Can Cats Predict Death?

In July 2007, a story was released in the New England Journal of Medicine about Oscar the cat predicting the deaths of patients in a nursing home several hours before they died. Oscar makes his home at the Steele House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, RI, where he was adopted by the staff. He has sat down by the beds of 25 patients just hours before the patient has died.

The actions of Oscar seem to be one of a mission. You can usually find him wandering the nursing home looking for patients with advanced dementia. Once he has found a dying patient, he sniffs and watches a patient before lying down with her. He then begins to purr as he keeps his vigil by the bed. When the patient has died, Oscar quietly walks away. Most families welcome the presence of Oscar. However, Oscar does get upset if he is asked to leave the room of a dying patient. He will stay outside the door and meow in protest.

How Does He Do It?

Do cats really have a sixth sense, or is it something else? Animal experts have a variety of answers or explanations. However, most agree it may very well be a specific smell produced by dying patients. To explain further, people who are dying emit chemicals that are not detected by humans, but will arouse the curiosity of a cat. Jacqueline Pritchard, a British animal expert has told BBC news she believes Oscar senses when a patient's vital organs are shutting down.

Why Does Oscar Hold the Vigil?

Some animal experts say he may be mimicking the actions of the staff that spend time with dying patients. One expert says Oscar may simply like the comfort of heated blankets placed on dying patients.

Animals with special abilities are not rare. For several years now, stories have been told about the ability of dogs to detect different types of cancers with their sense of smell. Several studies have proven that dogs can detect the presence of bladder cancer by smelling the urine.