EON

Oscar was a kitten that was adopted by the Rhode Island facility in 2005, as part of the rehabilitation program. Oscar’s upbringing on the 3rd floor nursing home for residents with end-stage dementia is how he may have learned when a patient will pass. He paces the hallways making his rounds, sniffing the air. If he believes a patient will pass he lays down next to them.

There have been articles and a book written about Oscar. Veterinarians have theories on how it is that he knows when death is near. It is believed that Oscar can predict death is imminent within 2 hours.

A bodies dying cells give off an odor that may be familiar. Therefore lying with the patient until they pass. It is also noted that the patients Oscar has layed next to have passed from an infection, carbapenem-resistent Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Some of the patient’s relatives have asked that Oscar be removed when a patient is dying. He will wait outside meowing in protest. Almost as if he wants to be there to comfort the patient in the last hours of life. The staff at the medical facility now call family when he is seen sleeping next to a patient.