back up the cat scan.
    • woojoo, on 10/10/2007, -9/+3Thirteen times in a row? That's pretty unlikely. But possible.
      • tech42er, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9It's 25.
      • Sdiggmatism, on 10/10/2007, -0/+17The 13 count was where they thought the cat was in error but wasn't. This Godlike cat has fragged 25 and is still going. 5 more and the cat will be Wicked Sick!
    • Skywise, on 10/10/2007, -2/+21Ahhh... the "Murder She Wrote" hypothesis... where the kindly old lady writer of murder stories just mysteriously always happens to get in contact with the person just before they die...
    • zeromancer, on 10/10/2007, -5/+27i immediately assumed the cat was responsible for their deaths.
    • MarkOfTheDead, on 10/10/2007, -6/+2haha i laughed so hard i choked on my spit. bravo.
      • m0tbaillie, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Oscar doesn't curl up next to retards, sorry. *crosses arms*
    • Zaetha, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5FTA: - Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously and is generally aloof. "This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said.

      Some animals know when they are going to die, and they wander alone and choose a spot to pass away. Vultures can spot weak prey from a long distance, even the ones that are going to die. Other predators can do that too. Probably the cat is just showing his predatory skills.
      • neffy, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2Scavengers ≠ Predators
        • CMOSLogic, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Oh, yea they are. Scavengers routinely predate on weak animals when they're hungry enough
        • brufleth, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Cats are sort of both. They'll actively hunt things but they certainly aren't above eating their owners if they pass away and there isn't other food available.
          • WilliamDavis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5Hmmm. If that's true, maybe the nursing home isn't feeding the cat enough.
      • anonym41414, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3It's kind of depressing, but I owned a dog who died of cancer of the liver. When he got sick (you know, listless, loss of appetite and stuff) we took him to the vet and got the diagnosis. Because he wasn't obviously in pain, we took him home to be with us until the end.

        He found all the small, enclosed spaces in the house. He curled up under the bed, behind the couch, behind the TV. He just wanted to go someplace small and safe to die.

        It broke our hearts. We took him back to the clinic that night and euthanized him.
      • JohnboiWaltune, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Yeah the cat would probably munch on the dead body soon enough, if it were not for the hospital workers who remove it.
    • pinguz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+25Here is a picture of Oscar:
      http://home.blarg.net/~wayule/graphics/cat_voices.jpg
    • nerdofnerds, on 10/10/2007, -5/+28IM IN UR HOZPITLZ, KILLIN UR DOODZ!!
    • Idrivearascal, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Right, predicts? Or causes. Perhaps this cat is nothing more than the angel of death.
      • Jonjonr6, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Maybe its more like...
        Nurse: Oh Oscar the cat is here.
        Doctor: Well this one's a goner.. let's break for lunch.
  • unknamed, on 10/10/2007, -15/+185My question is do the patients know about this cat and if so how do they feel when the kitty curls up next to them?

    "Keep that goddamn cat away from me!!"
    • chrisbtig, on 10/10/2007, -2/+54It's a dementia unit, so the patients most likely aren't aware of the cat's strange ability to predict death. Many of them are suffering from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or other debilitating illnesses, so the cat probably provides some comfort. Plus, the nurses are able to call family members or priests to be at their bedside before death.
      • m0tbaillie, on 10/10/2007, -1/+16Hello kitty, you're a pretty kitty, yes you are - what's your name?

        That cat's name is Oscar, ma'am.

        Oh, hello pretty kitty...wait..what's your name?
      • skjede, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4"Hi, this is Christi at God's Hand Nursing Home. We just called to tell you that our magical cat has predicted a horrible death for your loved one."
    • GlenLeafJr, on 10/10/2007, -4/+30RTFA
    • dodus, on 10/10/2007, -1/+42"No, Oscar!....it's not my time! It can't be my time!"
      • Barlo_Mung, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1That's about what I was thinking. Something tells me the cat's turn is coming up soon.
      • Gerz1219, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10By the time you wind up in a dementia unit in a nursing home, it's your time. It's probably a relief.
      • Jonjonr6, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0There's just no bargaining with a cat!
    • repran, on 10/10/2007, -0/+23"Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a harbinger of death."
    • neutralmind, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Have you seen the pic? Its strange.
      http://hosted.ap.org/photos/0/0ca04ec2-4072-49f6-ab08-3c2e140ae087-big.jpg
    • doople, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7IM IN UR NURZING HOME PREDIKTIN UR DED
    • BigTuna, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1"Hey, nice kitty. I don't remember you ever wanting to lie up here with me bef... ah crap."
  • chrisbtig, on 10/10/2007, -4/+61WebMD also has an article about this cat that offers some possible explanations how the cat can predict death. From page 2...

    http://www.webmd.com/news/20070725/cats-sixth-sense-predicting-death?page=2

    1. The cat might be picking up on specific odors surrounding death.
    2. He is following the patterning behavior of the staff.
    3. Maybe the cat is picking up on the fact that the person on the bed is very quiet.
    • SeaMowse, on 10/10/2007, -10/+18I've also heard this - on medical/science shows. It does make sense. However, based on my own experiences - with my friends daughter and her dog, and my own cats - I do think that there is a 'sixth sense' in animals.
    • dewfish, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1yeah, I've heard about this before as well. Dogs can tell if someone is about to have a heart attack or seizure. I guess they smell something (maybe pheromones) that people can't detect.
      • octopusia, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0there is the old belief that cats and dogs can see things we human don't. I was told that a person nearing death is often visited by their beloved departed ones. And since oscar can see departed spirits, they are around them. Kind of superstitious but makes sense.
    • Jonjonr6, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I think all those possible explanations could be debunked by comparing how many patients are at the hospital, close to death, and sleep soundly.
      Why does this cat pick the one person who dies within 4 hours?
      Also consider that this cat keeps mostly to himself except for visiting the soon-to-die.
  • thenativeraver, on 10/10/2007, -8/+391I'm in ur bed eatin ur souls.
    • jhshukla, on 10/10/2007, -34/+3losing soul != losing life
      • panzergeist, on 10/10/2007, -4/+14For example, look at most Hollywood actors, corporate lawyers, and hardcore feminists.
    • theoallardyce, on 10/10/2007, -0/+12I just had the worst thought - what if the cat is sniffing out likely targets to eat once they have died?
    • munkeyhatecleen, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1I'm in ur hozpital, stalking ur dead...
    • howzitgoin88, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Has no-one made a CAT SCAN joke yet?
      • Jonjonr6, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Yes, it's above. And suggests that if they add a Labrador, they could say that the Cat Scan and Lab Report are conclusive.
  • littlebylittle, on 10/10/2007, -21/+140This is why Animals are so Special.

    This is why that NFL player who abused Dogs for 6 years needs to be barred from the NFL for life.

    People who abuse animals are Psycho and Dangerous.
    • DCMacHead, on 10/10/2007, -4/+45nah...too soft on the NFL player. they oughtta roll him around in some dog food and throw him in a cage with some pitbulls.
      • nreynolds, on 10/10/2007, -2/+16that's for the government to decide. But yes, the NFL should ban Michael Vick tonight (as an added bonus, my team won't have to play against him anymore).
      • asspants, on 10/10/2007, -1/+40I think they've been too soft on Ash Ketchum. He forces his pokemon to battle on a daily basis. He deserves to be thrown into a cage with like fourty some odd houndours, and red gyrados.
        • CrazedGeek, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Have you seen the inside of a Poké Ball? It's like going to a clüb.
          • Novagenesis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Mike Vick said the same thing about the dogfighting cages...
    • Terr01, on 10/10/2007, -14/+8Do you eat, say, beef? You know how it gets into the hamburger, right?
      • GlenLeafJr, on 10/10/2007, -4/+20Cows don't fight to the death so we can eat them.
        • afx1, on 10/10/2007, -1/+20we need to do something about that
        • fate3, on 10/10/2007, -0/+15mine do.
        • jackhole, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Glen is being sarcastic. We've already done something about that. It's called bullfighting.
          • Fafnir43, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Nope - a bullfight is matador vs bull, not bull vs bull.
    • muffinking, on 10/10/2007, -0/+20People That Overuse Capital Letters are Psycho and Dangerous.
    • faithfreedom, on 10/10/2007, -6/+1Big deal! People in many parts of the world eat dogs and cats in regular basis
      • jshih, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0asff
      • Novagenesis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Do they torture them and make them kill each other, first?
        • nakani, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1No, just torture them. In North Korea they chain dogs to the fence and stab them in the crotch because it doesn't ruin their skin, which they sell. They also boil cats alive because it is considered that if they're alive, the meat tastes better from chemicals released due to the fear.
    • waylandchin, on 10/10/2007, -2/+1what'd yall have for dinner last night?
    • orlyfactor, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1People who incorrectly capitalize words in sentences should go back to school!
    • Mysrt, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2maybe you should give everyone the due process they're entitled to
  • SmackMyMac, on 10/10/2007, -5/+47My cats always know when my wife or I is sick.
    • SeaMowse, on 10/10/2007, -0/+57Several years ago, I was critically ill (i nearly died). When I came home, one of my cats would never leave my side. She would sleep next to me with one paw over my hand. I developed a seizure disorder (not the serious type) as a result from the surgeries I went through. When I would be recovering from a seizure, my cats would surround me and 'look after' me for the next day or so.

      And yes...my cats know when me or my husband is sick - and are extra attentive, or extra 'good'. :-)
      • afx1, on 10/10/2007, -1/+13"When I would be recovering from a seizure, my cats would surround me and 'look after' me for the next day or so."

        animals are more sensitive to the unique brain waves that are created when you're postictal (after having a seizure)
      • neffy, on 10/10/2007, -2/+29My cats always know exactly where to piss to make me angriest.
    • veggiemoore, on 10/10/2007, -6/+4Because you don't get out of bed to feed them?
    • fenalphthalein, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2No offense or anything, but is that the correct way to say that sentence? I'm just not sure and really would like to know...
      • Detritus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1No. "My cats always know when my wife or MYSELF ARE sick." or "My cats always know when either my wife or I are sick."
        • icanspell, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Suggestion 2 is correct. Suggestion 1 is wrong. Myself is a reflexive pronoun.
    • astralbee, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0Because you take it out on the cats by kicking them? Good to let them know.
  • GlueSniffer, on 10/10/2007, -18/+13Somebody better get rid of this ***** cat. It's killing all the old folks! (and they smell funny...the cat...well, the old folks too i guess).
    • punwin, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Wow, you are terribley unfunny. Congrats!
  • shadowswordth, on 10/10/2007, -14/+1http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/5793/lolcatdeathix9.jpg...?
  • shadowswordth, on 10/10/2007, -20/+5http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/5793/lolcatdeathix9.jpg ...?
    • GhandiBurger, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11Two lolcat jokes in one picture is BAD!!!
  • Duggan360, on 10/10/2007, -13/+7Maybe the cat has a sickness which kills humans!
  • Duggan360, on 10/10/2007, -16/+4The cat has a disease which kills humans!!!
  • LarryLacuna, on 10/10/2007, -9/+78It's obvious the cat is a manifestation of death.
    • ub3rgeek, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Meet Oscar the Cat?
    • ClayDragon, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Well, there's got to be an antagonist to the Death of Rats somewhere.
  • fmlive, on 10/10/2007, -19/+6Thats pretty amazing. My grandmother always use to tell me cats could see ghosts. I always wondered if it was true. I guess this is kind of proof.
    • mRIpX, on 10/10/2007, -3/+14what proof?
    • sherlok, on 10/10/2007, -3/+5I was told the same thing, it's weird because if you watch cat they're more then content staring at a empty wall or corner, or they'll 'follow' something that isn't there. Always freaked me out.
      • Jonjonr6, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0My cats do this all the time. Sometimes, though, its because a reflection of a car door opening, or maybe CD I moved. Sometimes its a small flying insect, like a house fly. Sometimes it's lint or fur floating in the air. Which is why I'm not too quick to assume something supernatural.
        Note, that doesn't necessarily mean I don't believe in the possibility of the supernatural, just try not to jump to that conclusion too quickly.
    • nreynolds, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8your grandmother was crazy.

      edit: i felt slightly bad about saying that, but how is this "proof" that cats can see ghosts? Especially since the ghost would likely not be visible until the person died, at which point it would proceed to manifest itself as a blur in several photographs.
      • seraph82, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1"at which point it would proceed to manifest itself as a blur in several photographs"

        hello pot, meet kettle
    • zeromancer, on 10/10/2007, -2/+13oh yeah? well my grandma told me alligators are ornery because they got all them teeth but no toothbrush. and i saw an angry alligator. so there's MY proof.
      • m0tbaillie, on 10/10/2007, -4/+2No, you saw The Waterboy, just like the rest of us.

        You -> Life -> Fail
  • sockpuppets, on 10/10/2007, -12/+77What the article fails to mention is that all of the patients died choking on mice.
  • InetRoadkill, on 10/10/2007, -14/+107The old guys need to get together and kill that ***** cat before it takes out any more of them.
    • Azriel7, on 10/10/2007, -3/+2I could not resist digging you up, I laughed my ass off.
    • panzergeist, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Does Oscar's nickname happen to be Bubba?
    • Fartag, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10Agreed, it's a catastrophe!
  • dfkjh, on 10/10/2007, -12/+7IT'S THAT CAT FROM THE LAST EPISODE OF THE SOPRANOS!!!
  • otep, on 10/10/2007, -15/+6Yet more proof of the superiority of American Health Care.
    A cat.

    .
  • rhyme22, on 10/10/2007, -8/+228At least they all got a little pussy before they died.

    (hey oh)
    • novoxborder17, on 10/10/2007, -0/+9genius
      • airquotes, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1so I told my wife, 'ya know, sometimes i'd like a little pussy' and she said ;me too, mines as big as a house!'
    • theRIAA, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5thumbed up for "(hey oh)"
  • GyroLC, on 10/10/2007, -12/+44Anna Nicole Smith was apparently a Hindu.
    • dragon76, on 10/10/2007, -6/+6That is so funny and intelligent, I doubt anyone on here will get it.
      • airquotes, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1well, i didnt think she was a lesbian too.. so that made it hard for me
    • JasonQG, on 10/10/2007, -7/+2I get it, but I don't think it's funny.
    • dodus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7It took me a minute, I had already scrolled down...and then I got it.
    • panzergeist, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8I'm still impressed you went there. Funny.. and really twisted.
    • GeneralGore, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6It's kind of sad how intelligent comments are so rare that people need to post if they understand them.
      • JonLatane, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2I didn't understand the joke, not because of any lack of intelligence, but because I never have and never will give a ***** about Anna Nicole Smith. I can infer, however, that everybody who got close to her died.

        But anyway, don't confuse "intelligent" with "obscure."
    • an7agonist, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Took a few moments before I got it. But I think most diggers understand it if they really try to..
    • liv3fr33ordi3, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I'm not that clever. Can someone explain the joke?
      • spawnfree, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5reincarnation.
        gold-digger.
        NO MORE CLUES
        • liv3fr33ordi3, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1thanks for the clues. i get it now
  • MaruLono, on 10/10/2007, -10/+0Has anyone else noticed the unusual initials of Providence, Rhode Island: R.I.P. hmmmm....coincidence?
    • LtXenodite, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1I saw R.I.P. in PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) as in Associated Press... :-/ RIAP - A = RIP
    • tech42er, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4It's PRI, not RIP.
  • 3rnesto, on 10/10/2007, -12/+6http://www.ggsales1.com/images/kitty.gif
    Never gets old
  • bruggerA, on 10/10/2007, -7/+88quick someone put that cat near Paris Hilton's Publicity
    • Jonjonr6, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Why? She already has a pussy that kills.
  • Cwiddy, on 10/10/2007, -6/+1Has anyone considered the cat might be an anusshade?
    • Koldkompress, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Dug up for obscure Bash.org D&D reference.
  • mrgodai, on 10/10/2007, -5/+6the cat is like the Grim Reapers in the show "Dead like me"
    • lswalker, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6only if he's walking around with post-it notes
  • wishninja, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10The cat is like a vulture. He likes delicious eye juices I bet.
    • XxModestMousexX, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Did you just watch the Simpsons episode that I just saw? Get out of my head!
  • remisser, on 10/10/2007, -8/+3I wonder what happens if Oscar the Grouch curls up next to you.
  • XxModestMousexX, on 10/10/2007, -9/+6So thats what the Grim Reapers's pussy looks like.
  • soot, on 10/10/2007, -10/+5"Oh *****, get that cat away from me. Down, you little *****! I said down!"
  • djjester, on 10/10/2007, -2/+58police say that the cat has been taken into custody for questioning.
  • atomicartist, on 10/10/2007, -4/+3I love that show, "Dead Like Me". This could be an inspiration to starting that series up again. There are not many episodes, but I watch them over, time and time again. My first thought on how this cat knows if someone is going to die, is by scent. Just a thought, a first thought.
    • JasonQG, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5They're currently filming a movie. If it does well enough, it's not out of the question for the show to come back. And as a bonus, Mandy Patinkin is now available, since he quit "Criminal Minds."
  • milkmage, on 10/10/2007, -1/+22animals just know. a dog i had when i was in college used to pester the ***** out of my dad for a walk every morning at about 6. one day the dog stopped bugging my dad and started to pester my mom. 2 weeks later, my dad was diagnosed with cancer.
  • notzak, on 10/10/2007, -9/+2I'm in ur hospice, preedictin' ur dead
  • drizzlelicious, on 10/10/2007, -5/+21"This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said.

    Not friendly + curls up to dying people = evil
    • tech42er, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6It said he was businesslike and aloof, not evil.
      • Neiby, on 10/10/2007, -0/+13Yeah, kind of like a mob assassin. It's business, not personal.
  • schrutefan, on 10/10/2007, -2/+18Call the police! Someone is euthanizing patients with catnip.
  • Azriel7, on 10/10/2007, -1/+12I remember reading something a while back that mentioned how animals instinctively know when something is about to die. They also can tell if someone is sick by simply smelling them.
  • swordphish, on 10/10/2007, -1/+20Interesting. Remember the story during the recent tsunami, of how almost no animals died? - and they all seemed to be able to predict the oncoming disaster and move to safety seemingly minutes before the waves struck? It's probably not the same thing as predicting someones death (or is it?), but I've witnessed this first hand: when my dog would whimper and hide before a cyclone/tornado would touch the ground - literally minutes before any type of weather-alert or report.

    Someone above mentioned that their grandparents told them that cats could see ghosts. I've heard things of this nature as well from my own folks.
    • rstarr, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11I need to get myself a pet...just in case ***** goes down.
    • aelias, on 10/10/2007, -0/+19Note to self, if you see a mass exodus of wildlife from the area, it's probably best to follow them. They know all the stuff you don't.
      • Neiby, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11That's actually quite true. If you do, in fact, see a mass exodus of wildlife, get the ***** out of there. It could be a wildfire or maybe some of that alien ***** like in The Dreamcatcher.
  • Joe_rigby, on 10/10/2007, -3/+34"Reportedly when Oscar approaches someone's side for a nap, people are heard screaming, "GET THE ***** AWAY!"
  • EscapeVelocity, on 10/10/2007, -8/+2in ur hospitals, seein dead ppls
  • MozzieTS, on 10/10/2007, -0/+19it's likely an evolutionary trait. Protecting a sick/dying mate/companion. The same way a mother feline would protect it's weak kittens or a sibling felines would protect one that is injured/sick.

    I have personally seen this on my street. There was a brother/sister pair that when the sister got mauled by a raccoon the brother stayed with the injured cat until she died. I tried to help the cat but he attacked me every time I tried to get near.

    I know whenever I am sick my cats will not leave my presence. It might be affection, or it might just be they don't want me to die because then I can't feed them/change their litter.
    • Mark7r0n, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I had a Maine Coon that died last year, she was 18, and she was the same way when I was sick. She never wanted to sit in your lap or be held, but when I was sick in bed she would be very affectionate and would stay curled up with me.
  • phoenixhou, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8This cat has a story published on the latest New England Journal of Medcine!
    A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat
    http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/4/328
    • gnixon70, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1can't read it and none of the bugs me not p/w will work.
  • BESTenemy, on 10/10/2007, -2/+51Quickly, send this cat over to the White House, along with a bag of pretzels!
    • w33tz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Maybes this cat should go and lay down beside Paris...


  • vaskark, on 10/10/2007, -7/+2Maybe this cat is devouring their souls. Heeeeeere kitty kitty kitty ...
  • dfay, on 10/10/2007, -4/+34 hours? Meh, wake me up when it's 40 seconds.

    (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Note)
    • tech42er, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6And that's as useful how? If you had a choice between a device that could detect earthquakes 5 hours in advance and one that could detect earthquakes 40 seconds in advance, which would you choose?
      • aeiou1100, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2It's not useful. He just wants unrefutable evidence that this cat is really 'predicting' the deaths.
  • jsherlock, on 10/10/2007, -2/+4the craziest part is thats right down the street for me....if i ever see that cat coming i'm running...real fast
  • 2point71, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2i wouldn't mind. it's advanced warning, a little prep time. and kitties are always fun and furry. i wonder if there have been other major cases like oscar.
  • Squar3d, on 10/10/2007, -9/+1What if the cat just curls up near them because it likes them?

    "We're calling you to inform you that our information shows that Beth doesn't have long to live.."
    "Oh no! I can't believe it! She only went in to have her tonsils removed!"

    ---

    *Waits for someone to respond saying "RTFA! ITS IN THE DEMENTIA WARDZ!"
    • tech42er, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8RTFA! ITS IN THE DEMENTIA WARDZ!

      /you're welcome
    • Mark7r0n, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Im in ur dementia wardz, harbingin' ur DOOMZ!!!11!
  • digdugdog, on 10/10/2007, -8/+4Maybe, once the cat acquired a reputation for "predictions" which initially were completely coincidental, it affected those elderly patients' physiology in a negative way, causing even more deaths.

    Either that or Mr. Bigglesworth is very upset.
    • CMOSLogic, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I'm in your dethbedz, countin yur momentz!
  • Tallfriend17, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3When my mom died of cancer in 2003 all of the cats were always up stairs near her, and when she finally passed on January 30th and was moved from the house in preparation for her funeral, all of the cats would not move from her bed in the living room. Animals have an uncanny sense of these things. She always loved cats, and they always loved her. Im glad I have one of my own who reminds of me every day of how special it is to have him around.
  • OiPunk, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2It's not a suprise to me
    Animals know by instinct when death is near, when it's coming.
    There have been many documented cases of pets providing extra attention and comfort to those who are in their final hours.
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