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PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Oscar the cat seems to have an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up next to them during their final hours.

His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means they have less than four hours to live.

“He doesn’t make too many mistakes. He seems to understand when patients are about to die,” said Dr. David Dosa in an interview. He describes the phenomenon in a poignant essay in Thursday’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19959718/?GT1=10150

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3327, old post ID:60856

It's an interesting case. People, in a sense have a 'sixth sense'. Our minds read a number of subtle cues and process them unconsciously to give us what what some might consider intuition or a gut feeling. It's not entirely inconceivable that a cat can do something similar, perhaps including sounds, scents, or vibrations that we normally would not perceive. But at the same time it's just as likely it's coincidence and people are connecting the dots in their own minds, creating a phenomenon where there is none.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3327, old post ID:60857

Hmm thats rather interesting.

Animals do have very good senses though. Like cats can sense people who hate cats. My grandma hates cats so when she comes to our house my cat tries to attack her. Its funny.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3327, old post ID:60858

LOL the opposite thing happens to my grandma.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3327, old post ID:61058

If I was in that hospital and that cat came on my bed and curled up next to me, I'd go INSANE in my last few hours. lol.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3327, old post ID:61486