Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat David Dosa

You may have heard about Oscar, the cat in a nursing home who knows when people are going to die and stays with them until they do. I was intrigued by the national news coverage of Oscar's supposedly inexplicable gift for knowing when a patient would die.

Dosa, a physician at the nursing home, was not a cat lover and was highly skeptical about Oscar's ability, even though the cat had a reputation so widespread that the families of patients would, in the final hours, be waiting for Oscar's appearance. Dosa investigated, speaking with several people whose relatives had died in the nursing home. They were unanimous in their conviction about Oscar's sensing abilities.

As Dosa gradually shifted his view to the point where he was certain that Oscar's presence in the room of a patient reliably diagnosed imminent death, the question of the cat's accuracy yields to a much bigger miracle: the unstinting attentiveness and compassion of a cat who is fully committed to help the dying make their transitions.

In one instance, two people were dying at the same time. Oscar first went to the patient who was having difficulty and great discomfort. The moment he died, the cat raced down the hall to be with a patient who was dying more peacefully.

The book also highlights the many challenging aspects of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia for the patient and family members. I note that many reviewers found the tragic details frightening, but Dr. Dosa's abilities to write about his patients with a masterful mixture of objectivity and compassion was for me reassuring. A number of family members emphasized that Oscar was there for them as well as for those who were dying.

When I finished the book, I could only bless Oscar for his loving heart and Dr. Dosa for being honest enough to work through his skepticism to study the cat's gift and share it with the world.

Pet Psychic Diaries Jeanne Miller

Would lives be saved if we believed that animals have valuable information to give us? The only way to find out is to adopt the belief. Animal communicator Jeanne Miller's account of her experiences with cats, dogs, horses, raccoons, mice, and other animals is a delightful and inspiring read for those who believe in our psychic connections with the animal world, and it can be an eye-opener for skeptics.

The book is written with great clarity and simplicity. The author lets the animals speak for themselves, and they have a lot to say. One cat blows the whistle on another for malingering and milking attention for being injured. Frank, a "lost" cat, says, "I'm not lost. I know exactly where I am" and describes abuse by one of the humans in the house.

This is not a how-to book. The author states that a number of good books are available for that. Her intention is to share a world with her readers, and a lovely world it is, full of strong-minded individuals who observe their humans with far more care than you might imagine.

Cats: Instructions For Use or How To Survive Being Owned By A Cat Annarita Guarnieri

The potential reader of any "how-to" book deserves to know who the target audience is. This book is indispensable for anyone first launching upon the great adventure of being owned by a cat. It provides a wealth of information, from the basic equipment needed to keep a cat in comfort to the meaning of verbal and body language signals.

The author also outlines the many differences between adopting a kitten (further distinguishing kittens who come from homes or animal shelters and those found abandoned) and adopting an adult cat. I noted with pleasure that she emphasizes the special rewards of adopting adult cats.

The experienced cat slave, however, can also learn from this book. I considered myself an expert dispenser of pills, but I learned some new approaches to this always-perilous task.

Finally, this book is worth reading for the many cat tales within it. If you are devoted to cats, you will find your devotion renewed by the portraits of and anecdotes about the author's feline companions. I highly recommend this book.