Oscar (therapy cat)

Oscar (c. 2005 – February 22, 2022) was a therapy cat who as of 2005 lived in the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. He came to public attention in 2007 when he was featured in an article by geriatrician David Dosa in the New England Journal of Medicine. According to Dosa, Oscar appeared able to predict the impending death of terminally ill patients by choosing to nap next to them a few hours before they died. Hypotheses for this ability include that Oscar was picking up on the lack of movement in such patients or that he could smell biochemicals released by dying cells.[1]

Oscar's abilities were also the subject of Dr. Dosa's 2010 book, Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat.[2] Oscar died at the age of 17, on February 22, 2022, after a brief illness.[3][4]

  1. ^ Leonard, Tom (February 1, 2010). "Cat predicts 50 deaths in RI nursing home". The Daily Telegraph. UK. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  2. ^ Henry, Ray (April 2013). "Just-Released Book Profiles Feline Angel of Death". Proceedings (Baylor University Medical Center). 26 (2): 200–201. PMC 3603749.
  3. ^ Oscar the Cat, Steere House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, February 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Oscar has passed away, Oscar the Cat (Facebook page), February 23, 2022.