When Oscar the Cat visits residents of the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island, the staff jump into action. Oscar can sense within hours when someone is about to die.
In his two years living in Steere's end-stage dementia unit, Oscar has been at the bedside of more than 25 residents shortly before they died, according to Dr. David Dosa of Brown University.
"It's not that the cat is consistently there first," said Dr. Joan Teno, a professor at Brown University. "But the cat always does manage to make an appearance, and it always seems to be in the last two hours."
Raised at the nursing home since he was a kitten, Oscar often checks in on residents. However, when he curls up for a visit, physicians and staff know it's time to call the family.
"I don't think this is a psychic cat," said Teno. "I think there's probably a biochemical explanation."
While pets are often used to bring comfort to the elderly, Oscar's talent is special. "That is such a cat thing to do," said Thomas Graves, a feline expert at the University of Illinois.
Graves said there is no scientific evidence to suggest cats can sense death, but he doesn't discount the possibility. "Those things are hard to study. I think probably dogs and cats can sense things we can't," he said.
On a particular day detailed by Dr. Dosa, Oscar settled onto the bed of a patient. His presence prompted staff to make calls and set up a vigil. When a grandson asked why the cat was there, his mother explained, "He is here to help Grandma get to heaven." The patient died half an hour later.