So the Grim Reaper is either a cat or employs cats

[Queasy]

Link

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - 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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"He doesn't make too many mistakes. He seems to understand when patients are about to die," said Dr. David Dosa in an interview. He describes the phenomenon in a poignant essay in Thursday's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"Many family members take some solace from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a geriatrician and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.

The 2-year-old feline was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses.

After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd sniff and observe patients, then sit beside people who would wind up dying in a few hours.

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.

Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work there, said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill

She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish tinge, signs that often mean death is near.

Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room though, so Teno thought his streak was broken. Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.

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. Most families are grateful for the advanced warning, although one wanted Oscar out of the room while a family member died. When Oscar is put outside, he paces and meows his displeasure.

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.

Nursing home staffers aren't concerned with explaining Oscar, so long as he gives families a better chance at saying goodbye to the dying.

Oscar recently received a wall plaque publicly commending his "compassionate hospice care."

Oscar jumps up on Nursing Home Patient's Bed.
Nursing Home Patient: "Oh shit."

 

[thecrecarc]

Pifft, everyone knows the cat just secretly kills the person when noone is looking!

 

[mugs]

:laugh:

For some reason I was expecting Oscar to be an orange cat.

I think the nurse would sound stupid calling the family to tell them their relative is about to die. "Our cat thinks your mother is going to die soon."

 

[George P Burdell]

An animal's instinct is something we need to understand better. For instance, there are several reports of animals being able to predict earthquakes

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Considering that cats are man's oldest companions, I'd say there's a pretty good scientifical explanation for this, although, like A.C. Clarke said, some science is hard to be distinguished from magic.

 

[Fenixgoon]

see catbert, evil director of human resources

 

[Number1]

Get away from me cat.

 

[yoda291]

i can haz soul?
kthxbai.

 

[D1gger]

I knew I hated cats for good reason.

 

[effowe]

Picture of said cat.

My PS skills are lacking.

 

[Isla]

I was just reading the article...

I actually have an appt with the dermatologist tomorrow to check out a mole I developed over the last year or so. It seems harmless enough, but my cat Milo occasionally shows interest in it.

The day I made the appt, I was lying in my bed, under the sheets. Milo jumped up to join me and stopped at the leg with the mole, sniffing and lingering over the mole from above the bedsheet. He couldn't see it, but he apparently could sense it.

Knowing animals like I do, I thought, THAT'S IT! I am making an appt ASAP.

 

[Isla]

Originally posted by: mugs
:laugh:

For some reason I was expecting Oscar to be an orange cat.

I think the nurse would sound stupid calling the family to tell them their relative is about to die. "Our cat thinks your mother is going to die soon."

My Milo is a big orange cat... like Milo and Otis. He's quite a character. Loves people, but loves ruling the house more.

 

[pontifex]

It's a well known fact that DEATH loves cats.

Pic 1

Pic 2

to whoever knows the origin of these pics.

 

[everman]

Originally posted by: pontifex
It's a well known fact that DEATH loves cats.

Pic 1

Pic 2

to whoever knows the origin of these pics.

Everyone knows that only cats and wizards can see him.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: everman

Originally posted by: pontifex
It's a well known fact that DEATH loves cats.

Pic 1

Pic 2

to whoever knows the origin of these pics.

Everyone knows that only cats and wizards can see him.

and witches and young children

 

[Isla]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: everman

Originally posted by: pontifex
It's a well known fact that DEATH loves cats.

Pic 1

Pic 2

to whoever knows the origin of these pics.

Everyone knows that only cats and wizards can see him.

and witches and young children

That would include me and my offspring.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Apparently dogs can detect cancer in humans, so if cats have been around even longer, they should be able to do it as well.

 

[jagec]

IM N UR NURSING HOME,


WATCHIN U DIE

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Considering that cats are man's oldest companions, I'd say there's a pretty good scientifical explanation for this, although, like A.C. Clarke said, some science is hard to be distinguished from magic.

You just linked to a single controversial study. Not very smart to do when you consider that this disagrees with most other accepted findings.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Apparently dogs can detect cancer in humans, so if cats have been around even longer, they should be able to do it as well.

Your logic makes absolutely no sense at all. None.

Apparently dogs can fetch your morning newpaper, so if dust mites have been around even longer, they should be able to do it as well.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Dude, get off my friggin' case.
I'm making light, harmless fun, and link to some interesting reading material,

Play nice, please. -Anandtech Moderator DrPizza

 

[CrackRabbit]

No, these guys are employed by the reapers.

 

[paulney]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
Dude, get off my friggin' case.
I'm making light, harmless fun, and link to some interesting reading material.

Play nice, please. -Anandtech Moderator DrPizza

 

[ThePresence]

Cool story.

 

[Accipiter22]

some dogs can smell tumors.