The media should have named him 'the cat of solace', since that appears to be his chosen purpose.

Personally, I would be greatly comforted if the last thing I heard in this life was purring.

I would find it comforting also Meldy and for those who have never experienced this,you can also feel the purring. It's a very soothing sensation.

come to think of it though,if I were living in a nursing home and was having a pretty good day,I think seeing that cat walk through the door wouldn't be so great.

He's so sweet. What a great heart he has. At least he's not a black cat crossing their paths!

Marda, I think I agree with you about the thought that would pass through your mind if all of a sudden Oscar thew car decided to start hanging around your room at the home. However, according to the story, it seems he shows up in the last two hours of the person's life, so by that time, they may not be in any condition to feel alarmed about his presence.

I am constantly amazed at how animals can sense things. This is just one more example.

I read about him yesterday and heard him described as "Goodbye Kitty." It would be comforting for family to have a heads up so they could be there if possible. It's a fascinating phenomenon, and he's far from the first animal who's demonstrated this awareness...

I find it interesting that this actually started in the New England Journal of Medicine, the most respected journal for those inside and outside the field. Certainly gives it credibility.

I read about him this morning, too, Marda. If I remember correctly, there was a story about a similar cat in the news a couple of years ago. I wonder if it could be the case tht more than one cat has this ability to sense approaching death, and whether there are any stories of other animals with the same ability.

The thought that when I die there might be a cat purring away at my side is oddly comforting.

What's this about OSCAR THE CAT ???? Steve in Baltimore County

LOLOL Steve. I thought that name was oddly familiar.

Good articles, but I find it offensive that the press referred to him in some articles as the grim reaper, or even as the death cat. This facility was a hospice, and it's a place where the process of dying is given the dignity it deserves as a normal closing chapter to life. It's expected that nobody who resides there is leaving it breathing. But, it makes a good headline, no?

Of course animals, and especially the companion animals of humans can sense impending death. I just laugh when I read articles about animals being clueless that death even exists, let alone anticipating it. There are some very specific changes in those who are nearing death (well, if the death is from a progressive disease or condition) and if one were around the dying very long, they'd pick up on it. Animals like cats and dogs have senses of duty. They work, so to speak, with humans. It's doesn't strike me at all odd that animals who works in a facility for the dying, wouldn't assume the companion role.

I remember when two of our dogs were chronically ill and their time growing close. Our Tom Cat, and the other dogs hung near the failing animals, slept beside them and generally appeared to express concern and care for them. Our nutty schnauzer, who would have gladly attacked either of these dogs when they were healthy would even walk away from his food dish when they grew close and forfeited his food. After those animals passed away, both the cat and a remaining dog would go up to the pet cemetery and lay on their graves for some time afterward.

I would agree with Suzy. Living on a farm when young I saw several instances of animals seeming to comfort or at least give companionship to a dying animal. There was an old work horse that grandad never harnessed, when I asked him why once he explained that she was too old to work and had worked hard for him for many years. She had just been retired to pasture. When it became obvious that she could no longer hold up her head and was dying All the other horses gathered around her and just stood close to her. I suppose just the closeness was comfort. Horses are a herd animal and do like the closeness of others of their kind. When I said something to granddad about this he just said "just let her slip away, the other horses will take care of her".

We had a cat like that at our local Hospice. She made daily rounds, had a litter box and never attempted to go out. Patients looked forward to seeing her. She loved to be petted, but she didn't stay in any room but for a few minutes. Of course, as in any Hospice setting, there are many that are ready to go, but she only stayed with those that were going out in a short while. She would cuddle up to them and many died with a hand on her soft, warm little body.

Would you believe that someone stole her one afternoon!!! There was even a large reward gathered for her return. TV and Newspaper appeals didn't do any good. She was never seen again.

There is something just especially despicable about stealing a hospice's pet cat. It's sort of like stealing from the poor box in a church.

Marda, I think you started something. Old Oscar was all over the news yesterday. He was reported on our local TV station, I heard about him on the national news & he even appeared in our local birdcage liner. I think this is one of those stories that just touches people.

My DH had a bad reaction to a tick bite a few weeks ago and we had to call an ambulance because he couldn't breathe. Maddie, our dog, was extremely upset and whining. When I called 911, they said to shut any pets in a room. She sure didn't want to go in the bedroom. She wanted to stay with her human. And when DGS went to his other grandma's for the summer, she ran around the house crying like she'd been struck by a car and she broke into his room and stole some of his socks to sleep with. Animals have compassion and a sixth sense, I believe.

I too hope my dogs will be with me when my time comes.
Elephants are like horses, they will stay with a dying elephant and for a while after as if they are mourning or guarding the body.

I may have mentioned this before, if so, I apologise!

A few years ago, we had a DIL that was diagnosed with terminal Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. They had three small children and an Australian Shepherd.

The dog had always been very protective of the children, those herding instincts, I guess. But as their mother got sicker, Aussie got more and more protective. When the treatment began to affect the DIL's brain and behavior, the dog was so obviously upset that she defended the entire house and started attacking anyone that came near. After the fifth or sixth person was bitten, they had to have her put down. She was a very sweet lovable dog to the family, but strangers seen to set off some unusual alarm bells in her mind.

I have always felt that she sensed that there was something very, very wrong in the home and she was trying to protect the children in the only way she knew from the unknown enemy.

AGnes, your story made me think of my daughter's cat, Max, who became ill with diabetes, had to be medicated twice a day, and gradually deterioriated until he was no longer entirely continent and had to be put down. But for a long time before that decision was made, her other cat, Juba, made life hell for Max, literally attacking him as if to kill him if he could have. We have always thought that Juba was aware that something was terribly wrong in the house and was trying to get rid of it. He was intolerable of having another cat in the house for at least a year, and even now that DD has a second cat, Phoenix, Juba was originally hostile toward him and even now, 2 years later, is only marginally tolerant of him and will often just take a swipe--even though Phoenix is like having an old shoe around!
I guess all these stories tell us that animals are not interchangeable nonentities but develop personalities in tune not only with birth characteristics but also with lived experiences.

Years ago, I had a little rag-tag schnauzer mix I rescued from the dog pound. He had a tenuous puppyhood, and tried my patience dearly, but ended up being the the best dog I've had in my life.

For quite a number of years, I welcomed a series of foster children into my home........most of them came to us as infants. The last one I ever took in came directly from a large children's hospital where she had been sent shortly after birth with some serious medical issues. My little doggie took it upon himself to be her personal guardian and never left her side that first year. When the birth mother would come to visit, the dog would park himself between her and the baby, lol, as if to make a statement that he was watching every move.......and he was. When she turned into a strapping and happy little girl, the dog resumed its previous place in the family as just a pal to all.

Cody,our deceased golden,originally belonged to my parents and came to live with us when he was a year old. After mother died and it became too hard for dad to get around,he came to live with us and Cody immediately went back to his original role of being dad's dog..much to my father's delight. Cody didn't leave his side. He slept next to my dad, and was there by his chair for most of the day unless he was outside with me. When the ambulance came to take dad to the hospital for the last time,we had to hold Cody back . For hours Cody paced and panted and I finally put dad's robe down on the floor and that's where he stayed until after dad died 5 days later. He knew what was happening and he also knew when it was happening to him,long before we did. I took a picture of him on the robe. Anyone who has ever seen Cody knew him to be a happy go lucky typical dorky golden retriever. This picture says something entirely different.I've always heard that goldens are true empaths and I don't doubt it for a minute.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:170890}}

OMG Marda. It's obvious, isn't it? He was such a wonderful and beautiful dog, I just sighed thinking about him.

My Daddy's little dog Ginger was lost after my father died as well. Ginger slept at his feet when Daddy sat in his recliner, or climbed into his lap. To the best of our knowledge she was in good health, and not exactly ancient, but shortly after Daddy died, Ginger just expired and died in my arms on the way to the vet. It was like she hung in there until he passed and then just went after him to be by his side again. That was when I took my mother to the shelter to get another companion for her other doggie and we got her Daisy.

Dogs have better memories than anyone gives them credit for as well. When my DD moved to England, her dogs went with her. When she returned to the states, nearly five years later, her surviving doggie was sent ahead for me to pick up at the airport. I was out on a country road, coming in the back way to our home and he snapped to attention and starting drooling and whining. He KNEW where he was a mile before we got here, and was bouncing all over the jeep.

Woah, That is well weird actually - Id be conforted too if this Cat came to me. It's a good idea that the family is called when this happens. Wonder how it knows :D