A nursing home cat is apparently able to predict the deaths of residents, curling up next to them in their final hours . . .
Is he clever and kind or is he suffocating them?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6917113.stm
2007-07-26 01:36:04 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in News & Events ➔ Current Events
qwikbrownfox, I'm wetting myself thinking of the fear he instills on his rounds!!!
2007-07-26 01:41:57 · update #1
Cats are very in tune with people's feelings etc. My cat will lay with me when I am ill and only leave me once I am starting to feel better. If I am upset my cat will fuss me and be very gentle in her manner towards me.
I have had cats for 32 years and believe me they are not stupid and can sense things.
My word, I agree though the oap's must be worried when the cat starts to spend too much time with them.
2007-07-26 01:43:29 · answer #1 · answered by scorpionbabe32 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I read this last night and found it quite interesting. Animals' senses seem to be much more keen than that of humans. It has been documented that domestic animals have been able to 'sniff out' diseases in humans (such as melanoma) while other assistance animals are able to detect the onset of a seizure, or when their master is in some sort of danger and the like. I think that the cat can honestly pick up when someone appears to be in their final hours, and that he's not suffocating them or in any way responsible for their death.
And if I recall correctly from what I read last night, the patients/residents themselves have no real sense of their surrounding and what's going on - these are Alzheimer and dementia (among other diseases) after all, so I'm going to guess that they aren't going to freak out when this feline companion joins them.
2007-07-26 08:47:49 · answer #2 · answered by Sunidaze 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Cats have a very good sense of when a person is very ill. My calico will curl up on my chest and actually pet me when I'm feeling ill. The moment I start to feel better she will bite my toes for the sheer joy of seeing me jump. I can't imagine that any responsible nursing home would allow him to roam the halls if he was anywhere near their faces.
2007-07-26 09:31:25 · answer #3 · answered by Caffiend 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Animals are very tuned into people. Based on personal experience - my cats will come sit with me when I'm under the weather. They can sense when someone is ill and needs comforting, so I'll go with clever and kind.
2007-07-26 09:06:28 · answer #4 · answered by zippythejessi 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
LOL, I'd be terrified that he'd come and sit next to me!
I imagine though, that he senses that the dying person needs comfort and sits with them to the end.
2007-07-26 08:56:41 · answer #5 · answered by Ysanne 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Barbie, what are you suggesting? A cat killer, hum a cat serial killer? I have no doubt that the animal does understand way more than us "educated" humans do.
2007-07-26 08:41:06 · answer #6 · answered by Alterfemego 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
He is in tune with something.
He doesn't cover their face but curls up next to them during their last hours.
"There are more things Horatio in this world and the next that are are than dreamt of in your philosophy or mine."
2007-07-26 08:44:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have heard that cats can sense when a women is pregnant so it wouldn't surprise me to find they can sense that death is near
2007-07-26 08:43:30 · answer #8 · answered by debbie939828 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cats are known to hold ESP abilities.
2007-07-26 08:49:24 · answer #9 · answered by Lindsay Jane 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dogs can sniff chemicals released by cancer. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060106002944.htm
There must be some subtle changes that happen in the body (chemicals released) before death that this cat can detect.
Fascinating
2007-07-26 09:02:39 · answer #10 · answered by toietmoi 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋