Meet Oscar: the therapeutic cat that can predict death
Animals often offer an unparalleled level of comfort to the people around them. They are also known for senses that allow them to predict and understand certain things better than humans.
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- Animals, especially pets, are known to provide exceptional emotional comfort and support to the people around them.
- Oscar, a cat adopted by a U.S. nursing home in 2005, demonstrated a unique ability to predict the deaths of terminal patients.
- Initially a shy and reclusive kitten, Oscar would only emerge from hiding to sit beside patients who were about to pass away.
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- Over time, caregivers noticed a clear pattern: every patient Oscar chose to rest beside would soon pass away, eventually totaling over 100 cases.
- While some people dubbed him the "Angel of Death," others saw Oscar as a comforting presence or a spiritual companion in patients’ final moments.
- His story highlights not only the possible sensory or intuitive capabilities of animals but also the emotional support they can provide at the end of life.
- Oscar’s legacy reminds us of the profound impact animals can have in healthcare settings, offering comfort when it’s needed most.
And now, we present to you the cat Oscar.
In 2005, when Oscar was just six months old, a nursing home in the United States adopted him to serve as a therapy cat.
Oscar wasn’t an ordinary cat. The staff noticed something unusual: he seemed able to predict the deaths of patients in the nursing home.
This is the story of Oscar, the cat who predicted more than 100 deaths during his life.
2005: Oscar Beginning
Dr. Dosa tells Crossroads Hospice about Oscar's early days at Steere House, which began in 2005: "Oscar was initially a very scared cat who didn’t want to come out. Often you would find him in the supply cabinet or under a bed — except when someone was about to die; then Oscar would come out and be there."
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It started gradually in the dementia unit, where death is unfortunately common. Oscar behaved like a normal cat until he sensed a patient’s end was near. Then he would emerge from hiding, find the patient in need, climb onto the bed, curl up beside them, and keep a quiet vigil.
There was something special about that.
"As it turned out, after Oscar did this several times, we realized the people he stayed with were usually the ones who were dying," explains Dr. Dosa.
At first there was one death, then two, and eventually the number rose to about 20 or 30 consecutive cases, and then everyone started saying, "Wow, that's something completely unique."
2016: How Oscar Became Known Today
People’s reactions to this phenomenon vary. Some call Oscar the Angel of Death. Others simply call him an angel. Maybe Oscar showed a kind of spiritual connection that humans haven’t yet discovered, or maybe cats and dogs can literally sense what is coming.
Amid all the speculation, one thing is clear: however he sensed impending death, Oscar wanted to honor those people in their final moments and to comfort them simply by being present.
That may be something many animals can do, but Oscar’s story is special because he had the opportunity — and a place — to use those instincts.
Comfort and care at the end of life are crucial. If even a house cat can offer that, we as humans should do our best to follow its example.
Oscar correctly predicted more than 100 deaths during his life, and died in 2022.
Oscar is referred to as the Angel of Death by some; others simply nicknamed him Bassam Malak.