Friday, July 27, 2007

The Kiss of Oscar

Have you heard about Oscar the Cat, the nursing home tabby who's better able to predict death than any doctor? For the past two years, this feline has wandered from room to room in a Rhode Island nursing home, never staying long in one place... unless a patient is about to die. Then he curls up on her bed and waits. 25 times this cat has predicted a death and stayed around for it, making doctors wonder if he's sensing an increase in hormone levels or some kind of electronic energy.

What I wonder is how the nursing home residents feel about this cat. Can you imagine as Oscar makes his rounds? Would you happy to see him? Or terrified? Would you ever try to encourage him to stay around for a cat nap on your bed or would you wish for a quick hello and good-bye?

I read a proverb this week. "You can't swap jokes with the angel of death."

But maybe you can love on Oscar.

1 comment:

Aimee Jo said...

That's scary. I don't really like cats anyway, so I'd just try to avoid him altogether.