Cat predicts Death?Real or Mystery?
Scientists say its REAL and they are now convinced about animals’ “sixth sense” though their explanations could always be more logical than paranormal.
In fact, Dr. David M. Dosa, MD, MPH, a geriatrician who cares for patients at the nursing home, Providence, Rhode Island wrote an essay about Oscar, the “death cat” and submitted it to The New England Journal of Medicine, known more for its scientific reports on chemotherapy regimens, drug reactions, infections and heart defects than reports on feline behavior.
Dosa admits he was quite surprised the journal agreed to publish his essay and “it is not usually the type of article they will publish.”
The published essay reported that the 2-year old cat named Oscar, rescued as a kitten from an animal refuge two years ago, has presided over the deaths of 25 patients at Steere House. The cat predicts when patients are going to die.
He does not usually care much for human company but every now and then, he snaps to attention, seeks out a patient and curls up in bed next to them.
He stays there paying attention to the patient as family members say their goodbyes and the priest give last rights, and then dissappears once the patient has died.
The ABC news further reported about Oscar, the death cat’s remarkable ability
Dr Kirstie Seksel, a vet and a specialist in animal behaviour, says she is not surprised by the descriptions of Oscar’s behaviour.
“Animals are very good at reading body language, so this cat’s probably picking up that even though the people are older and they don’t move around much, there are differences in their respiration rate,” she said.
“I suspect there are also some pheromones or different smells that these people are emitting that we’re not able to detect and this is what the cat has picked up on.”
Dr Seksel says genetic differences could explain why other cats in the nursing home do not display similar behaviour.
“Maybe this is a cat that can actually smell pheromones and other cats can’t, just like with some people – they’re able to detect key tones on human breath and other people can’t,” she said.
“It’s a genetic thing that you’re born with – you either can or you can’t, a bit like you can curl your tongue or you can’t curl your tongue.”
Oscar’s predictions have been so accurate that staff now call a patient’s family if the cat appears purring at the door. Loved ones often have just enough time to say goodbye.
But nurse Mary-Lee Humphrey, who works the night shift at Steere House, says families have very fond feelings for the cat, despite his grim reaper-like role.
“The families surprisingly feel comforted about it,” she said.
“As a matter of fact, I had a patient pass away and the family was not here at the time. They called later on and asked me, ‘Was Oscar in the room when he passed away?’ And Oscar was.
“If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I actually wouldn’t have believed it. I think it’s wonderful because he can sense it.”
Maybe it does have to be seen to be believed but Oscar has not only drawn the attention of the New England Journal of Medicine, he has also been honoured by the Hospice Service of Rhode Island.
Though scientists could lean on a very scientific explanation about Oscar’s ability but personally, it is more on the psychic ability of the pet, because as a cat it has also a psyche or soul and I could say he has the clairvoyant ability to sense dying people.
I presume Oscar could see the aura of the dying person that is usually depleted when the death comes, or the cat could also see those souls (the welcome committee) coming to assist a person when he dies.
But of course, the scientific explanation could satisfy a very logical and skeptical mind, though the paranormal explanation could also fit those leaning on the spiritual perspective.
