Animals are often known for their intuition, especially when it comes to predicting events or offering comfort. We frequently hear about the “sixth sense” in animals, particularly dogs and cats, who have shown extraordinary abilities to provide unparalleled comfort to patients during their final days. However, what has occurred over the past decade at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in the United States is still beyond scientific explanation. One cat, named Oscar, has displayed extraordinary abilities in predicting the imminent death of patients by using his senses to detect when a patient is nearing the end of life. He does this by sitting beside them and staying with them throughout their final moments. This behavior has occurred repeatedly, drawing the attention of the medical staff, who now have an unwritten rule: if Oscar stays with a patient, they notify the family to give them a chance to say goodbye.

Oscar’s story began in 2005 when he was adopted along with six other cats as part of a therapeutic program aimed at providing companionship to patients at Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The facility, which has 41 beds, primarily cares for people in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other severe illnesses, with most patients being generally unaware of their surroundings. Known for its pet-friendly environment, the center allows a variety of animals to visit and stay. Throughout Oscar’s time at the facility, he led a very secluded life, often hiding in a closet or under a bed.

After six months at the center, staff began to notice that Oscar often chose to nap next to patients who would pass away within a few hours. It seemed as if Oscar was trying to comfort the dying, offering them companionship in their final moments. Dr. Joan Teno, a physician at the center, notes that Oscar typically appears about two hours before a patient dies. He comes out of his hiding place, heads straight to the patient’s bed, and sits either at the foot or in the middle of the bed, staying by their side until they pass away. This pattern has repeated itself so frequently that, after accurately predicting 25 deaths, the medical staff began to call the families of patients whenever they found Oscar napping next to them, allowing them time to say their final goodbyes. Some families have even thanked Oscar for being there in their loved ones’ last hours, ensuring they were not alone.

Oscar’s talent does not stop at predicting deaths; he has also defied medical expectations on several occasions. Despite signs indicating that a patient is stable, Oscar’s presence by their side often signals an unexpected and rapid decline, leading to death, which then occurs as he predicted. His miraculous abilities seemed to extend to himself when he almost died in 2013 due to a severe allergic reaction. He was rushed to intensive care, his heart stopped for a few seconds, but fortunately, veterinarians were able to revive him at the last moment. After several months of recovery, Oscar returned to Steere House, continuing his work. By 2015, he had accurately predicted over 100 deaths.

Oscar’s story became widely known thanks to Dr. David Dosa, a physician at the center, who wrote an article in 2007 for the New England Journal of Medicine. In the article, he mentioned that Oscar had bitten him the first time they met, but has since become more friendly. Dr. Dosa, along with Dr. Teno, speculates that Oscar’s behavior could be a response to the smell of chemicals released by a dying person. Others believe that Oscar’s visits to these rooms might be due to his ability to sense the stillness and lack of movement associated with death. Some suggest that Oscar might have a form of spiritual connection beyond human understanding, or perhaps cats and dogs can “smell” the future in a way humans cannot. Others, however, think that this might all be an exaggeration.

Oscar’s actions remain a mystery, one that challenges our understanding of animal behavior and opens the door to many questions about the connection between animals and humans in the face of life’s final journey.