Friday, July 27, 2007

Oscar the Cat Sends Grandmas to Heaven

Filed under: in the news...

A sad case is reported in the latest NEJM. It documents the incredible ability of a cat in one nursing home to predict when residents are about to die.

From the story:

Since he was adopted by staff members as a kitten, Oscar the Cat has had an uncanny ability to predict when residents are about to die. Thus far, he has presided over the deaths of more than 25 residents on the third floor of Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. His mere presence at the bedside is viewed by physicians and nursing home staff as an almost absolute indicator of impending death, allowing staff members to adequately notify families. Oscar has also provided companionship to those who would otherwise have died alone. For his work, he is highly regarded by the physicians and staff at Steere House and by the families of the residents whom he serves.

NEJM: A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat ...

email this article to a friend      print this!           comments and peer reviews (1)






replies: 1 comments
Open comments are not moderated, although abusive and vulgar remarks may be deleted. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Medgadget.com. Please consult our disclaimer.

So, if a resident says "Here, kitty kitty..." would that be a suicide attempt?

(Yes, it's an attempt at humor. I didn't read the article. Besides, Scalpel's http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2007/07/my-princess.html cat is better dressed).


Posted by: GruntDoc
on July 27, 2007 01:41 PM GMT

add a comment
html tags: <b>, <i>, and <a>
examples: <b>Bold</b> <i>Italic</i>









Remember personal info?
(anonymous comments allowed)



click to make your selection boldclick to make your selection italicclick to add a link


Verification (needed to reduce spam):




Click the "Post" button only once!