Oscar the Cat knows when you're about to kick over

[marmar]

from the Toronto Star:



Oscar the cat and the science of kindness

Kenneth Kidd
Feature Writer

Published On Fri Dec 18 2009


On the third floor of a geriatric hospital in Providence, R.I., lives Oscar the cat.

He makes regular rounds, entering each room to smell and look over the patients. If all is more or less well, the white-breasted tabby moves on to the next room.

If he instead snuggles up to a patient, purring and nuzzling, the nurses immediately start calling relatives. Oscar won't leave until the patient has breathed his or her last.

Now, the intriguing question is not so much how Oscar can make such accurate prognoses, but why he lingers, holds this vigil. Is Oscar comforting himself or the patient? ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/actsofkindness/article/740608--oscar-the-cat-and-the-science-of-kindness?bn=1

[ixion]

1. well, he's a cat, so he is

savoring the last little bit of life force from the human. :)

[Cronus Protagonist]

9. Probably looking for a meal

And why the fuck is a cat walking around in a hospital? Don't the staff know they carry brain parasites and a horribly strong and aggressive type of tinea?

[Echo In Light]

11. I'm convinced ours are aliens from another dimension

:think: :silly:

[enlightenment]

2. An excellent article - very odd in these days of

hit and run journalism. I was floored by the author's inclusion of Adam Smith as a moral philosopher, rather than an economist. It's something that most people either don't know or choose to forget. I loved this comment: "Smith is today best known as the father of laissez-faire capitalism, although that's always been a simplification". That made me a fan of the author, right there!

Thank you for posting it.



edited to add a quotation mark.

[GoCubsGo]

6. Very odd, considering the subject, too.

I recall some time in the past year or so, other stories about Oscar, or another cat like him. Most of them were sensationalized, calling him "The Grim Reaper" and "Death Cat", and other such crap. I was so pleased to see this author use him to discuss compassion and empathy instead. Too bad more people can't behave like these supposedly "dumb" animals.

Thank you for posting that, marmar.

[freeplessinseattle]

14. yes, there was an article about one at my Oma's rehab place

where she went to recover from a hip fracture a couple years ago. He did seem to like her room so I was worried, but harbored no ill will, and she enjoyed his company. Some people saw him as "evil" though, as if he chose who was going to die, morons. They just know and try to offer comfort.

btw, my grandma is still kicking at 85 so he was just being friendly, maybe knew she needed some extra lovin'.

[Ikonoklast]

3. My cats know when one of us is not feeling well.

My daughter has a nasal infection that really knocked her flat, and all the kitties are sleeping in her room with her, or on her bed.

There will usually only be one or two kitties with her on any given night, but they all seem to be concerned with her now.

They know.

[guitar man]

4. wow

one final CAT scan (sorry, couldn't resist) :silly:

[Possumpoint]

5. Yeah

and no danger of too much radiation.

[musette_sf]

7. IM IN UR HOSPICE

[musette_sf]

8. not want kuddil!

[Bobbie Jo]

13. lolz

that was so bad....but I lol'ed just the same. :rofl:

[Mari333]

10. oh well Im doomed

all 3 of my cats and my dog snuggle up with me every night. the parrot would probably try to if she could.

[rhett o rick]

12. Or maybe he is choosing who should die. Maybe his presence is what pushes the patients

over the edge. Is it a republican cat?

Of course I am being facetious. I love cats and their independence. They could never be republicans.

[Cirque du So-What]

15. 'Oscar,' huh?

I suspect the residents refer to him as, 'get that goddamn cat the hell away from me!'

[AllentownJake]

16. Put him outside CitiGroup and see if he does any kind of vigil