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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 18265
[Animals]
Date Posted:
7/26/2007
12:16:15 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 6,531
RSS: 16,374
Comments: 11
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Cat Plays Furry Grim Reaper At Nursing Home
Author: AP Source: MSNBC
Title: CAT PLAYS FURRY GRIM REAPER AT NURSING HOME
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.
“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.
Submitted by and Thanks to: Gypsy, Bochican Aura, and Karl
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Community Thoughts: There are 11 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| I Started Bawling... | Jul 27th. at 2:11:39 pm EDT
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Aritimi Morgana (RotterdamJct/Schdy/Scotia, New York) - Email Me
reading about this article and hearing it on the news because it reminded me of my dear beloved D'Artagnan, who played furry nursemaid to me when I had gallbladder surgery. I was not permitted out of bed by him; he'd get up and put his front paws on my chest and stay there until I acquiesced to his unspoken order. He stayed with me day and night, nuzzling me when I was in pain, purring to help me relax.
I was slightly annoyed by the article referring to the loving Oscar as a furry 'Grim Reaper'. I think it's a terrible thing to say of him. This is his way of showing his love, that those who are about to pass from this life are not alone. He's giving them comfort and I think even for the family who comes to witness their loved one's final moments.
Gods bless you, Oscar. What a beautiful and loving creature you are.
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| I Can't Add Any More | Jul 27th. at 11:28:52 am EDT
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AutumnWind (Bushnell, Florida) - Email Me
than what has already been said. This article only lends credence to the fact that there is a whole other world that exists. I believe that it has been the human desire to become santized to what has been describe as the dirt and germs of the earth that has destroyed the once natural ability to sense what our four-legged friends still have the ability to sense. Way to go, Oscar may the Goddes give you a long life in which to bring comfort to those who pass into the very heart of our Creator.
AutumnWind
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| This Is News? | Jul 27th. at 9:41:07 am EDT
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Sea Raven (New Haven, Connecticut) - Email Me
I say it's normal. Perfectly normal.
Animals are more in tune with what's going on in the natural world than we humans (generally) are.* That this cat chooses to give comfort to those residents in this nursing home who are about to die is not as remarkable as the media would have everyone think. Pet cats, dogs and even birds, are much more compassionate than some humans. Giving comfort and solace to a member of its "pride," "pack," or "flock" is something that just comes naturally.
Calling this cat a "furry grim reaper" is unfair. The residents (and their families) of this nursing home should take comfort in the fact that he chooses to comfort them.
The doctors, nurses and scientists need to stop trying to figure out how the cat "knows" and/or why he behaves this way. Stop trying to take the "magic" out of it and let the cat do his chosen job.
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| Maybe... | Jul 27th. at 7:07:11 am EDT
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The Rev. Sparrowhawk (Yakima, Washington) - Email Me
Maybe the cat's doing it because it is hoping to fill it's belly with human flesh. But, those darn nurses keep taking away his meal.
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| Who Are We To Say | Jul 27th. at 6:15:20 am EDT
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Crystal Crone (Burnley, England) - Email Me
This is a lovely story, although I agree with the poster who said that "Grim Reaper" is not a good name for this caring feline.
Having spent much time with those who are about to reach journey's end, both human and animal, I have always found that contact with anything that brings comfort seems to make that passing easier. It does surprise me that some families object to the presence of this furry ball of comfort as surely it is the peace and caring of their loved one that matters, and not their own feelings at that time.
Cats, like humans, have healers amongst their number. You hear stories of some cats leaving home before the passing of a family member and not returning until the person has passed away. There are some humans that cannot cope in the same manner, others who will be comforters and supporters of those in their last hours on an earth journey. Whatever the truth of the matter, we should all feel humbled that there are those in the animal world who feel connected enough to us to care that we should feel comfort at life's end. Many will have no cause to feel anything for us in light of the cruel way some are treated, so if I am fortunate enough to have a pet curl up beside me at the end of my days, I shall go to the Summerlands a happy woman indeed. Bless your heart Oscar.
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| They Know...... | Jul 26th. at 10:49:42 pm EDT
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Karl (Detroit Metro, Michigan) - Email Me
Yes, animals do have Abilities. There may be some of the more primitive-minded out there who will still maintain that Familiars are “of “the devil””. We know, of course, that this sentiment is pure idiocy.
Many years ago, I had a lovely and dainty seal-pointed Siamese female, who weighed in at about 8 pounds. She was 17, and had to be put down when her kidneys failed. She was a great cat, and I still miss having her around, and I do get a little sad when I think about her occasionally. I’ve never gotten another cat since then.
We will always treasure those dear to us who have passed on, and I think that we will see them again, whether they were human or animal.
K
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| He's A "transitional Therapist"... | Jul 26th. at 7:01:38 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
Cats and dogs are very adept at reading scents and signs people don't see. I don't believe however, that "grim reaper" is a good term. He is not killing these people. He just senses that things are not right far sooner than a physician and does his best to offer comfort.
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| Not Just Cats... | Jul 26th. at 6:24:23 pm EDT
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Amber (Spencer, Iowa) - Email Me
but animals in general. My personal POV is that unlike humans, they haven't had their instincts bred out of them. When I was growing up we had two dogs. One day they kept barking and whining and indicating to the south. Turns out there had been a tornado more than 20 miles south of our acreage.
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| Many Cats "know" | Jul 26th. at 3:17:40 pm EDT
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Silverwing (Colorado Springs, Colorado) - Email Me
This article is not saying anything new to those of us who have lived with these tribal furfaces all of our lives. And, I would challenge the supposition put forward near the end of the article by a scientific type that this cat knew because of some biochemical signal.
They mention that even if the family has him put out of the room during this time, he carries on outside the door. Pheremones and other biochemical entities do travel quite far but, it does not explain to me the carrying on.
Additionally, there are too many cases (and I have a cat that does this now) of cats who seem attracted to folks or even other cats who 'need' some help and some healing. I call these 'healer cats' and I have seen even veterinarian offices here and there with a 'healer cat' present to help the patients. One could argue biochemical there but I rather think the smells and chemicals in the air in an office like that would overwhelm any olfactory signals.
Furthur, cats can signal to their person that there is something wrong. Even in the dead of night they will arouse their human partners to let them know. I had a cat one time who yowled up a storm to let me know a house was on fire down the street at 1AM and we were able to get help sent. Nobody else had done so.
Yep. There are things that cannot be explained in a lab. Nor can they be reproduced at will. But, they cannot be denied. This cat was adopted by the people in this place and he is doing what he came to do. Help a soul in transition. Good Cat!
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